Very nappy horse tips please

[Deleted]

Bit of background. 5 year old sec d mare bought her in feb in foal. She was very laid back and easy to do. Didn't like being out on her own. She foaled in April and foal has been weaned 3 weeks now. Mare has moved to be stabled with my gelding so she is away from the foal.

Problem is she needs work, I've started lunging etc I've backed her or her a new saddle etc so raring to go. My problem is I cannot walk my gelding 4 meters to the field in a morning without her trying to jump the stable door she can't be away from him. So you can see whenever I try to lunge or do anything away from him it's just a massive battle as she is a stocky section d and I just end up skiing on the end of a line. If I'm on her she litterally drags me back. I have a battle getting Her back to where she left off even just to finish but I never let her get away with going back and finishing she has to go back to where I was working her.

Any help appreciated she was like this when she had to leave her field companion at nights when pregnant. But calmed down after 5 mins.

We always have our horses/ponies as babies and they learn they have to do things on their own and the other 7 have no problems doing things solo. But I haven't got a clue what this mares background from before may last year when she went out with the stallion.

Thanks I'm just eager to get her doing some work as she needs it.

[gillwales]

put a grill on the door for safety's sake, you will be relaxed knowing that she cannot get over the door, she will eventually learn that she cannot have everything her own way.

Some horses have mental health issues, I had one who had a blow to his poll when 2 and ended up being nappy and despite some of the top people we could not sort him out, years later I learnt what the problem was, it was incurable.

Make certain you always wear gloves when leading her, take precautions every time, such as using a bridle or chiffney over a head-collar, shut gates to the yard so if she does get away not too far to go. .. you know the ropes

[Deleted]

Thanks Gill she's had a grill on for a while now as she tried to jump when we took the foal. She rears up and gets her legs on top of it. She's a flipping pain. I'm persevering. I just think she's either been in a herd all her life or been allowed to nap back to where she wants. She just seems to panic and start screeching then she's off back to where she came from. She's just so strong being a cob. Just reminds me of my old section d I had you can't argue with them.

Funny thing is I used to walk her out when she was in foal no problems. She would get a little shirty for 5 mins being away from field companion but nothing like she is doing now.

People keep saying put her in foal again but I'm not putting her in foal for the sake of an easy life she will never learn that way. Plus after this foal it's put me off.

[lulah]

Ive never had a simular situation so others on here may have some better ideas but my thoughts are if possible have someone holding the gelding very nearby untill you have schooled her some more. Then after a while gradually take him further away. In theory the better schooled she is the more she will listen to you and feel confident with just you as her companion.

She may also still be anxious about her foal as its only been 3 weeks?

Good luck

[Deleted]

Thank you.

She been past the foal in the field and isn't even fussed about her and vice versa. But I don't know what she's thinking. I'm sure she misses her.

I'll try the gelding near see of that helps I just don't want her getting used to it. She's a smart horse just needs to be less insecure.

[gillwales]

do you have top doors that you an shut, reducing light can help settle a horse. or if indoors put some rugs over the grilling so she cannot see whats happening.

[Deleted]

She has rugs round but it's only when I take the gelding away there's an issue. Same when I take them out of the field. I have to take her first and lock her in stable otherwise she jumps the fence.

[halfpass]

Any chance of adding a third companion so she is less reliant on her gelding friend.

[bethanyy]

I had this problem with my pony when I first tried to stable him. I bought him as a rising 3 year old who had lived out pretty much all of his life, got him home and put him in a stable where he started to rear and come over the door every time another horse came past - we were stabled on a riding school so this was very regularly.

The turning point for us is when he actually reared and got over the door, luckily unhurt but it could have been very serious. My dad made me a special grill - as you said he could hook his feet on a weave grill type. He made it out of sheep wire so he could see out but in no way get stuck on it. The grill was on hinges so I could leave it open or lock him in. He was locked in every time another horse came past and slowly he accepted if they went out it didn't mean he was going out. In time I was able to try leaving the grill open and he respected that if he did not rear and try to escape then he was allowed the grill to be left open. The slightest rear or tantrum and the grill was locked again.

He now stables anywhere beautifully with no problems at all. I managed to nip it in the bud at a young age. Hope this helps x

[Deleted]

Oct 14, 2013 6:45:47 GMT halfpass said:

Any chance of adding a third companion so she is less reliant on her gelding friend.

Its not solving the problem having another companion she doesnt like being on her own she will just get attached to the third companion she had 6 at home and whichever ones we tried she still had tantrums when one was taken out of the field.

The grill doesnt stop her having the tantrums it just stops her getting over the door. once she can see my other horse she is fine like a different horse, so you can see my problem.

i dont want to have to start hacking them out together or schooling together as she needs to learn its ok to be on her own. its not her fault i dont think shes ever been in the position to be on her own and being a herd animal she probably frets.

ill maybe start walking her in hand down the lanes a bit see if that helps getting her used to being on her own and then she realises shes going to go back to her mate.

i could do with some emergency brakes

[fanfarefan]

Probably get shouted down but have you thought of trying global herbs super calm not an instant cure but it may settle her enough tp make life a little easier for you both good luck

[Deleted]

Oct 14, 2013 12:59:32 GMT fanfarefan said:

Probably get shouted down but have you thought of trying global herbs super calm not an instant cure but it may settle her enough tp make life a little easier for you both good luck

Never had any dealings with calmers. What would she be like trying to ride her on calmers would she take anything in and listen?

[fanfarefan]

No not at all we have had great success with it ,ridden and in hand ,but it might be worth calling GH it maybe that her hormones are all over the place

[mady]

It's early stages after weaning sounds like separation issues but you have to be firm with her.

Keep her in a routine even try working her for shorter periods twice a day so she gets used to leaving the others to do a job. A top door as mentioned a good idea we had one with seperation issues so just locked her in when others were in and out so she couldn't see.

Not sure hacking out alone at the moment is a good idea if she's so bad get her hacking confidently then go alone treat her as a 3yo just backed.

You will do it just persevere.. Good luck!

[grismold]

Oct 15, 2013 20:50:04 GMT mady said:

It's early stages after weaning sounds like separation issues but you have to be firm with her.

Keep her in a routine even try working her for shorter periods twice a day so she gets used to leaving the others to do a job. A top door as mentioned a good idea we had one with seperation issues so just locked her in when others were in and out so she couldn't see.

Not sure hacking out alone at the moment is a good idea if she's so bad get her hacking confidently then go alone treat her as a 3yo just backed.

You will do it just persevere.. Good luck!

My horse was like this when I first got him. At that point he was 10 so it was getting a tad late to start correcting behavior traits but I gave it a try anyway. In my opinion doing something with a very young horse which takes it temporarily away (building it up gradually of course) is an essential part of training for a young horse. My horse used to nap like made whenever I went to leave the yard and it would turn into a right performance. What got things moving in the right direction for me was walking him in hand away from the yard for about 5 minutes and then mounting once you are totally away from it all. My horses seemed to cope better with this and the first time I tried it I figured that he was going to have to take me somewhere even if it was straight back to the yard.

But I started him off on short 20 minute hacks and I just built it up from there. In the end I had him going out for 2 hours on his own. I have to say it was a lot of hard work and in the early days I used to get my other half to walk with us up front, at his shoulder and then behind. I've got to be honest that in my experience once a horse is like this it really does take quite a lot to change their mindset. I found that the slightest incident (one day we got chased by dogs) and it all unraveled and we had to go back to a shorter ride that we were more at ease with. And within 3 months of this I moved yards and we were back to square one.

I then got my other horse and he then bonded to him and I now can't separate the two of them without a huge performance. In my opinion horses that are like this are considerably more relaxed in bigger herds/yards with lots of horses.

[sarahp]

Having bred for years, and mostly now have home breds to deal with, I'm beginning to realise how much useful training I do completely without having thought about it. For example - I currently have two foals and a 2yo in at night, out in the day. I always bring them in, turn them out and feed them in a different order. Thus the foals get used to being on their own in the field, if only for a few minutes, when I have taken the others in and likewise get to realise they will be fed, even if the others get it first. I would like to think they won't end up getting separation anxiety in the future like the OP's mare, not that this post helps you, sorry!

Didn't mean to like my own post, sorry. I meant to edit to add that I think we often don't realise that everything we do with our horses and ponies is training them in a certain way, even the smallest.

[rubydoo]

i had a cob that had terrible seperation anxiety in the field he would run up and down the fence and threaten to jump , riding he would nap and constantly whinny . shows were a problem as hed whinny althrough the show
just a good routine same things eveyday , started to hack to the top of the lane and back (alone ),varied field mates brought him in first , then 2nd and eventually last . after a while we were hacking alone and he stopped napping a got the idea we would be back soon . i had him 2 years and he was sold on as a happy hacker which he still is
just perseverance xx

[Deleted]

We are improving on the turning out routine. I take my gelding out first when she first came she would literally climb the walls in the 2 minutes it takes me to walk across the yard and back for her. Now she just walks round the stable or stands at the door. I do give her a treat when she's stood patiently. It's working. When she's is completely ok with that I am going to try putting her out first but at the minute she pretty much tries to jump the fence. I'm going to start walking her out in hand first down the road as she has done that before when heavily in foal it was he daily exercise I know she can do it.

I'm trying my best, she's such a love and is a quiet girl just gets very upset over silly things.

[mady]

Keep going loulabelle you will do it.... Kind but firm

[Deleted]

It's tough. Apart from my Andalusian who's like a dog she is the first horse I've had that we haven't had from being a baby. I'm trying my best with her she will be a fabulous ridden prospect when we get over her insecurities. I've booked cheshire show into our showing schedule so we have an aim. I don't think its a high bar to aim for nearly a year to get her to come round. Just wish she wasn't as strong. Brings back so many memories of my d from my childhood dragging me here there and everywhere . Small steps with her.

[sarahp]

Sounds as if she's coming on, keep up the good work!

[Deleted]

Thanks and thanks everyone. Got dragged back to the stables tonight but I think that's because the wind and rain where up her bum

[sarahp]

If any try to rush with me I stop and then reverse them - I can see this wouldn't be easy for you though! They don't get to go forward the way they want to go until they will walk politely by my side on a loose rein.

[Deleted]

I do do that most of the time, for instance of she tries to push out of the stable or field she gets pushed back and made to stand still before I say walk on. She's either led with a dually or a chain around her nose but tonight was an exception as the rain was horrendous I just wanted to get them in so was my fault really. She hasn't learnt to respect the pressure release yet though of the head collar. We will get there eventually