I've had my 4 yr old mare for 7 mos now. I also have her 7mos old filly. The mare goes out of her way to have an attitude with me. She's not mean...she just turns and walks away when i go toward her just to pet her, she would walk for 30 mins trying to keep me from approaching her if i let her and acts like shes mad when she's eating. I"ve never been mean to her i dont understand why she acts like that. She always talks to me when i first approach the fence or when i get out of my car from across the street. At first I thougth it was because we moved her from her home, but its been 7mos and she still acts like she doesnt like me. I think her filly trys to act like that when shes around her mama, but the filly eventually comes around and always walks up to me when i come to the barnyard and wants to play. But at feeding time, she always puts her ears back and shoves her food out of the bucket at first. since she is just a baby, what should i do to stop that behavior at feeding time. should i just assume the mare is just gonna be stubborn from now on? why are they acting mad?

I cannot answer your question "Why are they acting mad?" without knowing more or seeing the horses. But here are some ideas.

It is very likely that you "reward" the behavior. If this is the only time - feeding - that you spend time with them, the mare has found a way to get your utmost attention - something every horse likes.

You have to reverse that. One way would be to put the feed out and stay there. Then the mare has to come to you to get another kind of reward - feed.

Another way could be to keep the mare in a confined area and at first just be there with her. In a case like that I watch the horse till it starts scratching some spot - then I take over the scratching. This works normally pretty good - specially at places they hardly can reach.

It will take you a lot of time to get results, but trying to get to her and not getting there will just reinforce the bahavior.

As far as the filly goes - she probably just copies mam's behavior. The same approach should work.

Good luck!

GC

thanks for the info

We all want to believe in the fairy tales and love stories.
Unfortunately they are stories.
You are not part of her herd.
To help understand her you need to understand "horse".
When you put the feed out and walk away, you leave thinking that you've done a good thing.
She watches you leave knowing that she just ran you out of her field.
When she stays just arms length away from you, it is just her way of giving you the cold shoulder, since you are not part of her herd.
Press the issue, you will be told by way of a kick/squeal/ and run off, that you have just stepped over the line and that will not be tolerated.
Your foal will get worse as the mare is always teaching the filly, beware.
There is no way to get accepted into the herd as you are not a horse.
What you must do is become the leader, which is the position your mare currently holds.
When you approach her, you MUST catch her. You can then do nothing and walk away, but you must be in charge.
At feeding time, use the word back or any word doesn't really matter. Put the feed down, start to walk away, turn around use a word and make her back away. You need to be in charge of when/where and how much she eats.
If you hang the buckets so they can swing a little they can't push the feed out.
Lead and pick feet out daily, at first all these will be met with resistance, no one likes giving up a position of power.
Stay patient and don't use force.
If something doesn't work come at it from a different approach, but same result-You are in charge.

May I throw in a word of caution about the you "MUST catch her". That seems to be the problem. And that is why I made my suggestions. I agree - but if it does not work it might get worse.

I can out a horse in a pen and catch it - but you darn sure need to know what you are doing.

I very much agree about the leading (onece the catch problem is solved). I am a "leading freak". My deal is, if the horse does not lead, don't try to ride.

Take your pick and good luck!

GC

This sounds very familiar to me. I got my pony May, 09. He was a wreck! He was emaciated, had rain rot, acted like he just wanted to give up on life, and was very blanked out looking. I took it very slow with him because he seemed to be scared of everything that I did. He is in his 20's and I figured he was always going to be that way. Boy was I wrong. Once he was fattened up and got feeling good... complete BRAT! He does the same behavior that you're talking about. Lays his ears back when you come to his stall, won't let you pet him without an attitude, won't let me brush him unless I put his halter on and hold him in place. He's good about leading, not so good with hoof picking. The other day he put his ears back at me while he was eating and I made him back up away from his food, just with my hand on his neck. This seems to have knocked him down a peg or two. Now I am mostly doing verbal corrections if he comes at me with that kind of behavior. The past couple days he seems to be getting better. I stood right in front of his stall tonight while he was eating with little attitude. I think it's just a dominance thing. If they know they can bully you away and make you move your feet, they have won and will continue to do it. I am a big softy when it comes to discipline, but I realized that I can't spoil him forever! He needs to learn some manners. Although, a lot of the issues with him could have stemmed from him being starved and not having access to food, so he feels like he needs to protect what he has. He's a fatty now, though and there's no need for that!