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traceyann

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About to weeks ago i stopped a horse going for meat because he has sweet itch so i bought him for meat money he going really well he got used to breakfast and tea at first i think he thought i was going to poison him he so much better to handle i dont think hes ever had a kind word said to him and learns really quick the big problem is he now loves his stable dosent what to leave it hates going out and when he does just scream at the gate at me hes in my back garden i have another horse with him he not interested in him he just wants in and when it time for him to come in he trys to canter in hand as he gets so excited he going back to his stable he not getting bullied at all before i got him he lived out in all weathers with no hay or food and very little grass i know its early days for him and he really going well but its not normal for a horse to want to stay in i have lots of grass
 
Maybe he's feeling safe and secure in the stable. Do you know anything of his history?

Try keeping the turn out to five minutes or so and build up the time. Maybe also fence off a stable sized area, see if that makes him feel safer. Also, if you're feeding him, feed him in the field if you can.

Hope it goes well for him and you.
 
He is probably feeling insecure.

The stable is somewhere safe where he gets fed.
Keep him in his routine, turn him out and bring him in as you have been.

Ignore his waiting around, he will get used to his new friend and new home, could you give his some hay in the field so he gets some food to distract him but is still out?
 
I would not worry too much. Give him more time and if he doesn't want to come out, then as Mrs Mozart said, just turn him out for 5 minutes while you muck out. When the weather gets better and the grass gets sweeter in the Spring, then gradually increase his turnout. My guess is that in the more pleasant surroundings of the milder weather and lush grass, he will start to think differently. Good luck.
 
Is there any chance that you coul give him free access to stable and paddock? Even if it means separating him from his companion with a bit of electric fencing (as he's not taking any notice of the companion anyway). If you can dot that then I would start to feed him just outside the stable, then further and further away as the weeks go on. I would tie his haynet outside the stable rather than inside, and again gradually move to a point where his hay is fed in the field. It will probably look like chaos for a while, but he should get to the point where he starts to be able to relax.
Without seeing your horse I don't know, but with a horse that has had some bad things happen in life this problem can be not about loving the stable, but by being afraid to be out. Trust me, I've dealt with a very extreme case. If you can give him this setup for a while and see how he goes I would then leave him pretty much to himself. Obviously he'll need feet trimmed, and if he appreciates a groom then groom him, but leave him some time to find his place in life again before worrying about doing any "work" with him. By work I mean leading out in-hand, lunging, playing with saddles etc.
With my horse one of the first signs of recovery was when he started to show an interest in the horses over the fence. Once he went out with them, and once I'd seen him interacting and grooming with them, I felt he was ready to start a bit of easy work. Before reintroducing him though, I would reintroduce whatever your stabling routine is going to be normally, eg coming in at night. But until he shows some real relaxation I wouldn't shut the stable door.
 
I wish i could put hay out for him my other horse loves his food and would be a fight he does sniff the the other horse but doesnt seem to know how to groom back or to cope with other horse although when i got he was out with a mule he just really timid panics easily he came from spain then to france which is how i got him he trys to be loving with me then panics as if im going to hit him he was a bit headshy but is great now as long as im slow he not really spooky just certain things start him of if i shout no he stands there shaking i always praise if he does good i bought him underweight so be a while for i ride him as he has been backed and came with shoes on which iv had taken of he only six so a lot of learning needed iv never had a rescue before or such a timid horse my other horse 16.2 thug and nothing bothers him
 
I am suggesting that you separate him from your other horse while you deal with these behaviour issues and let him chill down and come to terms with his new life. I have dealt with horses with behaviour issues before, and sometimes they need some time where they don't fit into the usual routines. Feel free to pm me if you think I might be of some use. :-)
 
sorry should have said he is next to not in with the over horse by electric but if i put in hay the new ones field the other one would go though the fencing even if he has is own hay someones elses is allways better
 
Tricky, but I think you need to find a solution to this and personally I don't think stabling him more is the long-term answer. Now you have given more of his history, he may be used to being stabled for long periods of time or even 24/7 and may be more comfortable in there. If this was not causing you difficulty it wouldn't be an issue, but it's making him anxious and hard to handle when he comes in. Interesting, but had to discuss on a forum I think, sometimes it's best to see the horse.
 
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