Tash88
Well-Known Member
Hi, some of you will remember I posted recently about some problems I was having with my horse, and whether I should just give up. I've decided not to for the time being; he has been given a clean bill of health after having the vet out to check everything and I am not ready to give up on his training yet. He has improved in the last few weeks but now there is another issue that I'd appreciate some advice on as it needs to be nipped in the bud!
He is on part livery but goes out with the DIY geldings as he didn't really get on with individual turnout, particularly when the mares' herd moved into the field next door to his paddock. He has been much happier since moving into the geldings' field last September, moreover this is what he was used to as he was out with 15ish other geldings where I kept him previously on DIY livery. At the last yard he lived out (mainly) in the summer and was stabled overnight in the winter; it is the same where I am now but as he is on part livery he comes in every night.
Since most of the other geldings started living out a couple of weeks ago he has been a nightmare to bring in and turn out, and it doesn't help that the summer field is at the back of the winter field, and so when he is walking away from his friends he can see them for longer and has more opportunity to think about it and escape. He is fine to catch and will walk out of the summer field nicely, but then as he approaches the gate to the track he will spin, rear and nap towards the field he has just left. It is difficult to hold him when he does this and often when he is let go of he will gallop flat out back to the field. When he is caught again the process will be repeated.
I'm on part livery so it is more often than not the staff who bring him in, however saying that I am very involved and at the yard most days after work. There is at least one day a week where I don't exercise him and just give him a good groom etc, and so I spend lots of non-riding time with him as well, although I do exercise him five days a week. I have no concerns about the staff's capabilities and have reminded them that they can ask me to get him in if he's really playing up, which they did last Thursday and yesterday. He was fine with me both days and on Sunday when I brought him in. Ultimately I know that he is my responsibility and although I pay for a service I don't want anyone to get hurt and neither do I want to be worrying at 4pm every day when I'm at work and it will be time to bring him in! After a particularly bad day yesterday I am going to bring him in for the rest of the week.
I'd really appreciate it if anyone had any advice; I think it's mainly because the other boys are all out and he doesn't want to leave them, plus there is a lot of grass out there. He is generally a bit quirky and nappy to ride in the school but fine out hacking and will hack/school alone without an issue, so he isn't massively affected by separation anxiety. He is fine to handle and not at all aggressive. It has only been a real issue in the last couple of weeks since the other geldings started living out, and he became a little difficult when the geldings started staying out later and his bringing in time remained the same.
Any advice much appreciated and thank you in advance,
Tash
He is on part livery but goes out with the DIY geldings as he didn't really get on with individual turnout, particularly when the mares' herd moved into the field next door to his paddock. He has been much happier since moving into the geldings' field last September, moreover this is what he was used to as he was out with 15ish other geldings where I kept him previously on DIY livery. At the last yard he lived out (mainly) in the summer and was stabled overnight in the winter; it is the same where I am now but as he is on part livery he comes in every night.
Since most of the other geldings started living out a couple of weeks ago he has been a nightmare to bring in and turn out, and it doesn't help that the summer field is at the back of the winter field, and so when he is walking away from his friends he can see them for longer and has more opportunity to think about it and escape. He is fine to catch and will walk out of the summer field nicely, but then as he approaches the gate to the track he will spin, rear and nap towards the field he has just left. It is difficult to hold him when he does this and often when he is let go of he will gallop flat out back to the field. When he is caught again the process will be repeated.
I'm on part livery so it is more often than not the staff who bring him in, however saying that I am very involved and at the yard most days after work. There is at least one day a week where I don't exercise him and just give him a good groom etc, and so I spend lots of non-riding time with him as well, although I do exercise him five days a week. I have no concerns about the staff's capabilities and have reminded them that they can ask me to get him in if he's really playing up, which they did last Thursday and yesterday. He was fine with me both days and on Sunday when I brought him in. Ultimately I know that he is my responsibility and although I pay for a service I don't want anyone to get hurt and neither do I want to be worrying at 4pm every day when I'm at work and it will be time to bring him in! After a particularly bad day yesterday I am going to bring him in for the rest of the week.
I'd really appreciate it if anyone had any advice; I think it's mainly because the other boys are all out and he doesn't want to leave them, plus there is a lot of grass out there. He is generally a bit quirky and nappy to ride in the school but fine out hacking and will hack/school alone without an issue, so he isn't massively affected by separation anxiety. He is fine to handle and not at all aggressive. It has only been a real issue in the last couple of weeks since the other geldings started living out, and he became a little difficult when the geldings started staying out later and his bringing in time remained the same.
Any advice much appreciated and thank you in advance,
Tash