Horse Panic!! Any Idea Why??

[Ginger Bear]

I've has my TB a year & moved to my new yard in September..my new stable didn't have rubber matting for the first 2 days & my accident prone gelding managed to fall over.. I was tacking up in the stable, just about to lead him out to ride, opened the stable door & he tried to run thorugh the door next to me so I pulled on his reins & he panicked..sort of ran backwards, slipped & fell over..he then was down for around a minute & looked in total shock, but not really panicking.. how he didn't rip himself to shreds on the floor I will never know but he was totally fine after, not lame or anything..Had my rubber matting laid straight away, he settled in his new home & no problem at all..UNTIL... I've just had a call from my mum, she was tacking him up for my aunt to ride he went to run through the stable door she pulled on his rein & he ran back to the back of the stable panicking & she said he looked like his legs were going to go & like he was in shock...Any ideas why?? The only thing I can think of is that he has a nasty scar on the corner of his mouth & my dentist & vet think that some 'hideous' person at some point has put a rope in his mouth & ripped it..could the panic be due to some deap seated memory of someone hurting him when pulling him back? He doesn't mind when being ridden & never puts a foot wrong.. Thanks in advance..

 

[Cedars]

I would suggest that either the scar still really, really hurts, or that yes its a deep seated thing. Either way, I would change what you're doing completely. 1, shut the door so he knows he cant run out. 2, will he ride bitless?

 

[Ginger Bear]

The scar has been looked at by vets & is so I have been told as hardly any feeling in it which is why he dribbles his carrotts out of it.. The door isn't open while tacking up (i'm only tacking up inside due to the snow atm) & he hardle ever does it.. the first time was when I moved yard which I put down to the fact that he was a bit hyper in his new stable & thought at the time that it was just a sort of 'freak accident'..both times it has happened is when he has been in for a day or so.. he's in at the mo because of the snow & ice.. I would be surprised if bitless was an option but he could surprise me..worth a go I supposse. He's also NOT usually the type of horse to run out of his stable, I can muck out, groom etc with the door open & he doesn't even try to step out..

 

[Dizzydancer]

I would say it is probably a deep seated memory and could also be a memory of falling over when he did it last time, mine is like this with clippers and scissors from years and years ago, he will not have them near him which is always a pain. I would suggest you are infront of him when leading out of stable so you dont pull back if he tries to barge, but other than that try to avoid tacking up in the stable to avoid this. It is probably just something you will have to deal with and try to avoid getting in the situation in the first place.

 

[LaurenM]

I agree with DizzyDancer, I think he's got it in his mind that its scary to come out of the stable tacked. I wouldn't tack in the stable as if he bangs his saddle against the door whilst trying to run out he will only confirm in his mind that its scary.

I would do some groundwork with him and if leading out of the stable I would talk to him to reassure him and would avoid yanking at the reins.

 

[Maesfen]

Try tacking up and then doing something else like brushing his tail, picking feet out or something so he doesn't associate tacking up with going straight out of the box and also, clip a lead rope onto his noseband and use that to lead him out, not his reins.

ETA: TBH, it shouldn't matter where you tack up, he should stand still completely until you're ready to lead him forward and I have to admit, I hate seeing anyone do things on a yard that could be done in the box, there are too many things that can happen when out on a yard, do them in the box so you're contained.

 

[Lippyx]

I hope you little fella is OK now. Sounds like a memory thing, and I think would you should do is tack him up in the stable (due to the snow as you say) and then practice coming out. Make sure you're in front, leave the door closed, walk towards it, stop, make a fuss of him and then circle away in the stable. Do this a few times, and then when he starts getting the idea that you stop when you get to the door, go to open the door a little, wait, fuss him if he stands there, and then shut the door and turn away.

I think you can see where this is going, eventually you want to be able to walk up to the door, open it, you walk out first and he follows you calmly. If he tries to walk out when your not ready, don't use the reins, either use your body against his chest, or you could put a headcollar and lead on over the bridle and use that to pull him back.

 

[Ginger Bear]

Thanks for all your great replies.. he has no issue walking in & out of the stable any other time so you are probably right about it being a link to being tacked up..it's just so sad & to be honest a bit scary to see.. he's come a long way in a year though..was literally a nervous wreck a year ago so perhaps a bit more work to combat the next scary thing for him..he seems to learn quickly..thanks everyone..will keep you updated..

 

[sizz]

I had a horse that did a similar thing going in and out of the stable, it started when I moved yards and the stable doorway was lower than she was used to. When you put any pressure on the horse's mouth their immediate reaction if they are worried about something is to pull away backwards, in doing so they raise their head and if the doorway is low there is a danger that they will hit their head. Try to keep any pressure off his mouth and use your voice to calm him.