horses that create at bringing in time

debsflo

debsflo

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now its dark early and colder daughters stressy mare is a pain to bring in .this is our second winter with her but this year is a bit more difficult as daughter at college and i need another to help as have 3 in total .despite being rugged having plenty of grass and hay the minute she sees us she starts rearing ,bucking galloping and did a sliding stop at the gate.bringing her in when its dark would be a liability.my other 2 are fabulous ,really laid back although sometimes she winds them up .any tips really ,she presumably is keen to come in and have tea but am dreading this winter. she is awful in bad weather ,wind and rain and is quite hard work but in the summer is a different horse. i can bring her nearer to the stable but was hoping to leave that until the depths of winter
 
This is a difficult one. As the problem is that by bringing her in when she is behaving in that manner you are actually reinforcing it. Because she realises that if she creates at bringing in time she gets brought in.

Is she okay being led in or does she still continue to play up?
 
no we dont bring her in early so dont reinforce it intentionally. ,its just that were going to get her in the evening as planned. normally once shes caught she walks in quietly but worried shell injure herself in the meantime. the only time she will play up being led is if its very windy which she hates.she is a strong willed mare and we try hard not to let her be in charge but she needs firm quiet handling.
 
Unfortunately I think it is a habit that is quite hard to break. On the one hand you don't want to pander to her antics but on the other, leave her and she will quickly churn up your field. I have found that by bringing mine in a bit earlier once the clocks change, before she gets too fed up, seems to help. However in the wind and rain, no matter what time, my mare can be a pain too.

I think you will just have to try and find a routine that suits you/her and stick to it. Some horses just don't like the winter weather!!!
 
She`s obviously not cold or hungry just reacting to the fact she wants in (and presumably fed) as soon as she see`s you! Whilst it is still light can you go out and 'do stuff' (maybe poo pick or mend some fencing/ cut some weeds) in/near the field so she doesn`t automatically associate you with immediate attention? Only go to her when she gives up the pratting about and leaping around.
When horses come here (mine live at home) they have to quickly get used to the idea that just because I walk down the path and turn the stable lights on, or walk out towards the field it doesn`t mean that I will be getting them in. They learn that mummy with headcollar = in time and as they are left at field gate it gives them little time to t*t about! Takes a while sometimes but they all get it in the end!
I`d also not feed/hay her immediately when you do bring her in. Instead maybe give her a good groom or leave her in her stable whilst you get on with other jobs. That way she has nothing to be keen to come in for. I use this tactic when mine get a bit keen and as long as they are not hungry (i`e had ad lib hay or enough grass in field) then it always does the trick.
I find it`s all about setting yourself up for success and not, as a lot of horse owners do unwittingly, making a rod for your own back.
 
My horse is stressy at coming in time also paces up and down the fence as soon as she sees me! Last year she was actually galloping up and down it! It's very stressful as I also worry about her injuring herself! Most horses at my yard live out so she is never on her own and most horses don't move in the evening! I think some horses would rather be in than out once the bad weather kicks in!
 
last year i did bring her in before dusk and this definatley helps.i do go down to the field and potter but she seems to know when its time to come in .she is a very impatient horse generally and if left in the stable at teatime or in the morning kicks the door .i try very hard not to reinforce her behaviour but she is a clever girl and i suspect has always been strong willed .as she is currently at the furthest point from the stable it gives her longer to mess about.she can be moved nearer which may help but i need to be a step ahead of her otherwise shes in charge. should say when shes good shes lovley but its like having a naughty child throwing a wobbler.
 
chestnut mare.i agree i also think its her personality and if she could choose she would be out for a few hours and not go out in bad weather but she has too.luckily my other 2 are quite placid and just look at her throwing herself around .
 
debsflo said:
.she is a very impatient horse generally and if left in the stable at teatime or in the morning kicks the door.
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Very annoying habit. One of mine used to do this as soon as I went to the feed room (right next door to stables) until he realised that everytime he kicked I would just put the bowl down outside his stable and leave it there, feed the others and then go inside for a cup of tea! When he shut up I would give him the feed. Now he stands quietly (all be it with a scowl on his face!) and steps back from the door when approached with said feed.

The young cob i`ve just bought was obviously very well trained at feed time as he dances on the spot with anticipation (a tap dancing cob, hillarious!) but will not bang and he automatically backs up and waits for the bowl to be placed on the floor before advancing towards it.
 
my boy used to do this as a baby. hes pretty much grown out of it (now 8) but when ever hes cold/wants his dinner he will sometimes revert back to being a knooob! When he tries it on, i wrap the leadrope around his nose (have to almost wind it round the 'noeband' to the headcollar) and when they do anything stupid, you can give thm more of a tug with it (so it tightens around thier nose), and they usually respect it a bit more.
 
I think some horses just know where they want to be and what they like! A pony at our yard was exactly the same last year and he never gave in, he would get himself into a terrible state, ie dripping in sweat and he really made a mess of the field. Unfortunately horses are creatures of habit and routine, some need a more ridgid routine than others and alot of that has to do with temperament.

If it makes your horse's and your life less stressfull then bring her in a bit earlier or move her nearer to your stable. So what if she's calling the shots, she female isn't she lol
 
My mare(chestnut, incidentally) can work herself up into a right state once the coming in at night starts.
I keep her on diy livery and over the last 2 years she has gradually got herself a reputation for being a nutter in the field this time of year. I have had all sorts of problems with other livery owners, now I choose to keep her on her own in a separate field.
I don't like to reinforce her behaviour but I have found that making sure she is in by a certain time I can pre empt her.

My biggest problem is we have a horse on the yard who's owner brings him in everyday at 2pm, all the fields are off one track so all the horses can see him coming in - this sets Dolly off, last year I had to make sure she was is by then too.
This year we have had a couple of incidents but nothing major and she seems happy in the field until 4pmish so I am on that routine atm until madam changes her mind about what time she would like to go to bed!
 
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