more than just a weanling attitude

[missyfritz]

At the barn where I share board Max, there is a 9 month old weanling Paint filly. As a little baby, she was super sweet! She loved to be groomed and petted and loved on. She led perfectly, stood for the farrier, everything! However, things are slowly changing.

Over the past few months, she's become increasingly aggressive, with people and horses alike. She no longer leads well. She'll rear and buck and charge and try to run over whoever is at the end of the rope. :nono: In the pasture, she will walk straight up to the other horses, lay her ears flat back, and either chase them away or bite them (hard)!

What could be the cause of these problems?

[natisha]

She's growing up & finding her place in the herd.

[Cat]

Actually it does sound like sassy weanling phase. My QH filly had gone through this - however, people working with her need to stop letting her get away with it and correct her like they would an adult horse. She needs to learn her bounds now. The herd will teach her out in the field as she pushes her boundaries and the humans need to do the same thing.

[missyfritz]

I know she's not supposed to be aggressive with people though. That's what has me most worried. I know the horses will put her in her place, but she's too out of control to even attempt to work with.

[Cat]

That is the people working with her's fault. Right now is the critical time and will be the basis on if she will be a good citizen or a spoiled rotten dangerous brat. She IS going to test and some will test a lot more than others. Sounds like you have one that is going to test & I bet she will end up being a lead mare someday.

[Palogal]

It sounds like a combination of poor handling and growing up. She can be whatever she wants to be in the herd, pin her ears, squirt and kick etc. But, she has to be obedient on the ground and not be allowed to be sassy on the ground. Get a hold of her quick, so the later growing stages when she's bigger aren't so bad.

[zoel_222]

I agree with the others: bad handling + weanling phase = nightmare

[alittleoffkey]

I agree with the others: bad handling + weanling phase = nightmare

And it'll take twice as much work when she gets older, if these problems aren't fixed now.

[ImaBronsonBear]

And it'll take twice as much work when she gets older, if these problems aren't fixed now.

Ditto. Is there anyone around who can deal properly with her and stop this behavior before it gets any worse?

[WashingtonBay]

I think this is very typical of babies who 'loved to be petted and loved on' as babies. This one is spoiled and demanding is all. And it is much better corrected now, than in a year when she weighs twice as much as she does now.

People think if they 'love on' horses the horse will be affectionate back. The thing is, the horse sees you either as someone to follow, or someone to bully, not someone to 'love'. Affection can be looked at as submissive behavior by the horse unless it is carefully given and only given when earned. Time for baby to to be shown her place, and begin to work for any praise and coddling.

[prissy18]

O wow. Hmm. I have had this happen before. Were at in Illinois are you? It could be weather helping it