Gate Problems

Purple18

Purple18

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Hi Everyone :)

Ever since iv'e had Swallow she has always for day one been scared of gates wood gates are fine metal ones are the problem she was in a field witha wooden gate and was never bothered her field gate is the worse there's been nothing that i can think of which has happened while iv'e had her but am thinking along the lines of maybe a gate hitting her at some point.

If i put hay at the top of the field she take some and bolt back away from the gate sometimes standing in the corner all day not eating or doing anything.

She's led in a chiffney which certianly helps when she does try to bolt back down the field she will walk through the gate if it's held still by my mum but if it moves while she's going near it she try to bolt as she comes out of the gate and we turn the corner she will often spook forwards like the gate is after her.As soon as she away from the gate she is fine.

I haven't been telling her off for bolting but should i ?

anybody else had this sort of problem ? I really need some help it's so horrible seeing her like this :)
 
Hmm interesting, if possible I would also tie the gate (are there other horses there to get out?) or get someone to hold it. You can use the hay pile to her advantage, put it far away, and day by day just move it say 6 inches closer, she will get used to it eventually, you could also when she is happy with being fairly near it but nowhere near hitting distance, get someone to open and close it slowly at first and make no big deal about it. Bare in mind she is afraid so I wouldn't tell her off as such, just treat it like its not a big deal and try to carry on with what you're doing.

My small pony doesn't like coming into the field if my big horse is at the gate, I think as she gets picked on when they hang around there at feed time, so that may be something to consider if there are other horses there.
 
flirtygerty said:
Bumping this as I can't really help.
Personally, I would tie the gate back and keep taking her through it till she realises it won't hurt, does sound as if she's had a fright
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Thank you :)
ma ndwhy said:
Hmm interesting, if possible I would also tie the gate (are there other horses there to get out?) or get someone to hold it. You can use the hay pile to her advantage, put it far away, and day by day just move it say 6 inches closer, she will get used to it eventually, you could also when she is happy with being fairly near it but nowhere near hitting distance, get someone to open and close it slowly at first and make no big deal about it. Bare in mind she is afraid so I wouldn't tell her off as such, just treat it like its not a big deal and try to carry on with what you're doing.

My small pony doesn't like coming into the field if my big horse is at the gate, I think as she gets picked on when they hang around there at feed time, so that may be something to consider if there are other horses there.
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No no another horses in there at one point there was another and even when the friend came to the gate she wouldn't and they got on really well. When i got her her field with her own owner was on a main road with a wide pavement between the two Could it be that something has scared her from the road and nlow even tho there's no road she's still scared My mum has been pulling it as far back as it can go and normally leaves it open til were well away. Tonight we closed the gate before i walked her off she didn't spook or bolt but about 30 seconds to a 1min later walking back to the stable she did.

I'll also try that with the hay :)
 
Just a thought - could she have got an electric shock through a metal gate and electric fencing at some time?
You're going to have to find a way to get her used to the gate moving , hard to advise in detail on internet but lots of patient homework will pay off.
 
HardySoul1 said:
Just a thought - could she have got an electric shock through a metal gate and electric fencing at some time?
You're going to have to find a way to get her used to the gate moving , hard to advise in detail on internet but lots of patient homework will pay off.
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Possibly. She's getting better with it but it's not there yet hopefully i'll be able to find a cause :)



Anyone else ?
 
you may never know why, but with a lot of patience you will get improvement.

I always tie the gate back before the ponies come through, at first they were quiet worried by it, but not at all bothered now.

Have you tried giving a treat each time you go through the gate as a reward and using a really positive voice to praise the pony.

Do keep calm and do not shout, it is hard to hang on when they try to bolt so suggest you think about what type of headcollar to use t make sure you can keep hold.

Well done for trying and I hope that you will find in a few months you have gained the ponies trust and made progress.
 
Adopter said:
you may never know why, but with a lot of patience you will get improvement.

I always tie the gate back before the ponies come through, at first they were quiet worried by it, but not at all bothered now.

Have you tried giving a treat each time you go through the gate as a reward and using a really positive voice to praise the pony.

Do keep calm and do not shout, it is hard to hang on when they try to bolt so suggest you think about what type of headcollar to use t make sure you can keep hold.

Well done for trying and I hope that you will find in a few months you have gained the ponies trust and made progress.
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I didn't mention but she's been doing this for a year.

The gate is always out of her way pretty much as wide as possible as i don't think she would even walk near it if it wasn't it. Normally as i catch her my mum starts to open the gate as i walk towards it and has to be still before she'll walk through it.if it moves slightly she bolts. I have to lead her in a chiffney as she just even pulls me over or i have to let go in a normal headcollar I try to praise her everytime haven't rewarded her but i will try it thank you :)
 
Well done for keeping going, sometimes it does take a very long time to get over problems, and sometimes you never do you have to live with them and work round them.

Hope things do improve for you.
 
Shy had a serious issue with going near gates and fences after being rudely zapped a few times - shocked him to his tash. It has taken a lot of work, but he is now fantastic with gates - I started by getting off at every one, making him sniff it, rub it, stand in the gateway, till he got so bored, now he asks what we are waiting for.

Also, in the school, I have taught him "Go Back", "Turn" and "Move Over" to voice command, and he is now ace at half- turns. His one issue is that when I lean forward to grab a handle, he thinks it's snack time - and he will learn it's not.

Let us know how you get on :)
 
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I would lead her out as you usually do and pull her up hard for rushing. Turn and lead her in and out and in and out, sometimes turning before she gets to the actual gateway. Keep at it, praise when she is not rushing fast pull up if she is.

It could be that she got a shock at one point or another or that a gate swung into her. Doesn't matter what the cause was, you are working to get her over it.
 
pansymouse said:
I think the answer is time and patience. You may well be destined to spend a large part of the summer hanging around in gateways getting the horse desensitised tiny step by tiny step.
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I learnt to have alot of both of them with her :P when i first got she wouldn't even come up the field would take me three hours to get her in :)

Thank you I'll be sure to keep you all updated
 
Purple18 said:
I learnt to have alot of both of them with her :P when i first got she wouldn't even come up the field would take me three hours to get her in :)

Thank you I'll be sure to keep you all updated
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I think you have shown great patience - 3hrs that is some time to take, do hope you can carry on seeing improvements! Must say I admire the way you have not given in and kept on trying.
 
I would pop a bridle on her (or whatever you feel gives you the most control) and ask her to walk towards the gate (closed) and to stand near it. Once you have her close you need to give a lot of praise and I would suggest giving her some food. Essentially make being near that gate a good place to be. Afterwards, turn her away but do not allow her to rush away from the gate. If she does try, make her stop, back her up and ask her to stand - again praise her. You effectively need to control her flight response and I would suggest doing the same groundwork techniques away from the gate as well. Once you have walked her a distance from the gate then take of the bridle and walk away. Don't always ask her to walk through the gate, work on getting her comfortable close to it first.
 
Adopter said:
I think you have shown great patience - 3hrs that is some time to take, do hope you can carry on seeing improvements! Must say I admire the way you have not given in and kept on trying.
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Thank you :) it certainly isn't easy She has so much promise I just can't give up :)
ladyt25 said:
I would pop a bridle on her (or whatever you feel gives you the most control) and ask her to walk towards the gate (closed) and to stand near it. Once you have her close you need to give a lot of praise and I would suggest giving her some food. Essentially make being near that gate a good place to be. Afterwards, turn her away but do not allow her to rush away from the gate. If she does try, make her stop, back her up and ask her to stand - again praise her. You effectively need to control her flight response and I would suggest doing the same groundwork techniques away from the gate as well. Once you have walked her a distance from the gate then take of the bridle and walk away. Don't always ask her to walk through the gate, work on getting her comfortable close to it first.
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I'm currently using a chiffney last choice really i just can't hold her in a headcollar Okay thank you for advice :)
 
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