Help! Horse won't come out of stable

badgerdog

badgerdog

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This is a recent development with my new horse. I've had him 9 weeks now and we've had a few teething problems such as not standing still to be mounted and napping but we've worked through these and he's now ok. He lives out 24/7 and only comes in to be fed, groomed, tacked up etc. In the last week he has been a real struggle to get out of the stable. When I first got him I could lead him out of the stable and into the field with just a rope around his neck. I don't know if he's just testing me out and this is just his latest but it is becoming very frustrating because he has improved so much in other areas. I've tried getting him out with a pressure halter but even this had limited use. The only way I got him out this morning was by leaving the stable door open with some food outside, when he had ventured out of his stable and nibbled the food he wouldn't go any further so I ended up chasing him out the main door (it's a stable in a barn) by gently waving the end of a lead rope. Once outside I put the pressure halter back on and managed to get him to the field. I am very careful with the pressure halter and release the pressure as soon as he yields but it doesn't seem to be working very well. I think I should do more ground work with him but we haven't an arena and the paddock I would normally use is a mud bath. I would appreciate any suggestions.
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A few years ago we had a new pony here who was very nervous, and at first he seemed to cope well with the move, then he went to pieces. He wouldn't come out of the stable and with him it was definitely nerves, he felt safer in the stable and the more the kids tried to pull/push, the worse the poor little chap got! He would root to the spot and had to be gently but firmly encouraged out. Once in the field he was happy as larry. He had only changed homes twice in his life so wonder if it was delayed shock?!

He gradually got over it and has no problem now, but hard to say if yours is the same sort of thing or whether something else entirely.

How old is yours?
 
When I put his normal head coller on he plants his feet, puts his head up in the air and won't move. I've only used the pressure halter twice and this helped a bit. He is only like this when coming out of the stable and going across the stable yard. (forgot to mention, it's not just coming out of stable, it's also outside it)
 
Thanks Llewelyn. My horse sounds similar to your pony. He's rising 5 and is a very green Warmblood. When I got him he was nervous about being in the stable (box walking and the occasional weave) He's now much more comfortable in the stable and I think he feels safe there and happily munches away at the hay. However, he does live out all the time and looks happy and contented in the field.
He came from Holland last year and I wonder if he has some issues relating to that as I know that some Dutch people keep their horses stabled a lot and he may be reverting to some kind of behaviour from his past. It's encouraging that your pony got over it and is fine now.
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Clicker training can work really well because it can condition animals to repeat certain behaviours and you can shape a longer, complex behaviour by cutting it down to and rewarding smaller parts of it.

It sounds like he likes food, so open the stable door, put no pressure on him and wait. If he so much as moves any leg forward, click him and give him a bit of food (a tiny bit will do, a small piece of carrot, or a couple of pony nuts, or one Polo). Then do nothing, wait, as soon as he moves a foot forward, click and reward again. He should soon get the idea that moving forwards gets rewarded, but he can offer this behaviour on his own without being forced, so it's his choice and he won't panic further by being pressured to do something he is scared of. Some horses will pick up on the behaviour that is being reward and repeat it immediately, after a matter of a couple of clicks, others will need a bit longer, but it is worth persevering.

Hope this helps!
 
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So sounds as if he possibly has never been taught to lead properly??

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No it doesn't look like it. He was ridden a little last summer and then turned away for the winter without being handled much. He's very green and in the 9 weeks I've had him he's improved enormously. We've been out on loads of hacks to let him see things and fitten him up, but since he's started this I'll have to concentrate more on our ground work.
 
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Can you get him to lead after another horse, may help his confidence?

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I can do this sometimes but I'm usually by myself. It's worth trying though as even if I'm by myself I can probably send my older horse off ahead.
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but since he's started this I'll have to concentrate more on our ground work.

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Well every day that you ride him you'll be doing this - so I wouldn't worry too much. Patience and consistency will win the day.
 
My horse does this occasionally, she isn't over-keen on doorways, and can also be funny about going into her stable, again, because she doesn't like the doorway. Lots of gentle encouragement and the waving of a bit of food works wonders, I've found !
 
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