Tierra
Well-Known Member
Alright, Im really really after some advice please. This is going to be quite long as i think the horse's history is important. Please bear with me
This time last year I moved my horse from the UK to Denmark. Prior to the move, he was on full livery and out every day (barring awful weather). For the *majority* of this time, he was in an all-gelding group. For a short time, he was out alone as he had accident after accident due to being involved in fights. I should stress, my horse has never been agressive but he seemed to get picked on a lot. In both groups and alone - he was fine. When alone, he was in a field adjacent to other horses - never out of view of them. Never had issues catching him. Not too keen on being the last to be fetched in but aside from running and shouting, he would cope.
I moved him to denmark and he went on livery at a large competition centre. Over summer, this centre does have turnout but its far from ideal. If you want the horse out all day, they have ONE field for this. There was zero organisation for it. Whoever wanted their horse out would just let it loose in this field. That resulted in unpredictable, mixed sex groups where horses would be coming and going all day. It also meant you NEVER knew when people would be taking theirs in and they would leave yours alone. As this field was a good 5 minute walk from the yard, this left me very uncomfortable.
For those who werent happy with this, you could have 1 hour per day in individual fields.
I made the effort to put Jack out daily but he never settled well. One of the fields (and the one he went in most) was very isolated. He'd spend most of his time lingering around the gate waiting for you to take him back in. The second field was adjacent to two others so they could see the horses. Again, he never settled well and would walk up and down the fence where the others were. Mixing wasnt an option.
From october last year, we lost all turnout. You could put them out for a blast in the indoor schools. This is what Jack has had daily since October. For a brief time, he was out with another gelding and they played and got along great. For the most of it, he was on his own.
Stable setup was good. An american barn setting with half walls (the top half being bars), so the horses could interact.
Please can i stress at this point, I became increasingly unhappy with the way the horses were kept at this yard as i didnt like the lack of turnout. IMO, putting him there was a mistake but the alternatives were few and far between.
Last Tuesday, I moved Jack to our new house. As part of the house sale, we agree'd to take over the previous owners two donkeys. I plan being that these would be company for Jack as Im keen to get him back to being a horse. We have just over three acres, seperated into two fields. Atm, there is a small lane seperating these two fields.
When Jack arrived, the donkeys were diagonally opposite Jacks stable. His stable was closest to the barn doors leading out to the fields. These doors arent great, theyre basically like two house front doors stuck together to make a split barn door. Theyre quite low and while there is plenty of clearing for the horse to come in and out safely, it does mean the light changes quite radically. These doors have glass panels in them (this sounds mundane but im explaining for a reason).
From the first night, Jack has basically stood staring at these doors. Ive been turning him out daily on his own in the summer field. This field backs onto a neighbours fields so he can see their horses. He cant talk to them. Our fields are seperated by a small stream. Those horses largely ignore jack. The first day out, all he did was trot and canter up and down that fence. I left him out for a good few hours to burn some energy tbh. He came in sweaty.
Second day he fenced walked for a few hours, he took the odd bite of grass but very few. He didnt come in sweaty.
Third day he was eating more, but close to the fence adjoining the other horses. The donkeys are in the field across the lane so he can see them. He'd snort and glare at them but stick close to the other horses.
Last two days hes been grazing normally. He'll wander around the field quite happily and has spent 99% of his time eating.
Today however he was bad to catch. When i went to get him, he ran up and down the fence close to the others, refusing to come in. It took me a good 20 minutes to get him and by this time, he was sweaty.
At night, hes staring at the barn doors that lead outside. Now, I know hes not keen on the donkeys, but hes largely ignoring them at night and fixating on these barn doors. As i said, they have glass panels in them and the lights are on at night (as ive been checking on him). I dont know if perhaps he can see his reflection or a light reflection? The doors arent very secure and creak slightly in the wind.
First night he wouldnt eat. In our defence, we were trying to give him hay and hes never much liked it. By the second day we located haylage and he started to eat. Last couple of nights he's finished all his haylage by the morning. Hes had small hard feeds to get some calmer down him (and put a bit of weight on as the stressing has caused him to drop some).
This is the strange part in a way.
He will ONLY eat his hard feed if either i stand and hold the bucket or its on the floor directly infront of his door. If i put it in his trough, it means he has to turn away from those barn doors and he wont. You can leave carrots, apples, sugar, mints, hard food, anything in that trough and he wont eat it. He just stares at the doors. He does move a tad during the night. I only know this due to his droppings. Largely, whenever you go in, his staring at the doors. Even when hes eating haylage, he grabs a mouthful and lifts his head back up to stare. Hes had the look of a worried horse without a doubt. Come morning, hes saying please to go out.
Turning him out is easy. Bringing him in is a task. He doesnt seem keen to go near the stable block at all. I honestly dont know if this is because of the donkeys or the barn itself. Crossing the field takes a while as he has to stand and stare (and snort). Coming into the barn takes a while as he stands outside the doors, snorts and stares. Ive tried bringing him in first and ive tried bringing the donkeys in first.
On balance, bringing the donks in first is easiest. If i take him in first, they can come to the fence and then he wont walk past them.
Tonight i tried something different. Ive moved jack into the box furthest away from the barn doors and NEXT TO the donkeys.
My stables have half walls with bars on the top half so he can very much see and talk to them
Atm, hes staring very closely at them and snorting. He doesnt look terrified at all. Hes talked to both of them through the bars. When theyre talking, he goes into stallion mode.. neck arched, breathing deeply. His ears are forwards but again he has a worried look. Atm, he wont eat. Hes just watching them. They dont give a damn about him tbh. When I last checked, he showed the tiniest bit of aggression towards the female. She went to say hi to him, they "talked through the bars" and when she backed away he made a slight lunging motion with his neck - almost like he was chasing her off. Ears werent back at all though.
So. Id like some thoughts please.
Im really confused about his behaviour. In the stable away from them, he just fixates on the barn doors and seems edgy. He doesnt really move from the front of his stable - even if food is involved, but he will eat if he doesnt have to move
In the stable next to them, hes hanging close to the wall with them but now wont eat (although i only moved him like two hours ago).
I have many options in terms of stable setup. I can leave him where he is, away from the barn doors and move the donkeys. However i would like him to get used to them. The year here seems to have made him forget how to be a horse almost? Hes not been out with any and allowed to play so i want desperatly to make a herd out of this.
I could move him back to the old stable and im pretty sure he'll eat over night then. However i also know he'll stare at the bloody doors all night and not really move - in itself this seems odd behaviour to me.
I could leave them as they are and go with the thought that he'll eat when he settles. This does, of course, mean that he might now eat all tonight. He did have about 6 hours on grass earlier and he had a couple of mouthfuls of haylage when he came in. I doubt he's going to eat overnight where he is now. He just wants to watch them.
So, bring it on guys! Id love any and all suggestions. As i said, i know its a loooooooooong post but i think the history is relevant. At least the lack of turnout over the last year.
I'll admit to being worried. I dont really know what to do for the best at this stage and i dont like him not eating. Hes nice and relaxed in the field until he has to come in, then he just looks worried. Its perfectly possible his fixation on the doors is wanting to go out and be close to the other horses? However i need him to integrate on some degree with these donkeys. On the other hand, he seems nervous of the doors imo (i know it sounds crazy and i dont know why he would be).
I know some horses take a lot of time to get used to donkeys - but im sure it should be possible?
Any and all suggestions are welcomed PLEASE. I really feel like im smacking my head into a brick wall atm.
This time last year I moved my horse from the UK to Denmark. Prior to the move, he was on full livery and out every day (barring awful weather). For the *majority* of this time, he was in an all-gelding group. For a short time, he was out alone as he had accident after accident due to being involved in fights. I should stress, my horse has never been agressive but he seemed to get picked on a lot. In both groups and alone - he was fine. When alone, he was in a field adjacent to other horses - never out of view of them. Never had issues catching him. Not too keen on being the last to be fetched in but aside from running and shouting, he would cope.
I moved him to denmark and he went on livery at a large competition centre. Over summer, this centre does have turnout but its far from ideal. If you want the horse out all day, they have ONE field for this. There was zero organisation for it. Whoever wanted their horse out would just let it loose in this field. That resulted in unpredictable, mixed sex groups where horses would be coming and going all day. It also meant you NEVER knew when people would be taking theirs in and they would leave yours alone. As this field was a good 5 minute walk from the yard, this left me very uncomfortable.
For those who werent happy with this, you could have 1 hour per day in individual fields.
I made the effort to put Jack out daily but he never settled well. One of the fields (and the one he went in most) was very isolated. He'd spend most of his time lingering around the gate waiting for you to take him back in. The second field was adjacent to two others so they could see the horses. Again, he never settled well and would walk up and down the fence where the others were. Mixing wasnt an option.
From october last year, we lost all turnout. You could put them out for a blast in the indoor schools. This is what Jack has had daily since October. For a brief time, he was out with another gelding and they played and got along great. For the most of it, he was on his own.
Stable setup was good. An american barn setting with half walls (the top half being bars), so the horses could interact.
Please can i stress at this point, I became increasingly unhappy with the way the horses were kept at this yard as i didnt like the lack of turnout. IMO, putting him there was a mistake but the alternatives were few and far between.
Last Tuesday, I moved Jack to our new house. As part of the house sale, we agree'd to take over the previous owners two donkeys. I plan being that these would be company for Jack as Im keen to get him back to being a horse. We have just over three acres, seperated into two fields. Atm, there is a small lane seperating these two fields.
When Jack arrived, the donkeys were diagonally opposite Jacks stable. His stable was closest to the barn doors leading out to the fields. These doors arent great, theyre basically like two house front doors stuck together to make a split barn door. Theyre quite low and while there is plenty of clearing for the horse to come in and out safely, it does mean the light changes quite radically. These doors have glass panels in them (this sounds mundane but im explaining for a reason).
From the first night, Jack has basically stood staring at these doors. Ive been turning him out daily on his own in the summer field. This field backs onto a neighbours fields so he can see their horses. He cant talk to them. Our fields are seperated by a small stream. Those horses largely ignore jack. The first day out, all he did was trot and canter up and down that fence. I left him out for a good few hours to burn some energy tbh. He came in sweaty.
Second day he fenced walked for a few hours, he took the odd bite of grass but very few. He didnt come in sweaty.
Third day he was eating more, but close to the fence adjoining the other horses. The donkeys are in the field across the lane so he can see them. He'd snort and glare at them but stick close to the other horses.
Last two days hes been grazing normally. He'll wander around the field quite happily and has spent 99% of his time eating.
Today however he was bad to catch. When i went to get him, he ran up and down the fence close to the others, refusing to come in. It took me a good 20 minutes to get him and by this time, he was sweaty.
At night, hes staring at the barn doors that lead outside. Now, I know hes not keen on the donkeys, but hes largely ignoring them at night and fixating on these barn doors. As i said, they have glass panels in them and the lights are on at night (as ive been checking on him). I dont know if perhaps he can see his reflection or a light reflection? The doors arent very secure and creak slightly in the wind.
First night he wouldnt eat. In our defence, we were trying to give him hay and hes never much liked it. By the second day we located haylage and he started to eat. Last couple of nights he's finished all his haylage by the morning. Hes had small hard feeds to get some calmer down him (and put a bit of weight on as the stressing has caused him to drop some).
This is the strange part in a way.
He will ONLY eat his hard feed if either i stand and hold the bucket or its on the floor directly infront of his door. If i put it in his trough, it means he has to turn away from those barn doors and he wont. You can leave carrots, apples, sugar, mints, hard food, anything in that trough and he wont eat it. He just stares at the doors. He does move a tad during the night. I only know this due to his droppings. Largely, whenever you go in, his staring at the doors. Even when hes eating haylage, he grabs a mouthful and lifts his head back up to stare. Hes had the look of a worried horse without a doubt. Come morning, hes saying please to go out.
Turning him out is easy. Bringing him in is a task. He doesnt seem keen to go near the stable block at all. I honestly dont know if this is because of the donkeys or the barn itself. Crossing the field takes a while as he has to stand and stare (and snort). Coming into the barn takes a while as he stands outside the doors, snorts and stares. Ive tried bringing him in first and ive tried bringing the donkeys in first.
On balance, bringing the donks in first is easiest. If i take him in first, they can come to the fence and then he wont walk past them.
Tonight i tried something different. Ive moved jack into the box furthest away from the barn doors and NEXT TO the donkeys.
My stables have half walls with bars on the top half so he can very much see and talk to them
Atm, hes staring very closely at them and snorting. He doesnt look terrified at all. Hes talked to both of them through the bars. When theyre talking, he goes into stallion mode.. neck arched, breathing deeply. His ears are forwards but again he has a worried look. Atm, he wont eat. Hes just watching them. They dont give a damn about him tbh. When I last checked, he showed the tiniest bit of aggression towards the female. She went to say hi to him, they "talked through the bars" and when she backed away he made a slight lunging motion with his neck - almost like he was chasing her off. Ears werent back at all though.
So. Id like some thoughts please.
Im really confused about his behaviour. In the stable away from them, he just fixates on the barn doors and seems edgy. He doesnt really move from the front of his stable - even if food is involved, but he will eat if he doesnt have to move
In the stable next to them, hes hanging close to the wall with them but now wont eat (although i only moved him like two hours ago).
I have many options in terms of stable setup. I can leave him where he is, away from the barn doors and move the donkeys. However i would like him to get used to them. The year here seems to have made him forget how to be a horse almost? Hes not been out with any and allowed to play so i want desperatly to make a herd out of this.
I could move him back to the old stable and im pretty sure he'll eat over night then. However i also know he'll stare at the bloody doors all night and not really move - in itself this seems odd behaviour to me.
I could leave them as they are and go with the thought that he'll eat when he settles. This does, of course, mean that he might now eat all tonight. He did have about 6 hours on grass earlier and he had a couple of mouthfuls of haylage when he came in. I doubt he's going to eat overnight where he is now. He just wants to watch them.
So, bring it on guys! Id love any and all suggestions. As i said, i know its a loooooooooong post but i think the history is relevant. At least the lack of turnout over the last year.
I'll admit to being worried. I dont really know what to do for the best at this stage and i dont like him not eating. Hes nice and relaxed in the field until he has to come in, then he just looks worried. Its perfectly possible his fixation on the doors is wanting to go out and be close to the other horses? However i need him to integrate on some degree with these donkeys. On the other hand, he seems nervous of the doors imo (i know it sounds crazy and i dont know why he would be).
I know some horses take a lot of time to get used to donkeys - but im sure it should be possible?
Any and all suggestions are welcomed PLEASE. I really feel like im smacking my head into a brick wall atm.
