Advice with youngster.

[simoneleslie]

Hey, so i have recently bought a 2 year old straight from the field.. Good boy up until me & others off the yard go out for a hack because obviously we have to leave him on his own in his stable with no other horses around, hes fine if hes brought it & left on his own with no other horses being brought in but because we all ride together we all bring our horses in from the field (i cant leave youngster out on his own) & then of course we tack up & go, leaving him on his own.. trouble i'm having is because hes not used to it hes rearing in his stable & pacing about, i know many horses would be upset also but how do i get him more used to it, it is a bit of a worry just leaving him.. although my partner if asked can be there for the first few times but i cant not ride my other just because younger doesnt like being on his own, i understand it takes time to get used to things like this but is there anything that can speed it up?

 

[twiggy2]

just put hay on the floor make sure he cant get out and leave him to it, from what you say it does not sound like he is panicking just that he is unsettled by the others going, ask you other half to sneak up there after you have all been gone for half hour, the chances are he will be snatching a mouthful of hay and walking round the box eating it and that is fine.

 

[Theocat]

Are there more than two horses on the yard? Can you ride at a different time to everyone else so he's not the only one left in?

Otherwise, perhaps try very short separations at first - so ride down the drive and come back, two minutes away and come back - so that he realises you won't be gone forever. At the same time, perhaps make sure he has human company / nice experiences at first when he's on his own.

I wouldn't expect him just to suddenly start accepting it - he's young, and he's in a situation that's both very unnatural and very new to him. Ideally I'd have him out in a field with two or three other horses while you're out riding; being brought in presumably means fuss and attention from you. Do you ever bring him in on his own and just leave him be for a bit? How does he react to that?

 

[AdorableAlice]

No one else will agree with me, but in my view horses that cannot cope being alone for short periods of time, are a pain in the backside. I know they are herd animals etc, but they need to learn to be independent.

All I do is ensure the box is safe and leave them to get over themselves. It is an important lesson that sets the young horse up for life. I put my pair of 2 years old inside separately and also in the paddock on their own to try to ensure they do note become nappy to one another and to learn it is perfectly safe and possible to live alone.

I must stress the stable/barn and paddocks must be safe if you do the same.

 

[Arizahn]

No one else will agree with me, but in my view horses that cannot cope being alone for short periods of time, are a pain in the backside. I know they are herd animals etc, but they need to learn to be independent.

All I do is ensure the box is safe and leave them to get over themselves. It is an important lesson that sets the young horse up for life. I put my pair of 2 years old inside separately and also in the paddock on their own to try to ensure they do note become nappy to one another and to learn it is perfectly safe and possible to live alone.

I must stress the stable/barn and paddocks must be safe if you do the same.

I agree, as if for no other reasons, it is useful if the animal has to be quarantined, or if there are several to bring in and only one person available to do it.

 

[simoneleslie]

no theres a few of us & i cant really go a different time because of work & things at home which would be the same reason for the others also, not only that, that wont really get him used to being on his own which is what i'm aiming for.

yea, i think im going to ask partner to perhaps go in & brush him or something while we're out & comfort him for the first few times.

theres no other horses for him to be left out with which is the problem its only a small yard with not many horses.

thank you for replying xxx

if hes brough in on his own & left he's fine, calm & settled xxx

 

[simoneleslie]

in reply to twiggy2

hey, he always has hay, ive even tried him with his feed but it still doesn't work, hes still really unsettled about it, little monkey lol.. i think i amgoing to have to ask the other half to comfort him untill hes more settled xxx

 

[simoneleslie]

in reply to AdorableAlice as i forgot to quote
i 100% agree, id just be really scared to leave him rearing at his door in case he gets stuck, the first time i left him he reared once while i was getting on the other but the others just told me to go & leave him so i did, when i came back he was just real sweated up, no cuts or anything which i guess is a good thing i just wouldn't want him to hurt himself xx

 

[Theocat]

No one else will agree with me, but in my view horses that cannot cope being alone for short periods of time, are a pain in the backside. I know they are herd animals etc, but they need to learn to be independent.

All I do is ensure the box is safe and leave them to get over themselves. It is an important lesson that sets the young horse up for life. I put my pair of 2 years old inside separately and also in the paddock on their own to try to ensure they do note become nappy to one another and to learn it is perfectly safe and possible to live alone.

I must stress the stable/barn and paddocks must be safe if you do the same.

I'd usually agree as well, but it sounds as though this horse has only recently started coming in at all, which is a lot to take in at once.

I certainly wouldn't put up with it, but I might take a bit more time with one that has had a lot of changes recently.

I did once meet one that absolutely wouldn't calm down - he'd run round and round, getting soaking wet and shouting continually, until you got back, every time you left him. That was just two horses together for years, though.

 

[simoneleslie]

I'd usually agree as well, but it sounds as though this horse has only recently started coming in at all, which is a lot to take in at once.

I certainly wouldn't put up with it, but I might take a bit more time with one that has had a lot of changes recently.

I did once meet one that absolutely wouldn't calm down - he'd run round and round, getting soaking wet and shouting continually, until you got back, every time you left him. That was just two horses together for years, though.

yes it has only been recently that he's strted coming in
how do you tell them off, should he be told off? is it naughtyness or just discomfort? i dont know how to deal with this as ive never had this issue before xx x

 

[twiggy2]

No one else will agree with me, but in my view horses that cannot cope being alone for short periods of time, are a pain in the backside. I know they are herd animals etc, but they need to learn to be independent.

All I do is ensure the box is safe and leave them to get over themselves. It is an important lesson that sets the young horse up for life. I put my pair of 2 years old inside separately and also in the paddock on their own to try to ensure they do note become nappy to one another and to learn it is perfectly safe and possible to live alone.

I must stress the stable/barn and paddocks must be safe if you do the same.

I agree with you

OP if other half goes in a comforts him there will still come a time when pony has to be left on his own whilst you all go riding, so i would just do it now

no point telling him off that will just make him anxious about what you are going to do next - just ignore him

 

[simoneleslie]

I agree with you

OP if other half goes in a comforts him there will still come a time when pony has to be left on his own whilst you all go riding, so i would just do it now

no point telling him off that will just make him anxious about what you are going to do next - just ignore him

thats true, is it just a case of leaving him to get on with it? do you think he could damage himself? xx

 

[twiggy2]

thats true, is it just a case of leaving him to get on with it? do you think he could damage himself? xx

i would make sure stable is safe/he cant get out and leave him to get on with it

 

[simoneleslie]

i would make sure stable is safe/he cant get out and leave him to get on with it

its safe as far as.. i took his hay net out & put hay on the floor so he cant get his feet in hay net, ruber water bucket in far corner, doors securly fastened.. i worry about him getting his legs stuck over the door though, is that possible?xx

 

[Spangie]

totally agree don't make too much fuss of him. if you're satisfied he can't get out and injure himself, you'll have to just leave him. he'll learn soon enough that the others come back......

Mine used to be a right pain, but if i ignored him and did other yard chores, he soon settled!

 

[abbeyjoll]

Why can you not leave him in the field? I started leaving my yearling in his stable when I rode out and he did the same as yours and I think they can do more damage being so confined. In the field he can run around and let off his steam. I have done this with my youngster since he was a yearling and have had no problems. As long as your field is safe and secure. But whatever you decide he will calm down it will just take time. Good luck!

 

[asmp]

If you have to bring him in, what about a stable mirror?

My daughter has just bought a 2 yr old and we leave him in the field but as we strip graze, we make sure he has some extra grass to eat to keep himself occupied. He did call out and run about a bit at first but we've had him for 2 months now and he realises that the other horses will come back.

 

[simoneleslie]

Why can you not leave him in the field? I started leaving my yearling in his stable when I rode out and he did the same as yours and I think they can do more damage being so confined. In the field he can run around and let off his steam. I have done this with my youngster since he was a yearling and have had no problems. As long as your field is safe and secure. But whatever you decide he will calm down it will just take time. Good luck!

its not really a case of i cant.. i think its more that i had to have my previous 2 year old put to sleep from going over the field banking which is now more secure but with only electric fencing so i think if he was to bomb up & down to let off some steam id be afraid of him doing the same xx

 

[twiggy2]

stable is safer even roaring about on the ground as it is now could do permanent damage as it is so hard, if they can gallop about it increases the adrenalin levels too and some youngsters find it hard to come down from that

 

[simoneleslie]

If you have to bring him in, what about a stable mirror?

My daughter has just bought a 2 yr old and we leave him in the field but as we strip graze, we make sure he has some extra grass to eat to keep himself occupied. He did call out and run about a bit at first but we've had him for 2 months now and he realises that the other horses will come back.

ive not thought about that.. that could be a good idea but id have no where to put it, the walls are pretty low, the only high wall is at the back of the stable.. will that still work? i think if i stopped panicing id be able to leave him out, i suppose i can always ask partner to keep an eye on him x

 

[ladyt25]

I'm thinking the same as abbeyjoll here - have you experimented leaving him in the field? You could find he is more settled if fields are more what he's used to and if he's not one for jumping out? Is he sweated up when you return as, if not I would suggest he's not getting stressed just more annoyed!

 

[simoneleslie]

yea, the ground is really hard! i think im just going to have to leave him to settle, perhaps not ride over the weekend, bring my 2 in.. brush my 4 year old then put him back out & leave youngster.. at least then im only 2 minutes away if anything was to happen

 

[Spring Feather]

Hmm it's usual to have a lead-up to separating youngsters and teaching them to be comfortable on their own. So the stable should be a safe place for him, and somewhere he is used to being. I can't bear herdbound horses, it's such a pita. Your little one should be fine in the stable providing it is safe (which it sounds like it is). I personally wouldn't leave him in the field alone and just go off riding but you can take the horses out and keep them closeby in case of emergency. As you say, you can take the big horses out and groom them within eyesight of him. If you continue to leave him in the stable alone I wouldn't advise your BF to go in to him, safer just to chatter away to him over the stable door.

 

[Hetsmum]

I agree with the build it up slowly method. My youngster also loves his treat ball.......so I teamed up the treat ball going in the box and me going for a ride with the others. He knows that when the ball goes in the others go for a ride and they will be back. It's just about establishing a routine. when I moved to a new yard I initially made sure I rode when another person was around to just 'keep an eye on him'. He adapted very quickly and is now happy to be left in paddock.......where he can see other horses, but not touch them. I don't think I would be leaving him alone in field initially though unless you have someone to keep a close eye on him. That said alot of horses are happier out than in alone as the have better allround vision of the lions and tigers coming to eat them!!!

 

[DabDab]

No one else will agree with me, but in my view horses that cannot cope being alone for short periods of time, are a pain in the backside. I know they are herd animals etc, but they need to learn to be independent.

All I do is ensure the box is safe and leave them to get over themselves. It is an important lesson that sets the young horse up for life. I put my pair of 2 years old inside separately and also in the paddock on their own to try to ensure they do note become nappy to one another and to learn it is perfectly safe and possible to live alone.

I must stress the stable/barn and paddocks must be safe if you do the same.

I agree - It's one thing that I'm hard nosed about I'm afraid. As long as I've made sure the environment they are left in is as safe as possible I do just leave them. It doesn't take most long to be alright with being left for and hour or two at a time.

 

[simoneleslie]

I agree - It's one thing that I'm hard nosed about I'm afraid. As long as I've made sure the environment they are left in is as safe as possible I do just leave them. It doesn't take most long to be alright with being left for and hour or two at a time.

well yeah i suppose

rubber water bucket, hay on floor instead of haynet & stable bankings i suppose thats all i can do, i have a treat ball so i could put that in too thank you

 

[Suechoccy]

Leave him in the field and once you've tacked up and are ready to go, bung a dish of low-energy feed (chaff mainly) into the field with them, then mount and go. If you've got a human who's happy to stay outside the field on foot with a nice book to read or radio programme to listen to the first time you do this, that will settle your nerves if not his.
Do that every day for a week or fortnight so that he realises (a) you always come back and (b) when you go out, he gets a nice feed.
They're often a lot more settled out in the field than they are in the stable. If your field causes you concern, sort out the fencing on the bank this weekend so that you don't have to wibble about that when you leave him for first time.

First few times I left my youngster in the field, he got a biggish bowl of feed and also a treatball full of chopped carrots. Now he just gets a small handful of feed in a bowl.

 

[simoneleslie]

Leave him in the field and once you've tacked up and are ready to go, bung a dish of low-energy feed (chaff mainly) into the field with them, then mount and go. If you've got a human who's happy to stay outside the field on foot with a nice book to read or radio programme to listen to the first time you do this, that will settle your nerves if not his.
Do that every day for a week or fortnight so that he realises (a) you always come back and (b) when you go out, he gets a nice feed.
They're often a lot more settled out in the field than they are in the stable. If your field causes you concern, sort out the fencing on the bank this weekend so that you don't have to wibble about that when you leave him for first time.

First few times I left my youngster in the field, he got a biggish bowl of feed and also a treatball full of chopped carrots. Now he just gets a small handful of feed in a bowl.

i'm afraid i dont £1000 to spare to have fencing done my self, thats for the YO to sort whos away for a couple of weeks at the moment, it is on the top of the list of things to do though

 

[AdorableAlice]

The advice to leave the youngster in the field concerns me. If a horse gets stressed enough it will jump/crash through all types of fencing apart from, possibly, a high thorn hedge. I am sure we have all heard of horses trying get out of jockey doors and stable windows. They will always aim for daylight, so even with high hedges, the gate will be an option out. I am no expert, but I think your young horse is at far more risk of serious injury in the field than he would be inside whilst he is being taught to grow up and accept the situation.

OP you mentioned your stable walls are low ? what is stopping the horse trying to climb out or as you mention get his legs overs. The stable needs to be solid, the window covered in metal mesh and the top door should have a grid on it, be careful with weave bars and baby feet, better to have a small square mesh up.

I know it all sounds a pain, but once you have instilled into him that life alone is fine, life for you and him will be far easier.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

 

[Suechoccy]

i'm afraid i dont £1000 to spare to have fencing done my self, thats for the YO to sort whos away for a couple of weeks at the moment, it is on the top of the list of things to do though

Fair enough! didnt' realise it wasn't your field.

You might find your youngster settles better out rather than in though. Mine was unhappy being in (I left him in at first, thinking he'd feel secure as he was stabled at night alongside his companion, but he dug holes in the earth floor and was not a happy bunny, so hubby said leave him out with food in field and go for 10 mins ride, and hubby to keep an eye on him, and next time 20 mins. And he was much much better, and after trotting round whinnying, he settled down to graze.