Horse barging through stable door -only when tacked up

kinnygirl1

kinnygirl1

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Been having increasing difficulties leading my horse out of the stable when tacked up. As soon as he is fully tacked up, saddle and bridle, he leans against the door and when I open it, he barges through it at top speed almost as if he is scared of something and needs to get through as quick as poss. Once outside he seems tense for a few seconds but will then relax and rest of the ride is usually fine.

Now,I have owned him for 3 years, always tacked up in stable( there isn't really any safe outdoor space to tack up in in winter) and this behaviour has just begun over last few months, getting increasingly more extreme to the point where I have to warn people to get out the way before I bring him out. I can't think of any incident that could have upset him and he doesn't do it at all when untacked,rugged etc so it's tack related I feel. Have had his back and saddle checked because of this and no obvious problems there although physio did treat him for some mild tension.


Anyone one any ideas for resolving this? It's getting to a point where I feel it's dangerous for both of us. He could slip at the speed he barges out and I am in danger of getting stampeded!


Thanks for reading.
 
Does he go back into the stable okay? If so, go in and out so many times he is bloody well sick of it and isn't barging anymore cause he doesnt know what the hell the crazy human is doing lol
 
If his back/teeth etc are all ok and you think it's potentially manners, would you be able to get him to back up before you open door and maybe get someone to help with door whilst you concentrate on horse? Once the door is open, continue with the backing up as soon as he tries to barge - even doing some movement of the quarters in the stable to ensure he is listening to you in hand?
My youngster was insistent on coming out of the stable at a million miles an hour and I made a point of stopping her, backing her up and only progressing forward when it was at the pace I dictated...took a few lessons but she is as good as gold now.

ETA or as above!! In and out until he is well and truly bored!! Also, tack up, walk in and out of stable and then untack? Maybe he is excited about going out for a ride and associates tack with that - by untacking without riding on a few occasions you might also remove that link??
 
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equi said:
Does he go back into the stable okay? If so, go in and out so many times he is bloody well sick of it and isn't barging anymore cause he doesnt know what the hell the crazy human is doing lol
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He is better going back in- just occasionally speeding up as we pass through. Pretty sure he thinks am crazy anyway btw.
 
exmoorponyprincess1 said:
If his back/teeth etc are all ok and you think it's potentially manners, would you be able to get him to back up before you open door and maybe get someone to help with door whilst you concentrate on horse? Once the door is open, continue with the backing up as soon as he tries to barge - even doing some movement of the quarters in the stable to ensure he is listening to you in hand?
My youngster was insistent on coming out of the stable at a million miles an hour and I made a point of stopping her, backing her up and only progressing forward when it was at the pace I dictated...took a few lessons but she is as good as gold now.
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Thanks for that. His general manners are pretty good to me this seems more of an anxiety. He gets so tense in the moments leading up to leaving his box but I will give your technique a try. It is a bit of an awkward door to negotiate so someone to hold it open is helpful.
 
My mare rushed gates due to catching her heel once on a sprung gate, I had to walk her back and forth as suggested, she s better now but they do develop negative associations quickly, perhaps she got caught in tack on the door?
 
PollyP99 said:
My mare rushed gates due to catching her heel once on a sprung gate, I had to walk her back and forth as suggested, she s better now but they do develop negative associations quickly, perhaps she got caught in tack on the door?
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Yes I do wonder if this has happened without me realising. He is quite a sensitive chap. I am think of trying to somehow pin back the door to lead him back and forth so that I can concentrate on the pace without having to manage the door with my free hand
 
You can pop a light rug over the saddle to prevent any stirrups catching, it may work as a calmer like a Monty Roberts rug used for racehorses reluctant to enter stalls.
 
I think he does this because he doesn't know how wide the saddle is on his back, so he thinks he carnt fit through the door, so rushes through the door, one of my youngsters did this when I first started to saddle him up in the stable.
 
ameeyal said:
I think he does this because he doesn't know how wide the saddle is on his back, so he thinks he carnt fit through the door, so rushes through the door, one of my youngsters did this when I first started to saddle him up in the stable.
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Yes it certainly seems like an anxiety to me although he hasn't always done it. Did you resolve it with yours ameeyal?
 
kinnygirl1 said:
Yes it certainly seems like an anxiety to me although he hasn't always done it. Did you resolve it with yours ameeyal?
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Yes I would let him know I had some treats for him, then I would open the stable door and give him the treats, so he was concentrating on the food instead of rushing through the door, I then walked him forward still giving him food.
 
If he doesn't do it tacked up I would try to isolate what it is that is causing the problem, i.e. try him with just the bridle, or just the saddle, or just the numnah, or just the saddle with no stirrups. Then you have a better idea of what has caused the problem and can work on that.

Start by teaching him to stop when the stable door is open (clicker training will help you a lot here) when he is likely to do the behaviour, i.e. when he's got the headcollar on. Work on this command for a while and when it's established try it with all the other bits of tack bar the one that is causing the problem. When the behaviour is again established try it with the item of tack that is causing the problem. If he barged through, ignore him, pop him back in the stable and start again. Make sure you stay safe and arrange for other people in your yard to stay safe while you do all this.

All this assuming there is no physical cause, so I assume you've had a vet look at teeth, back, poll, etc.
 
Sounds to me like he has maybe got caught at some point. It could be a stirrup iron if you don't see any marks on your saddle. It wouldn't have to be bad either, it doesn't take much to scare a horse. I'd get someone to help and just do a lot of work in the doorway as others have suggested. Even putting the on and taking off while he is in the doorway with someone holding him. Just kind of test it out and see if you can narrow it down to any particular thing, but to me it does sound like an, "I can't fit through" issue.
 
Other than the 'walking out and back in a million times' approach, which i use all the time for bargy horses, i have installed a chain across the door. Obviously your horse needs to be sensible enough not to try to 'run' through it, but it helps no end as I can open the door,swing it right back, get in the stable and get myself sorted before exiting.
 
Booboos said:
If he doesn't do it tacked up I would try to isolate what it is that is causing the problem, i.e. try him with just the bridle, or just the saddle, or just the numnah, or just the saddle with no stirrups. Then you have a better idea of what has caused the problem and can work on that.

Start by teaching him to stop when the stable door is open (clicker training will help you a lot here) when he is likely to do the behaviour, i.e. when he's got the headcollar on. Work on this command for a while and when it's established try it with all the other bits of tack bar the one that is causing the problem. When the behaviour is again established try it with the item of tack that is causing the problem. If he barged through, ignore him, pop him back in the stable and start again. Make sure you stay safe and arrange for other people in your yard to stay safe while you do all this.

All this assuming there is no physical cause, so I assume you've had a vet look at teeth, back, poll, etc.
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Thanks booboos. It's definitely something to do with saddle. Does not do it all when just in bridle or head collar. Will have a go at your technique today. Teeth checked by edt, back checked by a acap physio and saddle checked by saddler however will get vet if this continues. I guess it could be eyes need checking?
 
_GG_ said:
Sounds to me like he has maybe got caught at some point. It could be a stirrup iron if you don't see any marks on your saddle. It wouldn't have to be bad either, it doesn't take much to scare a horse. I'd get someone to help and just do a lot of work in the doorway as others have suggested. Even putting the on and taking off while he is in the doorway with someone holding him. Just kind of test it out and see if you can narrow it down to any particular thing, but to me it does sound like an, "I can't fit through" issue.
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Yes that's how it feels, like he is worried and wants to get it out the way quickly. The door is very awkward too. He has to turn as he comes out to allow it to close so that he can safely pass it which doesn't help. Am gonna look in to a safe way of pinning it back whilst he comes out, hopefully yo will not mind if I do a little modification.
 
super ted said:
Other than the 'walking out and back in a million times' approach, which i use all the time for bargy horses, i have installed a chain across the door. Obviously your horse needs to be sensible enough not to try to 'run' through it, but it helps no end as I can open the door,swing it right back, get in the stable and get myself sorted before exiting.
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Thank you. Anything that gives me more time to prepare would be helpful as at the mo he barges the second the door begins to open.
 
kinnygirl1 said:
Been having increasing difficulties leading my horse out of the stable when tacked up. As soon as he is fully tacked up, saddle and bridle, he leans against the door and when I open it, he barges through it at top speed almost as if he is scared of something and needs to get through as quick as poss. Once outside he seems tense for a few seconds but will then relax and rest of the ride is usually fine.

Now,I have owned him for 3 years, always tacked up in stable( there isn't really any safe outdoor space to tack up in in winter) and this behaviour has just begun over last few months, getting increasingly more extreme to the point where I have to warn people to get out the way before I bring him out. I can't think of any incident that could have upset him and he doesn't do it at all when untacked,rugged etc so it's tack related I feel. Have had his back and saddle checked because of this and no obvious problems there although physio did treat him for some mild tension.


Anyone one any ideas for resolving this? It's getting to a point where I feel it's dangerous for both of us. He could slip at the speed he barges out and I am in danger of getting stampeded!


Thanks for reading.
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have pm'd you :)
 
The answer is every time he barges he goes back in and you do it again. Teach him to take a step away from the door (backwards) when you open the door in all circumstances... If he barges he goes back in and you do it again. If he doesn't big pat and cuddle ... Have a day where you are prepared to spend all day doing this.. And put a lunge line on him so you can let him run thru. Don't stop the running but if he runs he does it again... Stopping him if it's anxiety will make him feel more trapped... Just let him run and bring him back in and get him to take a step back ... Open door again and repeat ad infinitum. It takes time but unless he's really stupid he'll work it out.
 
kinnygirl1 said:
Thanks for that. His general manners are pretty good to me this seems more of an anxiety. He gets so tense in the moments leading up to leaving his box but I will give your technique a try. It is a bit of an awkward door to negotiate so someone to hold it open is helpful.
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Has he caught himself or been frightened in some way in the doorway? A normally well-mannered horse doesn't usually just become bad-mannered in one circumstance for no reason.
I think that repetition with rewards for improvement is probably the best way forward - making sure of course that he can't get caught/frightened again.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Has he caught himself or been frightened in some way in the doorway? A normally well-mannered horse doesn't usually just become bad-mannered in one circumstance for no reason.
I think that repetition with rewards for improvement is probably the best way forward - making sure of course that he can't get caught/frightened again.
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This was my thought as well. Perhaps at some point he has caught the saddle/stirrup/girth on the door and that has frightened him.
 
Ask if you can hang the door so it opens the other end. I've done this, not because my mare rushed out, but because it was just awkward. I dislike awkward around horses.
 
My guess is he has hit the saddle on the door coming out, can you not tie him at the back of the stable so he cant lean on it and anticipate running out, then you can try and lead him calmly out when you are ready.

The other thung I thought of is are you doing the girth up too tight too soon? One of mine cannot stand having the girth done up tight from the off, someone else tacked him up a while back and he shot forward and went through his chain on the door as his girth was too tight, I go back to it at least twice before I get on just leaving a minute or so before putting it up again. Just a thought:)
 
Dear all who have replied today...this is an old thread from a year ago. My lovely boy was scoped in March and found to have grade 3 pyloric ulcers..... Now resolved and the barging has stopped... We have had numerous other problems to overcome as a result of his ulcers but at least this one is solved! Thanks all for your suggestions. I guess the moral of this story would be if your horse shows this behaviour don't rule Out ulcers as a cause.
 
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