Bulchy pony

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Briony89

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Hey!
My pony atm is being the pony from hell. Every morning when he is turned out he is being the devil. He has started to try and barge out of his stable (and has barged out) and gets really wound up when some of his friends are turned out before him.

I go up in the mornings (early) to muck him out, give him his breakfast etc and then he gets turned out by my friend a bit later (no later than 9)

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to manage this? because its not fair on the people turning him out to have to deal with him.

He is 7 so its not as if he is really young. We have recently moved (have been at the new place about two months now) so i don't know if that has something to do with it?

I can't turn him out when im there because no other horses go out at that time.

Thanks Briony x
 
Unless there is actually a rule that he can't go out by himself or he is upset being by himself why can't you just put him out first thing?
 
Awww Bri - feel for you poppet. But he's had some horrific injuries in the past and had to cope with box rest etc, and now a change of yard.... He's a lovely horse and all this stuff WON'T be because he's out to make your life miserable. It'll just be his own version of anxiety and separation. I know it's hard but the last thing he needs at the monment is getting beaten up for being worried - it'll make things worse. Medium to long term, I'd think about loads of ground work, walking him in hand, tons of understanding and tlc. Let him know he's safe and loved. Short term, of course if a horse is faffing about so much that he's a danger to you, other handlers and himself, I'd think about trying him on one of the best calming supplements. Pop another post on here for the best or get on Google! x
 
If the YO is turning out for you, can you ask them to turn him out first, or with the first horses? If it's because he's been left behind when others go out firsrt, then it might be anxiety that he will be left, especially as it seemes from the post above that he's been on box rest for some time previously. Once he's in the routine of going out, he may settle and it will become less of an issue/
 
I feel your pain as my mare has been at her new yard 4 weeks and is exactly the same desperate to get to the field in the morning and she is usually the first turned out so its not that she is worried about being left behind I think she is just desperate for grass (there is lots out in the field).

I have tackled it by making her move back from the door and making her stand and wait while I open the door and then for a few seconds with the door open before we walk out. once she barged out so I just took her back in the stable and repeated the process and she only needed to be told once now she is much more polite (altho she still occasionally squashes me against the door when I'm trying to do up her rug, but again I make her back up and stand politely.

She is a bit on her toes going to the field sometimes but again if she gets in front I make her wait until I'm ready to move on.

It takes patience but I am starting to see the rewards! (just need to work on walking back the other way now as she stops every 10 strides and needs a lot of encouragement to move!)
 
Crazydancer said:
If the YO is turning out for you, can you ask them to turn him out first, or with the first horses? If it's because he's been left behind when others go out firsrt, then it might be anxiety that he will be left, especially as it seemes from the post above that he's been on box rest for some time previously. Once he's in the routine of going out, he may settle and it will become less of an issue/
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As far as i'm aware he hasn't been on box rest (ive only had him for just over a year)

Im going to talk to one of the girls at the yard if i can turn her horse out with him. Hopefully then he will start to get into a routine.
 
Tilda said:
I feel your pain as my mare has been at her new yard 4 weeks and is exactly the same desperate to get to the field in the morning and she is usually the first turned out so its not that she is worried about being left behind I think she is just desperate for grass (there is lots out in the field).

I have tackled it by making her move back from the door and making her stand and wait while I open the door and then for a few seconds with the door open before we walk out. once she barged out so I just took her back in the stable and repeated the process and she only needed to be told once now she is much more polite (altho she still occasionally squashes me against the door when I'm trying to do up her rug, but again I make her back up and stand politely.

She is a bit on her toes going to the field sometimes but again if she gets in front I make her wait until I'm ready to move on.

It takes patience but I am starting to see the rewards! (just need to work on walking back the other way now as she stops every 10 strides and needs a lot of encouragement to move!)
Click to expand...

See that's what i have been doing with him and he is pretty (has the odd moment) well behaved with me its just when other people turn him out which is why im having problems, im never normally there when he does play up.

Im going to start doing a lot more ground work with him and getting him to wait and learn that he doesn't always get his own way.
 
Do any of the horses at your yard live out? Can you arrange to keep him out 24/7 with company? You'd still bring him in to check him/feed/ride etc... but it may help until he is settled at the yard.
 
If he's getting upset or obsessed could you distract his attention with a treat ball so he has something else to focus on?
 
Anyway you can keep him turned out 24/7?? My old NF pony was happy to stabled for weeks and then decided the moment she heard the bolt unlock, she barged the door open and legged it!!!! Tried to stop this with handling, monty rob's halters but didn't work. Just turns out she is happier living out! She's since lived out but is happy to be stabled on odd occasion for show etc without the ol' argie bargie! Good luck :D
 
ThoroughbredStar said:
Sorry briony, just seen post about 24/7.....

Can u put a bar across inside of stable so when door open cant barge???
Click to expand...

Thats what im going to try and do. Ive got a sausage which im going to put up, if he gets through that then ill have to look at a wooden post or something.

Bloody ponies! :)

Thanks for everyones help xx
 
I would definitely put some sort of bar across the stable which will at least give you time to get in and shut the stable door. He may be happier with just that anyway - some do get a feeling of claustrophobia particularly if the door is a bit high. Then I would only lead him out in a bridle which will give you more control. If he starts pulling just turn him in a tight circle until he gets bored of it!
Good luck.
 
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