Help. My horse won't turn out in the field.

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katykat

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My 5 yr old warmblood has had a fright in his field and now won't turn out unless I stand with him. He is still out with the same horse (3yr old) but as soon as I leave he stands at the fence digging holes. He lived out 24/7 in summer but now one of the horses that was in the next field has left the yard and this seemed to have been his security blanket. We have plenty of grazing and he is desperate for the grass but just panics as soon as I start to leave. Been going on for two weeks now and at first I couldn't even get him to leave the yard to go out to the field. At least he will stay out now but I have to work and can't stand with him all day. I have changed fields from where we think he got frightened. Any suggestions
 
What sort of fright, was this, it may help to identify his problem.
Would it be practical to tire him out, say a two hour hack or more, then try again? Maybe take his feed to the field after work, so there is a reward when he gets to the gate.
Or does he need a special pal, who he comes in and goes out with, might be tricky to arange, but worth thinking about.
 
Something tasty a good way into the field to take his attention.
Or perhaps let him get hungry before you turn him out if he settles to graze he may just stop stressing.
 
Ours had some wild canada geese attack them last year in one of their fields. They all camped up the top half of the field very unhappily whilst the geese claimed more and more of the field.

Haven't got the solution, ours were OK once the geese were removed - but they were in a big herd.
 
Horses are happier with more eyes and ears to share the looking out for tigers. Just 1 companion clearly isn't enough for your fraidy-cat lad bless him. Any possibility of getting a companion eg permanent loan from your local rescue centre? I wouldn't recommend a Shetland as they have different management needs and if you have tons of grass you could end up with a laminitic shetland! Or could you get other livery horses in your field? Anything to up the numbers of tiger-watchers will help him. Herd animals feel safer in herds x
 
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