Help! Horse bolts out of the gate

[Bwellzie118]

I have only about 2 years total experience with horses. Ive worked at 2 different stables, and at the previous one, my manager would help with things and show me what to do.

At this place, the horses were let out to run inside all summer. Luckily most of the horses were well trained and their owners didnt mind, and when it is time to lead, they pay attention and are respectful.

Then theres Bo. My bosses sons horse, who does not get nearly enough attention and training. He is young (3 or 4) and has been collecting bad habits. Since hes constantly with Hannah, he acts up if I bring her in without him for any reason. He will be kicking and running and panicking. Its almost like the 2 of them are competing over who gets brought in first. (So you know. Theyre well fed, watered and its never excessively cold when theyre out) hannah will try to push her way out if i take him first but once out, she leads very well.

Well my bosses son, who is also my supervisor, said he wants everyone to lead bo in because hes getting too wild and he doesnt want to have issues with him when they move to a house with a barn in spring. (I would have preferred he didnt get wild in the first place but oh well)

So ive been trying my best to lead Bo in but he is distracted by hannah. I started bringing her in first so i can bring him without distraction.

No matter who i bring in first however, he starts bolting out of the gate. He throws his head at times, gets spooked and distracted easily and i try to correct him. Sometimes it works but other times he is so hyper and hell bent on running he about kills me. Its bad when I felt more confident and safe leading the biting stallion than Bo.

Someone is going to get hurt. My bosses son is too busy he says to work with him (shouldnt have a horse then) so someone has to do something. Im not usually afraid of horses. but im getting to feel nervous with him and the last thing i need is for him to think he is the boss. I need to get a handle on this.

Any advice is welcome.

 

[doodle]

Are you paid to work there or on a volunteer type thing? Sounds like the horses are pair bonded and suffering separation anxiety at the thought of being separated. If you are very inexperienced (and I am not saying this to get at you) then it is not your place for them to expect you to deal with it. I have worked on a yard where I was expected to ride a horse. I did once and I felt incredibly unsafe. I said I would lunge him and ride and lead on my days but I was not prepared to get on him. This was well founded as horse landed owner in icu for 2 weeks! If something feels unsafe you will pass those vibes to the horse and it will only get worse. You have to raise this issue to manager and say either you get some intensive training to learn how to manage the horse or you are not prepared to handle the horse.

To add. My horse will sometimes dash in the field gate when going out in the morning. He is so excited he can’t wait to charge off. So if he does, I say nothing and take him back out of the field. We then try again and if he walks in sensibly then he is let loose. If he dosnt he comes out of the gate and we try again. Usually the first time he sighs, remembers himself and walks in politely. BUT he has been taught manners and knows that behaviour not allowed. I’m
Not sure if that would just wind this horse up more.

 

[Flicker]

So, all summer long your employer has created a situation in which horses think the acceptable way to behave is to move loose from point A to point B and now this has suddenly changed and you are expected to communicate this to a young half ton animal with no help from them? They have created a situation in which you stand a real chance of being seriously hurt.

I’m not in the business of telling people what to do, but i will ask you whether you think this is appropriate to be educating someone else”s potentially dangerous horse, and whether, if you did get injured, you think they would look after you? If the answer to either or both of these questions is ‘no’ maybe you need to find an employer with a better grasp of how to handle horses as well as workplace health & safety.

 

[Bwellzie118]

So, all summer long your employer has created a situation in which horses think the acceptable way to behave is to move loose from point A to point B and now this has suddenly changed and you are expected to communicate this to a young half ton animal with no help from them? They have created a situation in which you stand a real chance of being seriously hurt.

I’m not in the business of telling people what to do, but i will ask you whether you think this is appropriate to be educating someone else”s potentially dangerous horse, and whether, if you did get injured, you think they would look after you? If the answer to either or both of these questions is ‘no’ maybe you need to find an employer with a better grasp of how to handle horses as well as workplace health & safety.

I absolutely do not think its my place to deal with this horse. I agree with both of you.

Theyve allowed workers to let horses run loose and dont want to take the time to correct the bad behavior thats been instilled.

I admire the "cowboy up" mentality of being brave and tough. I have been a dairy farmer most of my life and dealt with bulls and large herds of cows. But I am nervous is because I am inexperienced with horses. My boss seems to forget not all farmers have horses! He seems to like teaching people by throwing them into situations. Which completely sucks because I came from a barn where the manager took the horses that were difficult and gradually helped us do the same when we were ready.

I feel like Ive exhausted my options. I know if i got hurt theyd take care of me. They always do.
But I love my job, I get paid well, and I feel some sense of responsibility because some of the other employees dont follow instructions.

Maybe I am out of my lane. I just want to be a good worker and learn. I just prefer learning with someone to help me. Someone who knows things that I dont.

 

[Bwellzie118]

Are you paid to work there or on a volunteer type thing? Sounds like the horses are pair bonded and suffering separation anxiety at the thought of being separated. If you are very inexperienced (and I am not saying this to get at you) then it is not your place for them to expect you to deal with it. I have worked on a yard where I was expected to ride a horse. I did once and I felt incredibly unsafe. I said I would lunge him and ride and lead on my days but I was not prepared to get on him. This was well founded as horse landed owner in icu for 2 weeks! If something feels unsafe you will pass those vibes to the horse and it will only get worse. You have to raise this issue to manager and say either you get some intensive training to learn how to manage the horse or you are not prepared to handle the horse.

To add. My horse will sometimes dash in the field gate when going out in the morning. He is so excited he can’t wait to charge off. So if he does, I say nothing and take him back out of the field. We then try again and if he walks in sensibly then he is let loose. If he dosnt he comes out of the gate and we try again. Usually the first time he sighs, remembers himself and walks in politely. BUT he has been taught manners and knows that behaviour not allowed. I’m
Not sure if that would just wind this horse up more.

Im paid to work here. Hes the only horse Ive been struggling with but hes also the youngest so half his life hes been running willy nilly every day.

I really dont want to pass those vibes onto him. Today he was completely unruly and for the first time i felt my heart pounding and it was harder to get under control. If i bring this issue up to my boss I am afraid itll get brushed under the rug and I will be at a loss.

 

[windand rain]

Perhaps you could ask them to show you the best way to handle the situation by laying it on thick that you are afraid the horse will injure itself they might not but most people will listen if they think their possession might be devalued. Sounds like both of you might end up getting hurt

I would also ask if they have any handling equipment like rope halters or god forbid a chifney which they think might work

 

[Bwellzie118]

Im paid to work here. Hes the only horse Ive been struggling with but hes also the youngest so half his life hes been running willy nilly every day.

I really dont want to pass those vibes onto him. Today he was completely unruly and for the first time i felt my heart pounding and it was harder to get under control. If i bring this issue up to my boss I am afraid itll get brushed under the rug and I will be at a loss.

Are you paid to work there or on a volunteer type thing? Sounds like the horses are pair bonded and suffering separation anxiety at the thought of being separated. If you are very inexperienced (and I am not saying this to get at you) then it is not your place for them to expect you to deal with it. I have worked on a yard where I was expected to ride a horse. I did once and I felt incredibly unsafe. I said I would lunge him and ride and lead on my days but I was not prepared to get on him. This was well founded as horse landed owner in icu for 2 weeks! If something feels unsafe you will pass those vibes to the horse and it will only get worse. You have to raise this issue to manager and say either you get some intensive training to learn how to manage the horse or you are not prepared to handle the horse.

To add. My horse will sometimes dash in the field gate when going out in the morning. He is so excited he can’t wait to charge off. So if he does, I say nothing and take him back out of the field. We then try again and if he walks in sensibly then he is let loose. If he dosnt he comes out of the gate and we try again. Usually the first time he sighs, remembers himself and walks in politely. BUT he has been taught manners and knows that behaviour not allowed. I’m
Not sure if that would just wind this horse up more.

Perhaps you could ask them to show you the best way to handle the situation by laying it on thick that you are afraid the horse will injure itself they might not but most people will listen if they think their possession might be devalued. Sounds like both of you might end up getting hurt

Yes! Ive mentioned he has ran away from me with the lead rope on once this summer and i was terrified he would step on it and hurt himself

 

[windand rain]

Thinking more get a broken neck or leg by hitting something or someone when he does get loose maybe even a rabbit hole or worst case a car

 

[Bwellzie118]

I think that is a good option. Get my boss to play along and get this horse trained and show me what to do in certain situations, and if he doesnt then I simply wont agree to bringing him in. He can do it himself. It probably would be a good thing so he can see how bad Bo has gotten.

This horse has a lot of potential and hes very affectionate. Its sad to see his owner run off to go hunting after work every day or see friends instead of working with him even once a week. Hes not even doing the bare minumum with him.

 

[Suechoccy]

You have one head and one body. Being trampled or kicked in either body part by a horse intent on barging through and off from a gateway while being led is only going to happen once, with potentially extremely serious or fatal consequences. You are far more precious than the horse in this circumstance and you need to put everything in place to keep yourself safe. If you are feeling nervy, the horse will pick up on that and misbehave more too. Let the owner bring him in. If you do end up handling this horse, have hat and gloves and stout boots on. The horse is young and his behaviour may improve as he gets older.

 

[Bwellzie118]

You have one head and one body. Being trampled or kicked in either body part by a horse intent on barging through and off from a gateway while being led is only going to happen once, with potentially extremely serious or fatal consequences. You are far more precious than the horse in this circumstance and you need to put everything in place to keep yourself safe. If you are feeling nervy, the horse will pick up on that and misbehave more too. Let the owner bring him in. If you do end up handling this horse, have hat and gloves and stout boots on. The horse is young and his behaviour may improve as he gets older.

I know. I hope he gets better with age especially with training. Thank you

 

[Flicker]

You sound like a loyal and dedicated employee. You deserve to be treated with respect at work and not put in a situation where you can come to harm. I agree with those who say let the horse’s owner take responsibility for handling it.

 

[ihatework]

Your bosses son needs to grow a pair and deal with his own horse, not leave it to a novice helper/employee.

OP there is a word called ‘No’ and this sounds like a time to use it

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Having worked on yards in my past I had a similar problem with a liveries horse that got away from me walking to the field a few times, the last straw was when he kicked me in the leg as he got loose, luckily he just caught me so my leg was just bruised but had it been full impact it could have been broken, my boss at the time said none of us were to turn him out, we later found out he wasn't being exercised at all by his owner.

I would speak to your boss and just say your not happy handling this horse at all full stop, you have every right to refuse as the situation is dangerous.

 

[Shysmum]

Its simply not worth the risk of injury to you to carry on handling this horse. I know it will be hard to tell the owner ( I had to do it once), but your safety is all that matters.