Desensitising a horse to other horses

bubbilygum

bubbilygum

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We went to a show today, and my horse was being awful - kicking and squealing at anything that came within 6ft of us. Luckily he didn't make contact with anyone, and I withdrew from my last two classes because he was being so vile, and I didn't want anyone to get hurt.

He's always been a bit grumpy but NEVER like this. Now I need to work out where to go from here. Currently, he is in 24/7 (yard owners orders as fields are trashed :() but is lunged/ridden most evenings and has some turn out time in the school every day.

Our yard has individual turn out, which I fear might be making his grumpiness towards other horses worse? I'm going to ask if I can move paddocks (when we can turn out again) to one where he will be at least near others, and can touch noses over the fence etc, so he has a bit more contact time with other horses.

Ideally, I need a way to work on this at home to desensitise him to other horses being around him. Has anyone got any tips or advice? He is a really sweet boy other than this, and a lamb around people, he just doesn't like horses.

I am willing to try anything! I would really like to get him to a point where we can potter around local shows without me having a nervous breakdown (which I KNOW doesn't help, but he was being dangerous and I had to call it a day rather than persevere :().

Well done, and THANK YOU! if you made it this far!
 
When I first bought my mare she was a bit like your gelding is, couldn't have any horses come near her, plus couldn't see another horse come straight at her (even at the walk).

Best way to get over it is to work them together with other horses and not indulge in their fits. Just do your regular work, and your horse will eventually learn that just by pining his ears back, whining, bucking or anything, he won't get anything in return.
 
Thank you, that's a really good idea. I might ask the other liveries if we can share the school for schooling sessions and get him used to other horses being in the same general space as him.

I'm also thinking I might try something like Rig Calm to see if that helps. He can be a bit riggy at times - he stomps and squeals at any opportunity, and even at the show today he was squeaking for no reason!

It's almost like he's overly defensive - he doesn't pick fights but he makes a real fuss if another horse gets too close. He is the same in group turnout - he will happily mull about at the other end of the field on his own, but if another horse gets too boisterous near him and he can't get away he lashes out.
 
What I have learnt is they usually do this out of fear. So you need to explain to them other horses aren't going to kill them. I'm not familiar with the product you mentioned, but if its some sort of drug or anything I would advise against it. Nothing like time and consistent work.
 
Rig calm is a herbal supplement; think it is mostly magnesium oxide and agnus castus.

I agree it is fear rather than aggression, equally I think he is very territorial. I don't want me and him to fall out either as that won't be productive at all!
 
Littlelegs said:
I think he needs daily group turn out, he just sounds a bit confused as to what is normal interaction.
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Ideally, yes, but unfortunately my yard doesn't provide this unless the horses are owned by the same person and I've only got one horse! Also I can't see another livery agreeing to turn out with mine (would you want to?!) so I'm a bit stuck at the moment. I will initially test the water with turning out next to others and see how that goes. I really like the yard we are at so I don't really want to move but if the lack of group turn out becomes a very obvious problem I will have to look at my options :(
 
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