He's afraid of the gate . . .

It sounds like YOU don't like the gate, which is what he is picking up on. He doesn't know that there is something wrong with the gate, he only knows that you don't like it. Try to change your attitude and the problem will go away. The more fuss you make the more he is going to be suspicious.
 
PolarSkye said:
I can't get feed up to that particular gate without walking through a field with another horse in it - one that is a total gannet and has kicked a horse to death before now . . . I'm not worried about her mugging me, but I AM worried about having to go back through with Kal with her waiting at HER gate - I already carry a whip to make sure I can get her to clear orf if she crowds either gate - I am NOT prepared to risk her kicking Kali - she has feet like dinner plates and I trust her about as far as I can throw her.

I'm also not convinced that the width of the gate is the issue - before this gate was installed, he went happily through another one of a similar size . . . I really do think it's the fence line/hedge/partly visible road, etc.

P
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Could passing the mare be a factor as I noticed that you said he was fine going the other way into his field.
 
I think I've worked out what the problem is . . . I spent a little time watching him and C (the four-year-old) and if they just make their way over to that fence line as they graze, at some point Kali will spook and shoot off . . . always when a particularly large and rattly lorry goes past on that road (not the drive). It's the road. And the gate just happens to be the place in the field where he has to get nearest to the fence line/road.

I did take treats down with me - didn't go so well to start with because C, who has eyes and ears like a hawk came over and Kali got a little worried about having C behind him . . . and then a massive lorry shot past on the road and poor old Kal lost the plot. However, I got him to stand with me on the other side of the gate (but on the same fence line) and take a few treats/focus on me and then we did the walk through/stand/have a treat (but only when he'd walked through nicely) about eight times . . . by about the fourth time he was walking through both ways nicely, although still a tiny bit tense. I then had to pray hard that no more lorries came past while I was shutting the gate because by then I was out of treats!

I think I'm going to have to do this both when turning him out and when bringing him in until he is desensitized to the lorries/road noise. I don't think it's the noise per se - I think it's the fact that he can't see what's making the noise/doesn't know what's coming :(.

P
 
EllenJay said:
It sounds like YOU don't like the gate, which is what he is picking up on. He doesn't know that there is something wrong with the gate, he only knows that you don't like it. Try to change your attitude and the problem will go away. The more fuss you make the more he is going to be suspicious.
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I have no issue with the gate - although I wish it wasn't in the corner - I'm never a fan of gates in the corners of fields - too much opportunity for more submissive horses to get trapped - but this particular gate isn't a congregation point so it isn't an issue. He is the same going through that date whoever is leading him - me, N (who rides him) or K (who grooms for the YO and occasionally brings Pops in for me).

P
 
SunSeeker said:
Could passing the mare be a factor as I noticed that you said he was fine going the other way into his field.
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The mare isn't on the other side of the "scary" gate . . . there's a field to cross between that one and the gate to her field - so, no, I don't think so.

P
 
_GG_ said:
Hey, we had a deer caught in a hedge at my old livery yard and all the horses were out 24/7 as it was the summer. I got up there about 6:50am and the horses were all over the place, but all in the front paddocks, not their own. The hedge was less than 3ft wide and this little doe was literally screaming. YO was not far behind me and we freed the doe...but for love nor money, we could not get the horses anywhere near that part of the hedge for months!

That post about "photo's" in the mind really makes sense when you think of a situation like that.

It could be anything. A kestrel or fox could have killed a rabbit there or foxes/badgers could have had a fight there, all of which can mean horrifying noises.
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How very frightening for all concerned! Yes, this had definitely occurred to me - that either a fox could have killed something in that hedge and the noise had frightened the horses, or that he can smell something like blood/a carcass, etc.

P
 
PolarSkye said:
How very frightening for all concerned! Yes, this had definitely occurred to me - that either a fox could have killed something in that hedge and the noise had frightened the horses, or that he can smell something like blood/a carcass, etc.

P
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Fly was petrified of rattly lorries/trailers too. Could you attach ear covers to his head collar?

Bede said:
I suppose there's no chance that you could throw YOUR toys out of the pram, and get the gate moved?
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I would pay to watch such a lovely, kind and warm woman throw her toys out of the pram.....seriously, the money is waiting....well, 50p ;) xx
 
Bede said:
I suppose there's no chance that you could throw YOUR toys out of the pram, and get the gate moved?
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LOL - I don't do "toys out of the pram" . . . I'm a bit of a wimp! YO has been more than obliging by putting the gate in in the first place - I'd feel really churlish asking them to move it . . . if I'd had half a brain, I'd have asked them not to put it in the corner to start with, but I didn't think . . . I need to deal with what is currently in place . . .

P
 
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