Horse now in and stir crazy

[Carlos's Mum]

Horse who would not be caught was caught on Wednesday. So happy for him to be in during storms. Now he's stir crazy, the slightest noise has him pulling back if tied up to skip stable. He is scared of everything. Dare not clean his stable this morning. Going back this afternoon . any good advice please.

 

[AWinter]

Is he used to being stabled? Does he have any friends he can see?
I would hazard a guess he’s had a fright and is on edge with the wind rattling round.

can you turn him back out?

 

[FestiveG]

Does he need to remain in, if not then turn him back out ASAP. Given his reluctance to be caught, if being in is stressful for him, then unfortunately, you are settinghim up to be even worse to catch.

 

[HashRouge]

Sounds like he has been stressed being in with all the wind. What is it like in his stable, can you really hear the wind and things rattling round?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

If his hard to catch why don't you get him a field safe headcollar and tie a bit of rope to it to make it easier to get him, if you just keep him in continually once he is caught he will be really reluctant to come in even more especially if he is unsettled being kept in.

 

[Carlos's Mum]

Yes extremely noisy. 8 other horses an d ponies in too. It is full and big sliding doors shut. His field is completely flooded so won't be going out. Hoping to move yards shortly so may be last time but doesn't make this situation any better does it?
G

 

[FestiveG]

Can you get sedalin or similar from the vet, for this episode?

 

[Upthecreek]

In my experience most prefer to stay out in stormy weather. Imagine being confined to a stable with lots of crashing and banging sounds that you can’t get away from and you don’t know what is causing them. It’s very unsettling and stressful. If there is no choice and the horse has to stay in they do calm down once the storm has passed, but not much you can do in the meantime really apart from perhaps trying a calmer or sedating if dangerous to handle.

 

[Arzada]

Turn him out. Being confined completely eliminates a scared horse's flight response. I wouldn't stable such a horse in a storm. Better that they can find their 'safest' spot in the field. Resume normal operations when the high winds and accompanying noise has passed.

 

[irishdraft]

I would turn him out, even my two who live out and were left out in their usual field have been unsettled by the storm.

 

[MagicMelon]

Why not turn him out straight away? To me, hes screaming he wants to go out after he had to spend the night in a very creaky building with awful bangs and noises going on all around him. If you're worried about not catching him, Id electric tape off a small paddock and work on the catching every single day and only put him back in a bigger field once he's happy to be caught every time.

 

[TheLoneWanderer]

The OP has said the field is flooded, it's far safer to have him in rather than out standing in deep water

 

[Arzada]

The OP has said the field is flooded, it's far safer to have him in rather than out standing in deep water

How deep is the water?

 

[[153312]]

Even if the field is flooded he may actually be better being out provided the perimeter fencing is safe and you can be sure there is not debris hidden in the water, though if you do turn him out do so with a field safe headcollar with a short, breakable lead attached. Alternatively do you have an arena he could go out in?
If turning him out really isn't an option, make sure he has calm company, can see (but not jump) out, lots of forage and sedative for both his and your safety, and wear well fitting hat, gloves and body protector at all times when handling or mucking out. Sedalin probably won't work though as it needs to be administered to a calm horse and they need to stay calm for 20-30 minutes whilst it takes effect.

 

[Carlos's Mum]

Even if the field is flooded he may actually be better being out provided the perimeter fencing is safe and you can be sure there is not debris hidden in the water, though if you do turn him out do so with a field safe headcollar with a short, breakable lead attached. Alternatively do you have an arena he could go out in?
If turning him out really isn't an option, make sure he has calm company, can see (but not jump) out, lots of forage and sedative for both his and your safety, and wear well fitting hat, gloves and body protector at all times when handling or mucking out. Sedalin probably won't work though as it needs to be administered to a calm horse and they need to stay calm for 20-30 minutes whilst it takes effect.

 

[Carlos's Mum]

Have ordered fieldsafe head collar for when he can go out. Doubt I'll be allowed to use it though! Also, not allowed to turn him out until water goes down. All horses in at present. Lunged him Sunday in wind and rain. Not for long but very settled when he came in again. Very well behaved being lunged though.

 

[GreyDot]

Can't imagine you wouldn't be allowed to use a field-safe headcollar. Surely they have the horse's best interest at heart?
Difficult with the delayed turn-out, but totally understandable with the weather we have been having!
Good luck, I am sure with consistency and patience, it will all come right. Roll on spring and fairer weather, it will make all the difference.

 

[Winters100]

I think you need to have a plan to give him adequate movement until the field is dry enough. Lunging once a day is not enough, if he is to be in the box day and night he needs 2 proper exercise sessions (lunging / loose schooling / ridden work), plus ideally a leg stretch (maybe in hand walk for 30 mins) in the middle of the day. Having horses without turn out is a massive commitment, especially if they are the nervous type, who in my experience tolerate it better if they are a bit tired from moving. Can you get some help in to get him moving more?

 

[Lady Jane]

Have ordered fieldsafe head collar for when he can go out. Doubt I'll be allowed to use it though!

Who can stop you using a Fieldsafe head collar on your own horse?

 

[Carlos's Mum]

YO has a lot of health and safety hangups and into natural horsemanship so it doesn't fit in with their views he can be quite domineering at times and I don't like to cross him!

 

[Widgeon]

YO has a lot of health and safety hangups and into natural horsemanship so it doesn't fit in with their views he can be quite domineering at times and I don't like to cross him!

He's "into natural horsemanship" but is happy to keep all the horses on the yard shut in stables for days on end? I don't suppose there's any possibility of a yard move in the future is there? It sounds like this man is making a difficult situation worse for you and your horse. With a slightly tricky horse you need support, not a yard owner who's going to actually manufacture more problems for you.....sorry you've got to deal with such an unhelpful man, it sounds very unpleasant and rather sad for you and your horse.

 

[Birker2020]

Why not turn him out straight away?

If the field is completely flooded she won't be able to turn him out.

 

[Carlos's Mum]

May have chance to relocate soon. Oh yo get back to normal horse care which I have practised for decades!