Just Curious...do horses have their good days/bad days?

I've had india for a lil over 4 months now...and have noticed her mood to being groomed changes--i'll go through my normal routine and please please let me know if I'm doing something wrong or any suggestions. Im still new to this stuff but I take good to any "legit" advice yall guys can give me.

I first give her, her oats...and as she's eating im using the curry and do that till I get all the lick marks (horse next door like to lick her?) and dirt and just make it nice and smooth...then I use the brush and smooth her out even more. By this time she is done with her oats and moves on to her hay...which I then brush out her mane and tail...her mane and tail are both long--especially her tail...and when I bought her she had a huge (the size of a grapefruit) knot in the middle of it...and that was a tuffy just working that out--I have washed her tail out and really took my time to get all the build up oil (very nasty stuff) but I didn't want to cut her tail...it's super long and very thick--its beautiful now and everyone notices it :) So it's been about 2 months or so doing the same routine...and alllll of a sudden--I pull up to do my thing, and she ain't having it! Ears back...doesn't even approach me (which she always does) just looks at me like "leave me alone I don't like you"...my feelings are hurt--I ain't going to lie, not used to that from her. So I continue as usual but I'm more weary than normal...and as soon as I start to groom her she reaches her head around to nip me...again ears are back...so, I just talk to her and pet her and just try to ease her tension. Ears go forward I continue on...I get to her rump, back leg stomps, ears go back again. It's like she doesn't want to be bothered...so I'm just going to call these "fits". Ok so now my question is this...these "fits" only happen like once a week...but it's an allll day thing...the other days...she so happy to see me and have me love on her and groom her and just being around, following me like a puppy. Is this normal for a horse to have their bad days??

Also I do want to point out, only "most" of the time I groom her while she eats...but I do also groom her tied up and no food around.

I really appreciate whomever takes the time to read this book I just wrote but I want yall to know everything so that yall can give me your best advice--thanks :)

            

Here are the best three pieces of advice I have:

1. Change up your routine. Become unpredictable. That way she won't anticipate being groomed.

2. Do it outside of her stall, always. Her stall is her "territory" and her safe haven. And your "bugging" her in it, in her eyes

3. This is probably the most likely - I bet she's getting mad when your grooming her belly. A lot of mares are very sensitive and you need to be extra careful around her belly.
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Hi!

The immediate answer to your question is: yes, horses, just like people, have good days and bad days.

However, your mare suddenly getting aggressive kind of makes some red flags go up. Something could be wrong... Pain is the #1 reason for horses getting aggressive. Does something change on those days?

Also, how long has this been going on? This makes me think that she may be in heat... some mares get really sore and grumpy when they're in heat – their sides get tender and they ache – just like people. Hormones are also a very likely cause.

There are supplements for mares that I think you should try. Since most of my horses have been geldings, and those that were mares didn't have any problems, I've never used one before. But I've read good reviews on Mare Magic, SmartMare Harmony, Mare Plus, Easy Mare, and RelaxHer Blend. I really think that you should give one of these a try, just to try to help her. SmartPak has a great supplement selection, so if you need a place to buy these, there's your place.

Also, horses lick each other when they're lacking something in their diet – most likely salt and minerals; the horse next door should be given a salt or mineral lick.

Hope this helps – Let us know how it goes!

            

Yes, I think they do have good days and bad days.

My routine is just about like yours, and once, my mare yelled at me.

I guess once in a couple of years isn't to bad.

She was back to normal the next day.

I wouldn't be to worried about it at this point.

            

mselizabeth...yes she does seem to tense up when I work around her belly area, it's very akward that part...she will completely freeze like not even blink an eye just while Im brushing out the belly...once Im done, she relaxes. Also does the same thing when I put the cinch when saddleling her up. Sometimes she moves her head around and bumps my hand with her nose...I tell her no and kinda of brush her off with my elbow (I was told to that by a much older friend of mine that has been working with horses for ages--old cowboy like man) anyways. Once I've cinched her she's fine and dandy.

Mudpie...heat I wouldn't know...what I can say is the pins across from my row about 3 horses down to the left has a hugh stallion...and once I did make the mistake of walking her by (rookie mistake, honest) and she did start to act up...like bossy, and tossing the head up and down...biting at the bit...I was then told later that was not a smart move, and now know better...but because he's somewhat close could that effect her attitude at times?

            

            

Sounds to me like that's part of your problem. I would stay away from her belly as much as possible and be very light with clinching her up.

Turning her head with her ears pinned sounds like she's just a couple times away from biting. I wouldn't be surprised if she bites. Keep your guard up and be careful.

I would suspect she is probably in heat too. I would ask your barn owner or someone more experienced to help you identify if she is.
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I would do the opposit of the bolded print. I would rub on her belly brush her belly (maybe with a softer brush at first) if she turns to try and nip you discipline her she does it again give her a swat don't let her get away with that. Just because 'she doesn't like it' doesn't mean she can be a witch.

I would guess that she might be coming into or in heat from your discription.

            

Yes I will def ask some of my fellow horse peers at the pins about her being in heat...and I yes once--and only once she has pinned her ears flat as a board and opened her mouth to bite...my husband was saddeling her up...I was going to ask about this in another thread but I think it would be ok to ask here...what are some tips on the "cinching" part because yes I can be light and gentle but I also do want the saddle to stay put...I use a barrel saddle and have been doing barrels with her and breezing her...we do "work" and there's alot of movement...those times I'm light...saddle starts sliding...is there a way or a method or just any advice to a successful cinching up without a horse being nippy??

            

Discipline...I have read a lot of feed on the threads about how ppl discipline their horses...I just can't come to grips with it...not it a horrible way...just in a "not used to it" kinda way...I guess cause my life has always been dogs, and I wouldn't think of doing it in a physical way...BUT I KNOW dogs, and horses...different...much. But I can totally do it if it is right? It's just hard to even look at it that way...the most I have done is firmly say no...and shrug her off with a shoulder...which has worked. But swat?? Explain?? I do need to know these things...so I can firmly set some rules up for "respect" which other than these seldom "fits" and "cinching" I would say she respects me. Any advice and methods on how?