www.nfed.co.uk

Hi,

We've recently purchased an 10 year old new forest mare for my 11 year ols daughter, the pony's green in the school, only really hacked before, we've had her about 5 months and she's settled into her new home well and been accepted into the heard. Some days she's a total poppet, does as she's asked, calm and keen to learn, loving attention and following us round and good as gold. Other day's she's a total beast, both in hand and riden......stubbon (will not move from spot!) or stupidly fast, mini bucks & bunny hops, head tossing. I can't see any pattern to her split personality at all!!!

Any ideas or sugestions greatfully recieved!! This the first pony we've owned (loaned for 4 andd half years before this one) so new to ownership. Do any of the many "moody mare" supliments actually work?

Many Thanks!

Hi I've got a 19 year old mare who've I've owned since she was 6 months old, who can be a poppet one minute and then turn into a positively evil creature the next cornering other ponies in the field and really laying into them. She gets nappy out on rides or the complete opposite and takes off, turns her quarters on other horses riding with us or starts squealing and really is not a nice pony. Most of the time though she is lovely. We put her on Stroppy Mare quite a number of years ago now and it works very well. She has the odd off day but probably 99% of the time she's fine.

Hi, We have a moody Forest mare - she would have been a leader on the forest -she came straight to us off the forest at 5 months old and has been a handful. I would think that you are being severely tested by a very bright mare. Stick with absolute fairness to what you want from her. Read up on natural horsemanship techniques - they are not the whole answer but will give you quite a lot of ideas on handling from the ground. Our local much loved expert on the Forest is Sarah Weston who you can contact through this site(not sure where you are based) she will be delighted to help either herself or with someone more local to you, Do have your mare's spine checked over, and the saddle fit checked to make sure there is no issue building there, Locally Sherry Rainer for spines. Foresters are wonderful rides but are not beginners ponies in their youth - do too much thinking. Yours is just coming into her prime and you are suddenly asking much more of her than she has had before so she is telling you what she thinks of it big time. Try and find ways to make it fun for her, they are truly excellent dressage and jumping animals but you need to engage their interest, so work out what she is liking and what she isn't, then build from the good things. Stick with her, the rewards will be great. You don't say if she has only been with one home before or multiple either is likely to be distressing her emotionally. Remember horses have the same size emotional centre in their brain as humans, so bonds are very strong once made. Finally we use NAFF oestresse as a suplement. It contains Agnus Castus, which is a vegetable hormone substitue that I can personally vouch for!! (It's in most health shops!!). My maxim is that I won't be the person responsible for a horse having an untimely end so I will never sell till the problem is solved ,then I don;t need to!! Very good luck with your stroppy mare, with creative firm handling she will give your daughter years of pleasure