Not going to be popular but works.....tie a small chain about 15 inches long around the pasterns on each front leg and when she paws....she won't paw to long.She punishes herself. Theirs nothing wrong with tying them up all day,every few hours lead them to water....Cookies are good for training dogs and may make you feel better....

Read about the Porta-Grazer at porta-grazer.com; made in Idaho U.S.A. Interesting info about ulcers since you mentioned the vet put your mare on ulcer medication. Good information.

I don't think I would try hobbles if she is nervous. That could be a wreck especially if she's tied. I had a horse the did that when we went to the barrel races. If I was on the other horse he did it until I came back to the trailer. I think his was separation anxiety. After a few hundred barrel races he got better when he figured out I was coming back. I would just tie her for long periods. Of course don't do like my neighbor and not give them water all day. And find a nice shady spot.

When the vet did an ultra sound on her to see of she was pregnant he commented about follicles on one of her ovaries, so he gave her a shot to take her out of heat. After 2 weeks, we started her on Omeprazole (ulcerGard) for 25 days. That was finished at the end of January. So now with spring coming and longer day light hours it will be interesting to see how she does with cycles. It has been suggested to have a marble put to stop her from coming into cycle. So...have been trying different things to narrow down her moodiness and anxiety. The weather is actually starting to warm up so can start working with her regularly. Thanks folks for all your input...I really appreciate it all! :)

Putting her on a supplement for mares specifically designed to help reduce the roller coaster of hormones is a great suggestion. Not rewarding this behavior is another good one. An old timer once told me, tie them safely, give them hay and water, check them every few hours and although it may take a few days (at some point they just decide to quit the pawing...especially if they are not fussed at). Keeping them hydrated and with feed at the normal times is important. Also, with one like this, you may want to consider treating for ulcers. Neigh-Lox or U-Guard are good and some of these more nervous horses develop ulcers.

The pellets I am feeding now I purchased at the feed store. I have also seen them in the Valley Vet catalogue. I would try an inexpensive version. The ones I am using successfully cost $30 for a pail that will last a month or so. Cher

Thanks for the suggestion shezapremium about calming pellets. Do you get these through a vet? Or feed /tack store? I will check around and try that as well. I am not giving up on her....she really is a challenge..but I am learning so much with her. I wish I was 20 years younger though. My other horses never exhibited any of these issues. Just shows you....they are all different...just like people!

I agree with everything said about feed and tying. I feed a grass/alfalfa mix supplemented with a complete pellet. I have a horse that is still nervous and high headed so I added an inexpensive calming pellet and voila! She pays attention and is a joy to ride. Since your mare exhibits what sounds like extremely dominant behavior, you might want to look at hormones too. There are supplements that will help balance them out. You might find a wonderful companion just waiting to get out under all of that extraneous activity.

Thank you all for your tips and suggestions. She has a lot of anxiety so I have been working on gaining her trust and doing a lot of ground work. This seems to have settled her down some. When she paws when tied, I walk away and when she stops I come back and give her a pet. My next step is to leave her tied up for longer periods of time and just totally ignore her. Hopefully she won't dig a hole to China! My last resort will be hobbles but only with someone that knows what they are doing as I sure don't. Tks again. Darlene

Can't say enough about tieing a horse out for hours on end if that's what it takes. And if that ain't enough, standing tied a little longer. Quickest way to get a spoiled horse is to reward bad behavior. Standing till their long past settled in and quiet is far from drastic or cruel. Training for calmness adds to a horses quality of life! Kevin M. Salonek