Gate issues :/

MasterBenedict

MasterBenedict

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Ok, so my 20 month old gelding is extremely well behaved with 99% of things....

However he has recently started being quite bargy at the gate when it is time to come in (he doesnt do it every day). He is out in the day with 1 other livery, and it is causing a few problems at bringing in time. As I don't finish work until after the other horse is bought in, this leaves his owner needing about 10 arms to lead her horse out, keep mine in and close the gate at the same time! He isn't dangerous, just stubborn and willfull.

I have today put up a small area fenced off outside the gate just in case mine does escape - which is very good timing because tonight he got out it and thanks to this was contained from getting on to the road.

I realise that this somewhat stops the problem, but I want to know if anyone has any tips or hints as how to stop it in the first place, before he actually gets out the first gate into the pen and how to make my boy feel more secure on his own? Any comments saying I need to be there at the same time will not be helpful as this just isn't possible every day and I do feel all horses should learn to cope on their own for short periods of time. I also don't think food is the answer as then he will expect this every time and possibly make things worse.

Any advice much appreciated!
 
From the horses pov, its teatime, he wants to get in, & his mate is going without him, on a daily basis, so I don't think its just a case of bad manners. I do expect manners, but at the same time, its not fair to test them to extremes on a daily basis. I think your options are either pay someone to bring in at the same time. Or pay/ swop duties with other owner so they will. Even if they won't lead both together, I think its fair enough to expect good enough manners for yours to wait 5mins while she goes back for him. Or, as at this time of year hunger will be a lot of it, ask her to put a leaf of hay down for yours when hers comes in.
 
Littlelegs said:
From the horses pov, its teatime, he wants to get in, & his mate is going without him, on a daily basis, so I don't think its just a case of bad manners. I do expect manners, but at the same time, its not fair to test them to extremes on a daily basis. I think your options are either pay someone to bring in at the same time. Or pay/ swop duties with other owner so they will. Even if they won't lead both together, I think its fair enough to expect good enough manners for yours to wait 5mins while she goes back for him. Or, as at this time of year hunger will be a lot of it, ask her to put a leaf of hay down for yours when hers comes in.
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Some good points raised, but he really isn't left for that long - I would say a maximum of about 20-30 minutes tops between them coming in. Even if it was 5 mins this doesn't stop him being bargy at the gate. He has to learn he can't always be the first one in. He swapped fields not that long ago and there is still grass in it for him and he is never 'starving' when he comes in. Likes to eat his feed straight away of course but doesn't tend to go straight for the hay afterwards.

I could ask for hay to be put out, but I don't think hunger is the problem. Difficult as well because it is not every day - just when he's feeling like it XD
 
I think though asking one to wait 5 mins you have a right to correct them. We have a similar situation on our yard. The horse isn't stupid, & has figured out that he doesn't need to make a run for it because he'll get in after a few minutes wait. Whereas left longer, he'd probably decide the consequences of getting into a fight with me were worth the result.
 
Littlelegs said:
I think though asking one to wait 5 mins you have a right to correct them. We have a similar situation on our yard. The horse isn't stupid, & has figured out that he doesn't need to make a run for it because he'll get in after a few minutes wait. Whereas left longer, he'd probably decide the consequences of getting into a fight with me were worth the result.
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Fair enough, but how does a horse know you will be back in 5 mins? What happens if on an odd occassion due to unforseen circumstances you cant get there dead on a certain time? I agree strongly that horses need routine but I have seen awful cases of horses getting themselves into such a hysterical state when something gets changed/the time or order something is done is slightly different. I don't want mine to get stuck in this rut. Please don't get me wrong, I really appreciate your advice and ideas, just trying to see all options and different points of view :)
 
They soon clock onto the fact they're getting seen to shortly & to be patient. Then if there is a one off occasion they are left they tend to deal with it quite well, cos they seem to accept they will be seen to at some point. I've nearly always had mine in herd turnout, & mainly on diy yards. And I would honestly say the worst gate bargers are always the ones that are always left till last. Ime if one that usually comes in first gets left, they aren't a pita in the way the always last horse is.
 
Littlelegs said:
They soon clock onto the fact they're getting seen to shortly & to be patient. Then if there is a one off occasion they are left they tend to deal with it quite well, cos they seem to accept they will be seen to at some point. I've nearly always had mine in herd turnout, & mainly on diy yards. And I would honestly say the worst gate bargers are always the ones that are always left till last. Ime if one that usually comes in first gets left, they aren't a pita in the way the always last horse is.
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Ok thank you, will try this for the next couple of weeks and see what happens. Thankfully the days are getting longer, which means the other livery gets there a bit later and in the last few days I have arrived very soon afTer she has. Will see if i can get him straight in before I sort his feed etc out which would probably mean about 5-10 mins between them coming in.

Soon they will be out 24/7 and I won't have to worry hopefully (just don't want him to make this a habit so if she gets hers out to ride it won't be an issue) - roll on spring!
 
Put up a square of electric fencing inside the gate way to keep him back. Much easier getting one through that as you can just open it enough to let one through.
 
FfionWinnie said:
Put up a square of electric fencing inside the gate way to keep him back. Much easier getting one through that as you can just open it enough to let one through.
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Have already done this - its just on the outside of the gate as this is easier with the way the field is set up. Makes it into not too much of an issue but would be nice to not have it there tbh.

Thought I would also add that when I go to fetch him in he isn't bargy at all - happily lets me walk in, put head collar on and lead back to his stable at a very sedate pace - no pulling or pushing at all. In fact I have been teaching him voice commands and he stops and walks on when I ask him to. Also have taken him back in and out the field several times in a row to make him realise that coming out of the gate doesn't necessarily mean its time to come in.

I think it's just that he loves his field mate so much he doesn't like to be without him, which of course I understand. But if the other horse goes to be ridden/off to competitions for the day this isn't always going to be practical...

He is so well behaved with everything else - and it's probably only 30% of the time he does this - just very frustrating!
 
If its on the outside you have not at all done what I suggested. On the outside is shutting the door after the horse has bolted, quite literally, you want to train him not to do it, not contain him once he has done it!
 
But surely if he has another gateway on the inside we will just have the same issues with that one? Whether he escapes through the main gate or secondary gate it's all the same surely? There are still 2 gateways and I cant see how a horse would differentiate between them as both are exits?

I am simply looking for suggestions as how to alleviate the behaviour in the first place before it becomes a problem and I can't see adding an extra gate does this - just adds a safety barrier in the event he does actually get out?

Not meaning to sounds so contradictory to everyone's replys at all and I can see how it may be coming across this way - jus trying to find the best solution :)
 
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