Help! Horse hit head going into stable and now she wont go in!!

tigger01

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Help!!! Any ideas on getting my poor pony to go back in her stable? She hit her head on the lintel going into the barn (it is low but she has managed for the last year). Now she wont even go near the door and there is real fear in her eyes. I have tried feed, her friends going in first, using different doors but they are all too low in her mind and to make matters worse, the doorway's quite narrow too. Last night I managed to get her easily into a larger stable with a higher roof and she stood happily and ate her tea. It isnt too much of a problem at the moment as she is out 24/7, but come the winter, I can see it being one. The YO doesnt want her in the larger stable as it is used for the larger horses so she really needs to overcome this fear and go into her normal box.

Please any ideas? Thanks.
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Yep managed that altho she did have a panic attack and whack her head , oh and then we couldnt get her out!!! Had to leave her to bring herself out. Didnt take her long but it's so annoying. She's been fine for so long, and she was going in and out fine after she hit her head as she did it about 6 weeks ago.

Horses are funny things. Mind you I dont fancy walking under something that's too low. But I dont want it to be a case of having to move yards because I can see this creating a problem with YO.
 
I had a horse that had fractured her skull on a low beam before I had her. She always had a thing about going into low spaces after that. I couldn't lead her into her stable as she would throw her head up and then hit her head. Instead I had to stand to the side and let her go in of her own accord, same with loading her in the trailer. Is there any way you can stand back and see if she will go in of her own accord, or leave her in the yard to go in/out as she pleases?
 
I am considering trying the padding option and a poll guard. And Ooofadoofa I like the idea of standing back and allowing her to go in on her own. This is almost like allowing her to make the decision to go in. I guess it would prob only work with her if her friends were in the stables already. But will certainly try it.

Thanks all.
 
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