Horse who does not like being stabled.

[littlen]

I recently moved my horse from a small rented field to a lovely DIY yard with excellent facilities. My horse has always been out 24/7, even in winter as long as I have had him so stabling has never been a problem. However, at this new yard all livieries bring horses in at night from mid september to about march/april.
My horse isnt used to being stabled, he has been known to weave on occasion and I am worried that stabling will cause him problems since he isnt that used to it. He is right next to his best friend so it shouldnt be a problem but i am still concerned.
Its best that he does come in at night, as he does drop weight in winter and he would be out at night alone if i left him and he would pace the fence but im still concerned that he will be a nightmare in the stable overnight.
He has alot of stable toys to keep him occupied, a stable ball,lickits, haynets you name it.

Are there any ways to stop a horse becoming stressed in a stable overnight?
Will it do him any harm or am i just overreacting!?

Would you stable a horse who does not particulally like being stabled?
How can i get him used to it so come september it isnt a shock to his system?

 

[Ezme]

If they all come in ask about if theres another livery who would like their out but hasn't been able to because of the others.

Most horses seem to change to being in overnight fairly easilly with plenty of grub and a good view!

 

[Jenz]

My boy whinnies non stop, kicks his door, undoes his stable door locks and generally throws a strop if he's in on his own. However, if they all come in at night he's absolutely fine, as long as he has his food and friends near by!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Ask if he can be in a stable where he can see/touch another horse without putting his head outside (then other horse doesn't need to be doing so at the same time). Offer him a variety of fodder e.g. alfalfa, readi-grass, hay, so that he doesn't get bored.
Oh and I wouldn't feed hay from nets, in case he plays with them and gets caught up, feeding from the floor is more natural and much more what he is used to.
If you do find another horse to leave him out with, making sure he is well-rugged and has enough supplementary (not necessarily hard) feed should avoid the weight loss.

 

[ladyt25]

I think if he can have contact with another horse and see other horses he should be fine.

We have only had one horse we couldn't ever stable as he got over stressed. He had to be stabled one time after a bad leg injury but, in the morning when we went to the stables, he (and his donkey pal stabled with him) were out. Both doors were still shut but turned out he'd got that worried he'd thrown himself so hard against the back stable wall he pushed the whole thing out and scrambled out the back. I guess it's a good thing they were wooden stables not stone!

He was an extreme case though, most horses are sane enough and, as long as they are able to see others they should settle ok. Plenty of feed and maybe a treat ball or something to keep him 'entertained' may help.

 

[jaynedoc]

my mare is fine in the stable until se sees someone on the yard and then kicks the door nonstop until she is let out, regardless of who's in or out, que my ridiculosly early morning starts in the winter arhhh!!

 

[saddlesore]

Could try him in for short periods just now with chain across door and door open? This is far less claustrophobic. I used to have a pony that point blank wouldnt stable but this seemed to ease the worry a little.

 

[treena]

start now. bring him in every day and just feed and groom him in there. i suggest you do shut the stable door rather than use a chain to start with, as if he feels he can escape through the chain its not a good way to start this new regime. i would brind him in, keep headcollar and lead rope on so you can hold on to him, give him a nice brush. if he starts to get upset, bring his head round to you and give him a rub and some calming words. have his feed ready outside the door so you dont have to leave him. when you have finished grooming him give him his feed, still holding on to him. as the days go by you can progress to grooming him while loose in the stable (only if safe to do so), and then coming outside the stable door while he eats his feed. eventually you can gradually move furthur away from the stable. eventually leaving him for short periods of time with some hay. by the time the winter comes it will be nothing to worry about. good luck