Grrrr, my horse has turned into a monster *Rant*

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Becki1802

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My young horse is being so badly behaved right now! I am so hoping that it is a phase. He has been going so well and then in the last 2 weeks or so he has become a nutter!

4 weeks ago we went to the beach and when loading him to bring him home he decided he wasn't going to walk up the ramp! Completely random, nothing bad had happened on the journey, he has been loading well for at least 6 months and has travelled 10 minutes to 4 hours. I didn't think anything of it at the time... :confused:

Then last weekend, on the way to my lesson, he wouldn't let me put his boots on - kicking out, barging, pinned hubby against the wall :mad: He travelled in 3 boots in the end! He was ok-ish to load on the way but then a sort of 5 minute faff to load on the way back with no boot problems.

This weekend, he has travelled twice to my lessons, both times a nightmare to put his boots on & some legs too dangerous to get the boot on, fine on the way back. & he has been a total bugger to load. Stood at the bottom of the ramp, planted. Not worried or stressed as such - just saying no. I practiced loading in the afternoon yesterday and after a 10 minute faff he was walking on and off no problem.

In my lessons he is being asked to work hard; not over stretched but hard. Yesterdays lesson he was great, today he was excitable and leaping off the floor :eek: I think he is afraid of hard work!!!

I think he is turning into a monster.

I'm going to start putting boots on when I'm just grooming him & just desensitise him! & I need to start loading him and just travelling round the block but I just don't really have the time to be faffing with a stubborn mule; I guess I will be making time.

Rant over...!

Has anyone else had similar problems & how did you get through it?! I've known bad loaders before but he was loading fine for 6 months!!!!
 
If I were you I would load him and then give him his feed in there for a few weeks. Wouldn't bother taking him out, just load, feed, unload. This will help build positive associations for him and make him more keen to load when you do go out. Good luck whatever you try, so frustrating!
 
Thanks Ghostie! The trouble with trailers is I need to hitch it up & move it to be able to load him so even that takes time but I think it is a good idea and something I should try to do before my lesson next week. I don't want this to ruin my lessons!!

Sadly he is so naughty he wasn't even responsive to feed this weekend. He would eventually load and barge straight past the feed bowl. Rude, petulant boy!!!!
 
fjordhorsefan said:
Have you considered that he is having trouble balancing in his boots? Mine wont even move in boots, so he travels naked. My friend travels hers in exercise boots.

Just a thought :)
Click to expand...

Never really thought about that - his back boots always slip. & as I say he has been travelled lately without a boot here and there but I always feel so bad like I'm a bad mother travelling him naked!!!

I'm in the process of changing my Ifor for an Equi-trek - I have wanted one for ages & I will actually kill him if he won't load into that!!!
 
My horse really doesn't like travel boots - will hardly walk in them, trys to kick them off and they then get caught under his feet.

I travel him in overreach and cross country boots and he seems fine - far less likely to cause an injury if he isn't trying to kick himself to get them off!
 
my chap is a bad loader - I changed my ifor 505 to an equitrek and he is tonnes better. I also have to be very calm putting his boots on - very slow and lots of praise or he pratts about (excitement) ! with loading I HAVE to use a chiffney (needed chiffney and lunge line in ifor) with it on he loads in around 1 minute - If I dont he has just the knack of turning head and buggering off. I know alot of people dont like chiffneys and you do have to be very very careful with them but in my case it is a life saver - he knows he's got it on and he behaves himself !

Before anyone yells ... he is excellent to lead in a headcollar at all other times, he has just learnt this trick with loading.. so rather than fight with him, its headcollar on, chiffney in mouth, walk on trailer, lots of praise - chiffney off (never ever leave it once loaded) job done !

Also, he is a clever bugger and unless I booted him up and went through full procedure for getting ready to go out he knows we are not really going .... if he realises not going anywhere he happily loads without chiffney !!! he will also load himself up if I leave the trailer in the yard open (only do this when I am there) and then stands in there eating hay saying "haha mummy look at me !!"
 
Thanks guys!

Reading these I think I'm going to start trying to confuse my boy - I'm going to stop going anywhere near him with his travellers before loading him. I will pop the fronts on once loaded like I did this morning & he can travel in his exercise boots on the hind. I will then use them every evening in the stable so he stops associating the 2 things together.

I'm not anti-chiffner - I've known a few horses to NEED them & I've recommended them to people. I think personally I'll try a Dually Halter first (I've been nosing around some old posts) as I think my boy could do with some general manners training.

Meesha - I'm glad the Equitrek made things better. Having sorted out buying my 'dream' trailer on Friday I feel like my boy is trying to steal my thunder just 2 days later. You may be able to help me with a dumb question... you know how Ifor Williams need to be connected to the car to safely load onto them... does an Equitrek? As I'd love to just be able to drop the ramp & practice loading in my evenings with his feed. I just don't want to faff around with hitching up & everything!!!

Thanks!
 
Sounds like a mixture of spring is here and high jinx. Try traveling bootless or bandaging as when dee was young she didnt like travel boots and would stand on them in transit.
 
Thanks Black Horse - I think I'm feeling less guilty the more you all keep saying that it is ok to be bootless in this situation!!

Yes I'd agree high Jinx is part of it - I turned him out to calm down for 15 minutes when he was being aggressive whilst booting up & he bucked and plunged for 10 minutes of it!!!
 
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