Box walking

[Charla]

I purchased my mare direct from her breeder in July, where she had always lived out in a small herd (She’s 4 years old). I kept her on training livery for five months, where I had no issues other than she would sometimes fence walk. It was individual turn out there and she would do it if she saw another horse come in. She was happy in her stable (indoor barn surrounded by other horses) and happy to deal with in all respects. All horses were in the same routine and the yard was run by a professional couple. Due to being furloughed and finances becoming tight, I had to move her to a DIY yard nearer to me. This yard is a large yard but has several different sections to it, so on her part of the yard (DIY bit), it is just 8 horses in total. They are turned out in pairs, there is no other option for anything else field wise.
Since moving her, she has become extremely insecure and attached to the horse she shares a field with. This means it isn’t safe to bring her field mate in without her. I can cope with that, however when she comes in, she box walks terribly.
The other horse has two sharers as well as the owner, so is ridden a lot and at all different times of the day. This means my horse is being brought in from 12pm some days and when the other horse is taken off to be ridden, she’s in alone and she can’t cope. She box walks profusely, sweats, even foams up. Today she has cut her face somehow whilst stressing. I’m at my wits end with stress and worry about her. What would you do in this situation?
I can’t add another to the field, it isn’t allowed and there isn’t another horse to do so anyway. She has no field mates in the fields next door as the owners are currently resting those fields.
Moving yards isn’t an option right now, there is nothing available locally DIY.
How do people try to help box walking and anxious behaviour? Are there any calmers that actually work? She wouldn’t even consider looking at a nut ball or similar as she just switches in to this anxious mind set and loses interest in anything else.
Please help!

 

[Caol Ila]

Been there, done that. Got all the t-shirts. My horse boxwalks and fencewalks if yard management isn't to her liking, and unless the yard has both the will and facilities to modify how it manages the horse -- i.e. in your case, put her in a larger herd or a busier barn -- then I'm afraid moving is the only card you can play.

I could -- and did -- throw every calmer and behaviourist trick known to man at my horse, but if she was in a situation where she felt like she needed to fencewalk, nothing would stop her.

If you own a horse like this, the only thing I can recommend is alcohol. For you.

 

[Kahlua]

What a stressful time for you both! It sounds like she loves a set routine and the sooner you can get her into one the happier she will be. Anything you can do to make the stable a fun/nice place to be so she associates it with this rather than a place where she gets put and then gets lonely should help (think treat balls, full hay nets, stable teddy, maybe a yummy mash ready for her). In the meantime you could try a mirror in the stable (obviously make sure it is shatter proof), horses who on the odd occasion I have had to stable by themselves over the years have reacted well to this because they feel like they have a friend. Also a radio with some talkback on can help (you want more chatting and if any music plays than you want it to be classical, there were some studies a few years ago that pop music etc can upset them). You’ll also want to treat for ulcers as she sounds like she’s really working herself up and I’d say she will have most likely given herself some.

 

[Charla]

What a stressful time for you both! It sounds like she loves a set routine and the sooner you can get her into one the happier she will be. Anything you can do to make the stable a fun/nice place to be so she associates it with this rather than a place where she gets put and then gets lonely should help (think treat balls, full hay nets, stable teddy, maybe a yummy mash ready for her). In the meantime you could try a mirror in the stable (obviously make sure it is shatter proof), horses who on the odd occasion I have had to stable by themselves over the years have reacted well to this because they feel like they have a friend. Also a radio with some talkback on can help. You’ll also want to treat for ulcers as she sounds like she’s really working herself up and I’d say she will have most likely given herself some.

luckily I’m ahead of the game on the ulcer part. She’s already on the treatment (I had some left from a previous horse) and vet advised I started giving to her given what she’s currently going through so I’m hoping that will help her.
I’ll try the mirror, treat ball, mash. She always has a full haynet on offer although is too stressed to eat.

 

[Charla]

What a stressful time for you both! It sounds like she loves a set routine and the sooner you can get her into one the happier she will be. Anything you can do to make the stable a fun/nice place to be so she associates it with this rather than a place where she gets put and then gets lonely should help (think treat balls, full hay nets, stable teddy, maybe a yummy mash ready for her). In the meantime you could try a mirror in the stable (obviously make sure it is shatter proof), horses who on the odd occasion I have had to stable by themselves over the years have reacted well to this because they feel like they have a friend. Also a radio with some talkback on can help (you want more chatting and if any music plays than you want it to be classical, there were some studies a few years ago that pop music etc can upset them). You’ll also want to treat for ulcers as she sounds like she’s really working herself up and I’d say she will have most likely given herself some.

Been there, done that. Got all the t-shirts. My horse boxwalks and fencewalks if yard management isn't to her liking, and unless the yard has both the will and facilities to modify how it manages the horse -- i.e. in your case, put her in a larger herd or a busier barn -- then I'm afraid moving is the only card you can play.

I could -- and did -- throw every calmer and behaviourist trick known to man at my horse, but if she was in a situation where she felt like she needed to fencewalk, nothing would stop her.

If you own a horse like this, the only thing I can recommend is alcohol. For you.

Oh gosh, this is scary. So the only real answer is find a yard that caters to her needs. A herd would be ideal.
Alcohol it is ?

 

[Kahlua]

Well done on being on top of that! If you can keep her tummy happy that will help. I’m not surprised she’s ignoring the hay as she’s so upset, she will probably ignore the other things as well but it’s worth a try just in case. It’s really about trying whatever you can to make the stable a happy place. It’s tough and it may never work for her at this age, without having more of a set routine, but when you don’t have any other choices it’s worth giving everything a crack!!

The positive news is that you know she has been good before, and the elements that went into her being happy and the reason why she’s upset now. The hard thing is going to be replicating that without moving her. Hope you can find something that works for you

 

[Griffin]

Box walking can be really hard to stop unfortunately,

I would try a stable mirror and toys. My friend has good success with using Likits in their various holders but you probably don't want to add too much sugar (although if she is only in for a couple of hours, you are probably ok). I wonder if she feels claustrophobic? If so, a chain across the door might help but be warned I have seen horses just walk through them.

In terms of calmers, I know it is an absolute heresy on H&H but Hack Up Bespoke really helped my mare when I first got her and she was very stressy! We are now at the stage two years down the line that we have been able to remove the calming elements of her supplement and are now just using the digestive and joint bits. It might be worth a go.

 

[Caol Ila]

Kahlua's suggestions are good if it's a 'normal' horse that's just a bit stressed and lonely, but if it has serious stereotypies, OCD for all intents and purposes, then none of that will do a damned thing. I've attempted most of it! All you can do is identify the triggers (as best you can... I've had my horse for 20 years and I don't entirely understand all her triggers) and try not to put the horse in a situation where it's triggered.

Start yard hunting. And drinking.

 

[Merry neddy man]

www.*******.co.uk and www.*******.co.uk may help

 

[ihatework]

You don’t want this behaviour ingrained so you have to move her elsewhere ASAP. I think the positive is she was settled before so hopefully finding the right yard vibe she will settle again

 

[be positive]

You don’t want this behaviour ingrained so you have to move her elsewhere ASAP. I think the positive is she was settled before so hopefully finding the right yard vibe she will settle again

I agree, no amount of distractions are going to stop this behaviour and until she can be in a settled routine she is only getting more distressed and it is becoming more established, she is young enough to improve if you act now, turning away 24/7 for the rest of the winter would be ideal if you can find somewhere.

 

[TheMule]

Can you imagine living in that state of anxiety the whole time? You may get away with swapping her stable and field at her current yard so that she has company the whole time? It may be less convenient for you, but otherwise you need to move her somewhere appropriate for her ASAP, or sell her to someone who can keep her appropriately.

 

[Equi]

There is only one option and it is to move. You can’t stop this sort of thing without changing the circumstances.