Re: RC: mare's defensive/aggressive behavior

[dave & abby bloxsom <cyclone@snet.net>]

Sally Spangler wrote:
> 
> Misty the Spanish Mustang, now 8 yo, has been evolving a disturbing behavior
> that is now becoming more than a passing mood, which is what I once thought
> was the case.  

Sounds like a clear case of the ALPHA alpha alpha mare.  I have one of
those (now 11, raised from birth) who challenges EVERY bit of training
expertise I ever thought I had.  She started the day she turned 3, when
she decided she didn't lunge any more (she'd been doing it beautifully,
though briefly and infrequently, since she was 1).

The solution (so far ... tomorrow's another day) has been just tons and
tons of what you're doing.  a) For minor problems, I wait.  I just wait
longer than she does.  Sometimes I REALLY wait.  Sometimes I take along
a magazine.  b) For major stuff, I compromise.  (Like at strange water
crossings sometimes she requires that I go first.)  c) I NEVER EVER
UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EVER EVER EVEN TRY to "fight it out" with her. 
This backfires in the most awful terrible way.  Sounds like you've
already figured that out.

Eventually, what we've gotten has been trust.  With trust, you can work
things out between you.  Without trust, you ain't got squat.

Best of luck,
-Abby Bloxsom
and Elba, Queen of the Universe


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