Barging out of stable

[NPCXL]

Hi I’m not sure if I’ve posted in the correct place as I’m new but here goes.

We recently (2 months ago) purchased a 7 y/o pony (14.1hh, Welsh d X) and ever since we’ve been having some issues with keeping him in his stable. Now for background we purchased from a lady on our current yard, she kept him here for almost a year. Prior to this, he was in a tie stall.

We’ve tried making his stable a “fun” environment with treats and in stable grooming, spent time taking him in/out, keep it very clean and he has full view of 20 other horses on the yard.

He has recently started barging through me when I’m leaving his stable, it doesn’t matter how much I push against him or tell him to get back - he will get out even if it means covering me in bruises. Once he’s out, he just stands there or takes a couple of slow steps around the yard and is a nightmare to get back in the stable (4 people at least). We’ve also noticed that he is starting to box walk for a couple of minutes when he first goes in (successfully) and if anyone stands next to his door he will push them away with his head.

I do have to mention that he is absolutely foot perfect and has amazing manners in every other way, he will do anything asked of him other than go and stay in his stable. We’re a bit stuck at this point, turn out is available 24/7 in the summer but when it comes to winter he needs to be in from 6pm - 8am (due to limited grazing).

We could leave him out all summer however when winter rolls around it’s going to be much harder to get him into the routine. Any suggestions would be great.

 

[nagblagger]

Could you leave him out and just bring him in for his food so he associates it with pleasant things. Initially just for a few minutes then building up the time he is there. Sounds like he is bored and stressed for some reason, has something happened in his stable or has his neighbours changed?

 

[NPCXL]

Could you leave him out and just bring him in for his food so he associates it with pleasant things. Initially just for a few minutes then building up the time he is there. Sounds like he is bored and stressed for some reason, has something happened in his stable or has his neighbours changed?

We’ve been doing this for a few weeks now, it started with just his feed and we’ve started adding 5 or so minutes after he is finished eating to have some hay. In the time we’ve had him nothing has changed, all neighbours are the same and he’s never injured himself in the stable that we are aware of - I’ve spoken with the previous owner (as we are good friends) and she never noticed him hurting himself either.

We’ve tried all forms of treats including treat balls, lickits, grass blocks and salt licks - he won’t bother with any of them. There is 100% some stress there, we just can’t seem to figure out how to ease it!

 

[Barton Bounty]

Have you tried a stall guard to make him stay back ?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

He is probably revelling in the fact that he now has room to move in his stable and very wary of being stuck somewhere that he can't get out of. Stalls do not suit all ponies, especially if they haven't been carefully trained to them. I guess it's a bit like horses who have been kept on their own developing separation anxiety when they do have company.
I would knave him out 24/7 while you can and use the time to get him used to being fed (bucket feed) in the stable, gradually extending the length of time and ensuring that he is never left there without something to eat. A mirror also might help him to settle.

 

[NPCXL]

Have you tried a stall guard to make him stay back ?

We’ve tried the rubber/plastic-y one, unfortunately he ends up going through it - the door jambs are wooden so the bolts rip out

 

[ponyparty]

Are there other horses in while he’s in? My old boy would go berserk if he couldn’t see other horses whilst in his stable. If all/most of the other horses on the yard are out, as the yard’s on 24/7 turnout at the moment, then this could be stressing him out. If that’s the case, you may find he’s more settled when they’re all in the same routine and he can see lots of other horses while he’s in.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I would teach a vocal back in hand, with swinging a rope toward his chest or tapping with a dressage whip to back up the voice. Once this is established (shouldn't take long) then start to do it around the yard in different environments, then take it to the stable. Keep the door shut and practise the cue in the stable with lots of treats/scratches (whatever floats his boat), once he is happy to do it around the stable, then practise it one pace at a time toward the door. Make sure you don't take it too quick with this bit as you want to keep him below his threshold. Eventually and incrementally I would hope that this would help. In the meantime I would try reversing him in if necessary to stable him, and keeping a mounting block in there to exit over the door rather than through it if he poses that much of a risk. But ideally I would have him out in the field 100% of the time for now.

 

[Carlosmum]

My old pony was claustrophobic. fine in am open barn stable with high roof and open sides but hated a traditional 'closed' wooden stable.

 

[mini-eventer]

How long is he in for? HOw much turn out does he get. Could he be getting a bit fed up?

 

[eggs]

I have a wooden slip rail across the door of one of horse's stables. The fixings for it are attached to the inside of the stable so that if he leans on it they don't just pop out. He has to have it as he is very big and leans on the door and pops the catches open without it.

Not sure on what is stressing him other than maybe he isn't used to being stabled. I would keep on doing what you are doing. Bring him in, leave him for a few minutes to settle and then give him his feed. Leave him for a few more minutes and then take him back out to the field. It might be good to put a bridle on to give you more control when taking him out of the stable so that you can have him stand at the door whilst you slide the rail back and only be allowed through the door on your command.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I have a wooden slip rail across the door of one of horse's stables. The fixings for it are attached to the inside of the stable so that if he leans on it they don't just pop out. He has to have it as he is very big and leans on the door and pops the catches open without it.

Not sure on what is stressing him other than maybe he isn't used to being stabled. I would keep on doing what you are doing. Bring him in, leave him for a few minutes to settle and then give him his feed. Leave him for a few more minutes and then take him back out to the field. It might be good to put a bridle on to give you more control when taking him out of the stable so that you can have him stand at the door whilst you slide the rail back and only be allowed through the door on your command.

I would have his feed waiting for him tbh. I would be worried that he wouldn't settle without the feed.

 

[Prancerpoos]

Have you tried putting him in another stable in a different part of the yard / another yard - I.e. is it that particular box he has issues with?

 

[Arzada]

We’ve tried the rubber/plastic-y one, unfortunately he ends up going through it - the door jambs are wooden so the bolts rip out

Perhaps try a slip rail with slip rail brackets

eg https://www.viovet.co.uk/Stubbs-Sli...g&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=surfaces_UK

We used similar successfully on a large yard. They give a more open feel to the stable (because the doorway is open!), the horses can see out with their heads in a more natural resting position compared with head over door and they make it easy for people to move in and out of the stables. Arzada eg eats his feed steadily when he can see around but with a closed door he keeps checking outside resulting in feed scattered. The rails also make for a quieter yard because doors, bolts, kickovers aren't banging away. The rails are fitted on the inside so they stable door can still be closed (ours were closed overnight).

If this was my pony I would definitely try one. He may well be happier with the 'open' doorway. You'd have the headcollar/bridle on your pony before sliding the rail open and more easily be able to train him to wait to move out.

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

Metal bar in metal sockets to slide into position. I had a gelding who did this once…with him it was bad manners. I worked in hand with him and was very firm about him moving out of my way and keeping back when I told him to. He s realised he can use his weight and will continue to do so until that one time barging isn’t successful. I wouldnt have feed in there for him to come into..that can cause other issues. Maybe the toys and distractions are too much? Lead him in, turn around, keep hold of him. Shut the door..drop a treat onto floor. Stand with him til relaxed. Teach him to go back..unclip and leave stable Without opening door wide. If he rushes to front..move him back, stand til calm, drop treat on floor..leave. It ll take as long as it takes..your patience has to outlive his.

 

[ihatework]

I would add a wooden slip rail
I’d test out a different stable
I’d work religiously on teaching a back up command

But ultimately, barging out through you is god damn dangerous- welshies do a very good line in playing on anxieties- and if above doesn’t sort it out pretty quickly I’d quite frankly bollock him

 

[wiglet]

Have you tried putting him in another stable in a different part of the yard / another yard - I.e. is it that particular box he has issues with?

Echo this. On a previous yard, my mare wouldn't settle in her stable. Moved her to a stable on the other side of yard and.... you could leave the stable door open and she wouldn't move anywhere!

 

[Landcruiser]

He doesn't want to be in there - for whatever reason. He's found a way to get out successfully (through you). This is a training/learned behaviour issue. He needs to actually learn it's ok in there, and it's not acceptable to barge through people. Adding more reinforcements isn't going to solve the issue or make him settle. I would highly recommend getting a good trainer in to work with him and you. An IH one, or Steve Young, or Richard Maxwell - it might seem expensive but it may save you or someone else, or your pony, from serious injury.