Horse refusing to leave field!!!!

[BallyK]

My normally well mannered and easy to handle mare decided she didnt want to leave her field today!! Frustrated to say the least!! She did it a bit yesterday and I put it down to being extremly windy but in the end I managed to get her out the field yesterday after about 5-10mins of her planting at the gate. Well today it was worse, she didnt come to me today but sometimes doesnt so I walked to her and she stood happily to get her headcollar on and came for a bit but half way up the hill she just planted and refused to move!! I tried everything tried to trick her by taking a different path to the gate, didnt work tried to get her to follow her fieldmates didnt work! Tried flicking the lead rope which made it worse, she seemed generally scared of the trees near the field gate, it was windy again today so maybe it was this and she does have a fear of fallen trees. I tried just standing and waiting, not letting her graze and loads of praise when she did move if only a little bit! In the end I gave up as I could feel myslef becomming frustrated and knew that would make it worse so she went without her feed tonight, but I dont think she will starve!!

Does anyone have any ideas of what I can try tomorrow if she does it again? I have to say I'm feeling very annoyed that I gave in with her, I was really upset earlier that she didn't listen but know I'm just annoyed I gave in and I'm dreading tomorrow incase she does it again.

Thanks for reading I know its long, thank you.
xx

 

[Bouquet]

It must be understood whether her refusing to go forward stemmed from fear or from obstinance. One deals differently with each, for effectiveness. If fearful, horse's eyes get "stare-y", the body tenses, head raises in alertness, etc.. If horse is saying, "Make me!" in a challenge to your leadership, he'll look like he's sticking his tongue out at you! You don't want to push the fearful horse forward; he'll think you're a rude leader & get even more scared.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

You could get another owner to lead a horse through the gate with you, or have another person lead her through. Sometimes having a person with no emotional attachment and a firm but quiet approach can break the deadlock.
Hopefully though, the wind will have died down and she won't be so reluctant.

 

[BallyK]

I have to say at times I think she was generally scared of the trees being blown about in the wind, she does have a fear of fallen trees and will refuse to walk past a fallen tree if we are out hacking. But at other times I think she was just trying it on, once I got her closer to the gate she became more scared like so that is when I just stood there and reasured her. She has never done this before and in all honestly I'm quite shocked at her behaviour, she has always been a lovely mare to handle and is the easiest at the yard to bring in, groom etc I'm not sure what got into her this weekend but I do think the wind played a part, as it was extremly windy much more than normal. I think I will just have to wait it out with hher tomorrow!