Mare turning her rear towards me

[Nowthereistwo]

Hi, we've just started a new share twice a week. She is a 9yr old 13.2 cob with sweetitch and used to a riding school pony. She was really well behaved with her owners when we met her the first time.

Ist time with her by ourselves she was so keen to scratch herself she barged through me to scratch against the wall. It turns out that the owner had let her meds run out.

Today I put her into the stable to tack up, thought i could do this loose and she pulled some faces and then turned her bum to me a few times. I had some carrots outside the stable so I bribbed her over and she let me catch and tack up fine from that point.

Obviously I will make sure she's tied up when I'm in with her - but I'm wondering what the best action should be if/when she does it again.

She's been good with my children so far, maybe because they just give her hay.

Might she have been asking for a bum scratch? If not, it can be a sign of her telling you that she's not confident with you yet. It doesn't necessarily mean she's going to kick you.
I'd pop a headcollar on tbh, until you get to know each other better.

I think she is telling you she doesn't want to be tacked up. Just a warning. Be cautious though

Should I just be getting on her good side with food. Her owners had said to make her work before giving her treats otherwise she just pesters for them - hence why I hadn't been giving her treats before tacking up.

Just tie her up. Don’t bother “winning her over” with food. She won’t behave any better she’ll probably just start trying to mug you for food.

Definitely still need to bond.

My girls are more confident with her than the last Section A mare we had for the last month who was unpredictable - so that's a positive.

Bloody mares

No don't give her treats. Unless you want to look into clicker training. I'd suggest looking at Connection Training. Or the Kelly Marks book - Perfect Manners and Perfect Confidence are very good.

Books not book

I had a mare that would swing her hinquarters at you, but it was always because she wanted an udder scratch! If your pony is itchy then it may be that. Mine also used to park herself over you when you were bent double poo picking.
If you think it's because she may kick, then make sure you stay by her shoulder, headcollar on and swing her head towards you, quarters away, if she looks like turning her backside.
Also might be worth checking that her tack fits correctly and no wrinkled/slipping numnahs and girths if it is when you approach with tack. It could be her just objecting to work too
though.

@lastqueenofscotland

Just tie her up. Don’t bother “winning her over” with food. She won’t behave any better she’ll probably just start trying to mug you for food.

Think this is true and what the owners were talking about not giving treats before you go in the school as she's then just looking for treats rather than listening of what's been asked of her.

Owner said that her last saddle hurt, so she is borrowing one whilst her new one is being made. I'm sure it's all connected.

Will spend more time just grooming her to try and build trust.

Thanks all.

It's hard getting to know a new horse.

I think it's also a cob thing. They can be a bit bolshy to handle and if you let them get away with it, it soon becomes a habit. My cob would turn his bum when I first got him and he tried it as a tactic to not tack up or do any work. It's hard, but take a firm no nonsense approach (being safe of course) and then it will stop and won't become a nasty habit for the horse. I wouldn't suggest treats, that can become an issue in itself with a cob. Firm (obviously not hurting your horse), but fair is a good approach. I would tack up outside the stable until you've established a good routine and behaviour pattern and then move into the stable, which is more enclosed and probably a little more unsafe if she turns her bum. Keep a schooling stick nearby in case she turns her bum again, just waving it without touching her is probably all you'd need to do. I trained our cob to move his back end away from pressure and that really helped. Just doing a constant annoying tap on his bum until he took a step away from me to make it stop and then the tapping stopped, that's a great way to teach respect for distance if she keeps turning her bum into you. Its also a great technique if you've got a horse that likes to barge through you. A tap on the front chest and they step back and you stop the tap and ask them to wait, if they step forward return to tapping again until they've learnt to stand still and the tapping stops. Perfect for horses that barge through you to get out of the stable! It's trial and error, but you'll get there!! Good luck and happy riding!

I haven't been with a horse or pony with so little respect of the person, others would always move away with pressure.

I tacked up in the stable as the last mare (different yard) would try and do a runner when taking head collar off/bridle on. But will definitely tack this one up outside (like I did last week).

So she needs to have respect taught to her. Mutual respect. They aren't born knowing how human want them to behave.
I second Perfect Manners by Kelly Marks.

Out of interest what were the meds that have run out. If she’s been on imuno therapy for her sweet itch and that had run out she may well be gumpier.

I've found an old fashioned granny's walking stick useful for disrespectful behaviour like this. If you leave her headcollar on, you can reach up the side of her to hook it and catch her. If you need to give her a poke to move her around, it also works. Definitely do not go down the treats route.

It's not about building trust- it's about establishing boundaries. Think of her like a young child- if they misbehave, you wouldn't go softly softly, you'd put some rules in place and back them up.

Ironically, the more work you put into being assertive and showing her that you make the decisions, the more likely she is to trust you. Most horses respond well to clear boundaries and direction, and don't like being the one to make all the decisions.

Definitely don't go down the route of winning her over with food!

Maybe ask to watch her owners handling her again, look at what their body language is like and the tone of voice they use. I bet they are more assertive than you are being, and this is what she responds to.

Bloody mares

Nothing wrong with mares that some experience won't solve.

My old boy turns his bum on me. He also arches his neck away from me and puts his head underneath my outstretched hands. It's his way of pointing to the bit he wants scratched, that's all.

Just thought I'd catch up. We're now 5 weeks in and things are going well.

Luckily she seems to do well on the meds and only starts to act up when putting the saddle on. I'm tacking up outside and giving an oi or slap on her side if she shows faces or acts bolshy.

My girls are having lessons on her and things look promising.