horse coming in from field, rearing, kicking

[nikolethompson]

So I have just got a new horse and i turned him out for the first time last night, (first time he has been turned out in 12 months as his previous owner didn't turn him out as he was bullied in the field) he was amazing and trotted off to the other horses perfectly. we visited him in the field and he came to me no problem

This morning i turned up, went into the field and got his headcollar on no problem, i lead him to the gate although he kept stopping i had to drag him to the gate. just as we were coming out of the gate he bolted off. after reading other people's advice i just went and got his leadrope off and left him in the field.

I asked my yard manager to bring him in as he is more experienced than me whilst i was at work. I have just had a message off her to say it took her half an hour to get him out, he's been rearing and cow kicking when shes tried to flick him with the leadrope when he wouldn't move. Bare in mind its less than 100mtrs from the field to his stable!

I don't know what the way forward is going to be? Any help please will be much appreciated!!! i would never expect my yard manager to try and bring him in again!! But i can't just not turn him out?

 

[Batgirl]

I would say he is probably afraid he won't go out again so it will be a case of practice practice practice like you would loading etc

 

[Orangehorse]

Practice catching, bringing through the gate, quick brush and then turn out again and see if that helps. So he learns that he will go back out and bringing in doesn't always mean work. Be careful though, wear a hard hat and gloves and have a decent length lead rope.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Aw bless him. In all honesty i'd expect that attitude if he hasn't been out in 12 months, imagine how he feels! So happy with his new friends, able to gallop around and have fun eating grass. Id do what Orangehorse said, get him use to just coming in for a short period of time and increase it, put a dually on him so he can't just ****** off. Don't give up, if he won't come in don't just let him go, hes won that way. Even if you get him outside the gate, brush, little treats and back out. I bet hes so happy he thinks youre going to take him back to where he came from, i don't agree with no turnout.

 

[nikolethompson]

thanks he's just very edgy at the moment and as I'm bringing him back into work he needs to be ridden at least 5 times a week. I am going riding him tonight but if I'm honest I'm a bit nervous as I'm hoping he wont bolt to the field!! he can be nappy in the arena, cant wait to get to the gate and will drag me there!! he has never reared though or bucked when I give him a crack and I just make him go back around again. here's hoping I go home in one piece tonight!! he is not going out tonight I am going to get my husband to put him out tomorrow I think xx

 

[Wagtail]

Just bring him to the gate and don't try to take him out the first day. Next day take him out but just a few yards. Fuss him, reward him and put back out. Build it up. If he has to come in every night, then use another horse to give him a lead. Once he feels secure, he will settle down.

 

[AmyMay]

Just bring him to the gate and don't try to take him out the first day. Next day take him out but just a few yards. Fuss him, reward him and put back out. Build it up. If he has to come in every night, then use another horse to give him a lead. Once he feels secure, he will settle down.

This. Just give him time to catch his breath, relax and get used to being out again. A couple of days is neither here nor there if he's only just coming back in to work.

Do not be tempted to bring him in and leave him in.

 

[Micropony]

I completely understand how keen you must be to crack on with the riding but if you are struggling to deal with both issues I would personally prioritise the turnout and catch in issue. One of his most basic needs hasn't been met for a year, and he's clearly saying loud and clear that it's been a real issue for him. They often struggle to get used to significant changes to their routine, and that's what's happening now, albeit that it's ultimately a change that's very positive for his health and wellbeing. Once he's more settled and trusts that being brought in doesn't mean he'll never be permitted freedom and social contact with other equines ever again he will settle and be much easier and nicer to ride and train.
Well that would be my take on it anyway, I have never had to deal with this specific issue myself.

 

[dollyanna]

Sounds like he needs to know that coming in doesn't mean he'll not go out again more than he needs riding just now. Can you just not ride for a couple of weeks and spend the time in the field or just outside with him instead? Get to know each other, you can catch and groom in the field initially if needs be, until he starts to trust that you aren't going to lock him up again.

 

[Arzada]

Just bring him to the gate and don't try to take him out the first day. Next day take him out but just a few yards. Fuss him, reward him and put back out. Build it up. If he has to come in every night, then use another horse to give him a lead. Once he feels secure, he will settle down.

This and Amymay's post. I'd ride at a future date. He's new to the yard, new to the herd, new to the people in his new life and he's struggling with coming in - I'd listen to him and take small steps in leading him and bringing him in. I certainly wouldn't be riding him anyway but you are also nervous with a list of things he might do that you won't like. Take a step back for what is a short period in life and help him with coming in. I definitely wouldn't keep him in. You need to work with him and leading and coming in should be a good experience not something which could lead to catching problems.

 

[junglefairy]

Years ago I bought a horse that has been stabled 24/7. I turned her out 24/7 and for the first, I'd say at least 3 months if not longer, she was a nightmare to catch (like it would take an hour or more time catch her). The poor horse was just afraid she'd be locked back up again. With time she learned that she wasn't going to be stabled and became a dream to catch (always cantering over to greet me).

She never could settle in a stable again though, box walked terribly.

I wouldn't worry about it, I expect your new horse will take some time and I think you need to allow him this. Build up trust, start with just bringing him in for short periods giving him some treats/food and build up from there.

 

[Frumpoon]

Just one word of caution, if he hasn't been on grass in a long while and now he is, just look out for signs of colic

 

[AdorableAlice]

Just one word of caution, if he hasn't been on grass in a long while and now he is, just look out for signs of colic

My thoughts too. Full time in with dry forage to full time out on grass is one hell of a change to the gut flora and function.

On the behaviour issue, it would be a dually or chifney and a blue pipe. The horse would lead when asked and do as asked when in the company of a handler. I would also get a routine and structure in asap, ideally each end of the day, caught, quick brush, feet etc, small feed in a bucket, not hand fed and turned back out. Starting riding I would delay until the horse accepted the new routine and I had more idea of temperament.

 

[tallyho!]

Just leave him out. Once all his friends have come in he will want to come in too. Don't fight.

 

[AmyMay]

Is this the 5 year old that you posted about previously?

 

[Hack4fun]

Similar experience, but not quite as extreme. Concentrate on groundwork. Bit by bit. Get their attention. I insisted the horse accept the head collar before being fed - if she moved away IO moved the food away from her. She cottoned on. We go for a walk in the head collar. If she tries to turn then we might go in a 360 degree circle to resume our direction. She understands now that I choose the direction. Still working on it, but made real progress.

 

[Amye]

I would definitely not be riding him yet either - is this the same horse you posted about that you were getting but hadn't ridden yet??

If you didn't ride him before you bought him I'd give him chance to settle first and make sure you have something with you when you first ride. A 5 year old coming back into work might not have had much done with him at all....

In terms of turning out, if he's not been out for a year then of course he'll be difficult to bring in, bless him, he's probably wanting to cling onto his freedom because he doesn't understand that you're going to let him back out again. I would do what others have advised, concentrate on your groundwork and get him only coming in for short periods so he knows he'll get to go out again. Get him in a routine, it takes a while for a horse to settle so I would wait until he's happy in his routine and then start riding him. It sounds like you've had him no time at all, and you've only tried bringing him in once. Maybe invest in a dually headcollar, as, at first, he might be likely to be strong turning out too.

Be careful and wear a hat and gloves if he's like to try and kick/rear and bog off with you.

 

[Goldenstar]

He's only afraid he going to be kept in again .
I would just visit him in the field as much as possible for say four days and feed him nice things and then start again .
The only thing that I would worry about is you have found the real reason the horse was not turned out

 

[poiuytrewq]

When I put a horse out on loan a few years ago the loaners had this problem. I was really surprised as I'd never had it and I'd had him years.
He probably needs time to settle and get to know you?
I had to go and bring my horse home as the loaner was too scared to keep trying. He came in fine for me (thank god!!)
Visit him in the field and bring him in when something else comes in at first maybe?

 

[irishdraft]

The cynic in me would think this is probably why he wasn't turned out nothing to do with other horses bullying him, however that doesn't help you . I had a horse who did this owned from a 3 year olds turned out daily, fine to catch and lead the minute you put your hand out to open the gate he would rear sky high and bolt off in the end I had to resort to bringing in in a chiffney once he grasped the fact he couldn't​ do it he stopped . But he was a bloody minded warmblood who had more than a few quirks

 

[smja]

How many other horses is he out with? I'd bring in some others with him (pref at least one ahead of him and one behind him), put him in stable, make a fuss of him/feed him, and turn them all back out again without riding or anything else.

Repeat until he gets the idea that coming in is not a bad thing.