Spirit3106
New User
Hi,
About two months ago, I started fostering my first horse. She's from a rescue sanctuary, but she's lived there since she was a foal. A few people have fostered her already before. She's 17 years old and very gentle.
We're boarding her at a livery, but we do all her chores, we just pay for her stall, paddock, hay etc.
When we brought her to the yard, we were given a stall in a small block. It was used for goats mainly, but other boarders had kept horses there before. The front of the stable was clear, so we could lead her out with ease. Between the stable wall and a pillar to the barn roof was a small gap. My horse seemed jumpy when I lead her through that space, and I didn't see the need to use that exit much anyway.
However, after a few weeks, a trailer was put in front of the open side of the barn. It was fine, we still had plenty of room beside it. Then the yard owners put another horse trailer beside it.
Now, we had only the small side entrance. It seemed not too bad, we asked the owner if he could move a trailer when he had free time, and our horse wasn't too spooky in the door. With time, she became harder to lead in the doorway. She'd get nervous when she came up to the door. The horse trailers were still in the main door.
Eventually, she would refuse to walk when we reached the paddock gate. She'd pull away, bolt, stop, and so on.
We've gotten experienced friends to come check her, we've carried crops for safety, we've tried encouraging her, but she's almost impossible to lead in the door now.
It's so annoying because the horse is so gentle and sweet, and we really enjoy having her. But because of the trailers, she turns into a different horse when we turn her in or out, or move her from her stall at all really.
Sorry for the long post, it was hard to keep short.
Thanks in advance, any advice appreciated!
About two months ago, I started fostering my first horse. She's from a rescue sanctuary, but she's lived there since she was a foal. A few people have fostered her already before. She's 17 years old and very gentle.
We're boarding her at a livery, but we do all her chores, we just pay for her stall, paddock, hay etc.
When we brought her to the yard, we were given a stall in a small block. It was used for goats mainly, but other boarders had kept horses there before. The front of the stable was clear, so we could lead her out with ease. Between the stable wall and a pillar to the barn roof was a small gap. My horse seemed jumpy when I lead her through that space, and I didn't see the need to use that exit much anyway.
However, after a few weeks, a trailer was put in front of the open side of the barn. It was fine, we still had plenty of room beside it. Then the yard owners put another horse trailer beside it.
Now, we had only the small side entrance. It seemed not too bad, we asked the owner if he could move a trailer when he had free time, and our horse wasn't too spooky in the door. With time, she became harder to lead in the doorway. She'd get nervous when she came up to the door. The horse trailers were still in the main door.
Eventually, she would refuse to walk when we reached the paddock gate. She'd pull away, bolt, stop, and so on.
We've gotten experienced friends to come check her, we've carried crops for safety, we've tried encouraging her, but she's almost impossible to lead in the door now.
It's so annoying because the horse is so gentle and sweet, and we really enjoy having her. But because of the trailers, she turns into a different horse when we turn her in or out, or move her from her stall at all really.
Sorry for the long post, it was hard to keep short.
Thanks in advance, any advice appreciated!