Advice - getting very excited coming in from field

[Birker2020]

Horses all on the same winter routine, in at night, out during day. Lari in an individual paddock with five other horses by him, most of which come in at 4pm. I arranged with another livery that if she leaves her horse out until I get there after work to keep my horse company I would get her horse in as it saves us £2.50 a day each. So far so good, I've mucked out first and then I've got her horse in first and my horse will just stand and wait at the gate, not a murmur out of him. So I get her horse in first as hers would run around otherwise, so that's fine as Lari is used to be left till last.

It worked great last week and Lari was walking in calmly, he even did so on Monday this week but Tuesday and last night, as soon as I get him out of his paddock gateway he gets very 'snatchy' and tries to pull his head down to eat the longer grass in the strip and when I won't allow him to practically throws his dolly out of the pram and starts prancing on the spot and trying to pull ahead of me and then ends up wheeling around me to the left which of course then leaves me in a vulnerable position if he suddenly shoots forward.

Last night was pretty scary, he was wheeling around me and then banged into my shoulder so I had a bit of a sore muscle last night and this morning. He was piaffing on the spot with his tail curled up in the air and also did a loud snort like a stallion. He's 11 years old and is just trying it on, he's used to going in and out in the dark so its not that and he is used to be turned out on his own first and left on his own for ten minutes or so until another horse joins him next door, or I go back to get him in so its nothing new. It's purely because he is very food orientated and wants to eat the grass or rush in for the expectation of tea.

Tonight I think I will either take the headcollar with the nose chain down the paddock to get him in or put him in his dually so I have a little more control. I'm wondering if letting him have five minutes grazing will help him. I don't like giving in to him but at the same time I am wondering if he might settle down if I do that.

Another thing I thought of was to put him on the walker for 1/2 hour - normally has his feet washed and then tied outside stable eating hay whilst groomed or goes straight in the stable for his tea. If I took away that expectation that he was going to be greeted with food maybe this would stop him wanting to dash indoors.

Tonight I will get them in as soon as I arrive at 4pm and do my stable afterwards and see if that makes a difference.

 

[stangs]

The fact that this behaviour has come on quite suddenly (and that he’s going for grass) suggests to me that he’s not eating his fill in the field. Do you supplement with hay?

Otherwise,

If he’s turning around you, I’d use a bridle to have more control of the head and keep it straight.

You can try asking for shoulder-ins and leg yields as you go as well. I’ve found some horses settle once they’re focusing on you, but it can just wind up others who’d rather think of whatever’s on their mind.

Grazing on command can be a useful skill, as long as you’re strict about it and he doesn’t end up dragging you.

You can also clicker train a kind of ‘heel’ - x number of chilled steps, then click and reward.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Mine get like this in winter and they ve seen others going in and they re are hungry and know hay is waiting for them. So I try to get them in before the yard staff start bringing others in…not a very convenient solution at times.

 

[Birker2020]

The fact that this behaviour has come on quite suddenly (and that he’s going for grass) suggests to me that he’s not eating his fill in the field. Do you supplement with hay?

Otherwise,

If he’s turning around you, I’d use a bridle to have more control of the head and keep it straight.

You can try asking for shoulder-ins and leg yields as you go as well. I’ve found some horses settle once they’re focusing on you, but it can just wind up others who’d rather think of whatever’s on their mind.

Grazing on command can be a useful skill, as long as you’re strict about it and he doesn’t end up dragging you.

You can also clicker train a kind of ‘heel’ - x number of chilled steps, then click and reward.

Hi Stangs, yes he has a good medium sized net of hay left in a barrel in his paddock that he has learnt to knock over with his nose to access it (keeps the rain off it) and he has about two feet of strip grazing fresh grass across the width of paddock every day too, I leave the hay and adjust the fencing after he's come in the night before if that makes sense. His hay is all eaten up the next day.

He has a big net of hay and a small tub for overnight, although he never seems to eat all of the tub of hay and there are still bits in the net when I go up after work the next day so I don't think he's that hungry. He is going without the haynet that I usually give him when stood outside the stable whilst I groom (I've been going swimming most nights so don't spend much time with him)

He's lost muscle over his quarters because he's not being ridden or lunged anymore but is still appearing to hold his weight. I'm getting through a round bale of hay approx every 18 days. He is fed twice a day with nuts, Dengie Healthy Hooves and carotts/apples. He is also having supa barley rings (literally half a mug of rings per day) and speedi beet. I did wonder if it was the combination of the barley rings and the expectation of food but I wouldn't have thought the barley would be of sufficient quantity to 'set him off'.

 

[Birker2020]

Mine get like this in winter and they ve seen others going in and they re are hungry and know hay is waiting for them. So I try to get them in before the yard staff start bringing others in…not a very convenient solution at times.

Hi MLC I think I will have to try and get him in as soon as I get changed after I arrive around 4pm or at least by 4.30pm if I do my stable chores first.

 

[Trouper]

It's not fun pratting about on dark winter evenings. I think if you are going to carry on bringing two in, I might take Lari's hard feed down to the field and let him eat that while I bring in friend's horse. It might break the food rush anxiety for you.

 

[Birker2020]

It's not fun pratting about on dark winter evenings. I think if you are going to carry on bringing two in, I might take Lari's hard feed down to the field and let him eat that while I bring in friend's horse. It might break the food rush anxiety for you.

That's a good idea.

 

[Goldenstar]

I would put a bridle on .

 

[Barton Bounty]

It could just be the grass, BB was wired to the moon the other day at the gate ?
I put it down to that and the wind

 

[ihatework]

Quite frankly, on an older horse that knows how to behave, I’d bollock him!
With a bridle or chain on until he remembers his manners.

 

[smolmaus]

There is something in the air this week at our place too. Maybe the wind, the cold or the moon, who knows.

Sadie has been so hungry coming in she is like a velociraptor, the usually steady as a rock Big Bay Gelding is pulling arms from sockets, I lead in a friends 29yo mare who was literally threatening to shuffle off the mortal coil 2 weeks ago and even she was looking like she might have a moment. Nobody would go near the dark end of the arena last night either!

I think Trouper's idea is a good one. Let him chew and relax himself. A bollocking might work if he is just trying it on but it also might make him worse if he is genuinely anxious (about who knows what) and when its dark and slippy anyway the least risky option is probably the best one imo! ?

 

[Barton Bounty]

There is something in the air this week at our place too. Maybe the wind, the cold or the moon, who knows.

Sadie has been so hungry coming in she is like a velociraptor, the usually steady as a rock Big Bay Gelding is pulling arms from sockets, I lead in a friends 29yo mare who was literally threatening to shuffle off the mortal coil 2 weeks ago and even she was looking like she might have a moment. Nobody would go near the dark end of the arena last night either!

I think Trouper's idea is a good one. Let him chew and relax himself. A bollocking might work if he is just trying it on but it also might make him worse if he is genuinely anxious (about who knows what) and when its dark and slippy anyway the least risky option is probably the best one imo! ?

Its this freaky weather lol

 

[mini-eventer]

Mine has been like that now we have swapped to our winter routine, I have given him the benefit of doubt and put extra hay out, although he hasn't eaten it.

But I have also brought him in, in a bridle which means he cant charge across the front of me. He jogs a bit still which I don't mind too much as long as they don't pull your arms off. but I cant abide shoulder barging and coming into my space. So I try to stamp it out pretty quick

 

[atropa]

I had this with my horses last winter as they were starving and food anticipating.

I'm afraid I solved it by now ensuring they are in before it gets dark, which I'm able to do as I work from home.
Understandably this isn't doable for some people so if I was in your shoes I would take Lari some hay or his feed to eat while you bring in the other horse, use a bridle or some kind of control headcollar to bring him in, and/or do some kind of 'work' with him immediately he comes in before he is allowed to go into his stable.

 

[oldie48]

I've had a couple who would start to get rude once the clocks went back, once I started using a bit in their mouth, they both remembered their manners. tbh I've always found it better to sort out their manners than try to avoid them getting bargy in the first place as we can't always control the situation we find ourselves in, not that I go looking for trouble! Good luck, it's horrible dealing with bargy behaviour even with ponies.

 

[Annagain]

I'd pop a bridle and lunge line on him, hat and gloves on you and get firm! I had a similar thing with Archie when I first had him - barging into his stable was his biggest issue. I had to get all crazy arm swinging, banshee wailing woman on him before he got the message. It was just enough to break his focus on getting in. I'd then make him wait patiently for the door to open, me to go in and then invite him in. Every time he goes to get in front of you, insist he stops or backs up, even if that means shocking him a bit to break the focus. Then don't let him walk on until he's stood quietly for a second or two.

I'd also not have his tea ready and waiting for him when he gets there so you break the association of coming in with having food.

 

[Deltofe2493]

Chifney, and / or to echo Trouper, bring dinner down to him. Then lead him see how he is.

My horse was wired coming in over summer when there was no grass due to the drought. I started off with the chifney, and as I was also helping with another horse here and there I would bring her breakfast to her whilst I sorted the other and she soon settled.

 

[Birker2020]

Quite frankly, on an older horse that knows how to behave, I’d bollock him!
With a bridle or chain on until he remembers his manners.

To be honest that was what my YO said as well, he certainly knows better, which is why I'm glad that I have been growling and saying NO in a very strict voice.

I just was a bit nervous advertising that fact, because I thought I might get abuse for it!

 

[Birker2020]

I'd pop a bridle and lunge line on him, hat and gloves on you and get firm! I had a similar thing with Archie when I first had him - barging into his stable was his biggest issue. I had to get all crazy arm swinging, banshee wailing woman on him before he got the message. It was just enough to break his focus on getting in. I'd then make him wait patiently for the door to open, me to go in and then invite him in. Every time he goes to get in front of you, insist he stops or backs up, even if that means shocking him a bit to break the focus. Then don't let him walk on until he's stood quietly for a second or two.

I'd also not have his tea ready and waiting for him when he gets there so you break the association of coming in with having food.

Yes wise words, thank you, I have already decided to wear my hat, he was very silly last night.

I don't think I'm cut out for this prancing around me anymore, I'm getting too old, I was quite scared last night by his antics, I was trying to get a grip but my partner was worried for me when he was there and saw me bring him in on Monday and he was acting up.

When you've had a horse for 17 years and know them inside out and no they would never hurt you and know what they are capable of and not capable of, when you have another horse its scary to then be faced with something that you don't really know how they could explode!

 

[Surbie]

I think taking his feed to the field is a great plan. Mine is brought in wearing his bridle if I have even a whiff of him being stupid or very wired. I am a bit broken, need to be safe and the track can be slippy.

I don't know if this is the same with Lari, but mine knows his strength. Before I got him he'd learned that he could pretty much go where he pleased and that's something I have to keep on top of. In a bridle he is generally mannerly.

Good luck!

 

[Birker2020]

I don't know if this is the same with Lari, but mine knows his strength. Before I got him he'd learned that he could pretty much go where he pleased and that's something I have to keep on top of. In a bridle he is generally mannerly.

Good luck!

Yes he can be strong! He's certainly changed over 12 months from a very mild and meek mannered weak horse to an opinionated power house with plenty of muscle and strength and a mind of his own!

 

[Crazy_cat_lady]

Very unpc but I only had to do it about twice with mine, but I wrapped the leadrope round the nose and tucked it back into the headcollar.

Like I say only once or twice, but I didn't take kindly to nearly being steamrolled because he didn't want to wait for a few minutes in a spare stable because the wind was bad.

 

[Birker2020]

Very unpc but I only had to do it about twice with mine, but I wrapped the leadrope round the nose and tucked it back into the headcollar.

Like I say only once or twice, but I didn't take kindly to nearly being steamrolled because he didn't want to wait for a few minutes in a spare stable because the wind was bad.

I don't blame you to be honest. I have one of those controller head collars with the chain around the nose so I might use that although I'll see how I get on with the dually first.

 

[Bellaboo18]

I haven't read the other replies but I'd take his feed to the field so he has that while you bring the other horse in.
I'd then use a control headcollar or bridle and take no nonsense!

 

[sportsmansB]

Great advice above

I'd also cut even the smallest amount of barley, I had one who it sent loopy beyond words

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

That sounds like the behaviour of a normally well-mannered but now hungry horse. I would give him his bucket feed in the field and then insist on good manners while walking to the stable

 

[splashgirl45]

I used a kemp controller on my horse and she knew if it was on and behaved, a bit easier than putting a bridle on

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Mine are terrible to bring in when the clocks change. I just bring in earlier and they are both totally fine.

 

[AdorableAlice]

Chifney and a blue pipe.

 

[Red-1]

Our old faithful Charlie Horse became like this when a more novicey person had been bringing him in. It was very annoying as he was a great horse, who was just taking advantage of the fact that there were no boundaries.

I used a rope halter and long rope. He was made to behave! I would take a step then stop, take a step then stop, take 2 steps then stop. If he 'blew through' the stop signal, he was made to turn the correct way and then back up to beyond where the transgression occurred.

I made sure I didn't 'hold' him. He had to hold his own manners. One step at a bloomin time until he remembered that he had to wait for me. Every time he pushed on me, he had to back up to beyond where the naughty happened. He grew sick of backing up, it is hard work.

First time, it took an hour to come in!

Didn't take long. Zero tolerance. He soon got the hang of zero tolerance for pushing, pulling, etc. Eating would not have happened as eating would have involved him putting pressure on the halter, which would have resulted in him reversing to behind where the sin was committed.

After the first, marathon session (where he was rather cross) next session was much shorter and the third even more so. After that, he would only need reminding a time or two and he would stop and be more thoughtful.

However, after all that, I would also either put more hay out or feed before bringing in. I don't stand for any nonsense, but I am all for an easy life. There is a difference between setting the situation up for success (as in making sure he isn't ravenous) and letting him do as he wishes (as in pushing into the halter).