How to get ex-shower jumper used to turnout / field time?

[horses2024]

Hi all, hoping there may be some people out there with similar experience and / or training tips on how to get an ex-show jumper used to spending time in the field for turnout and stop panicked behaviour -

Our horse is a 15y/o KWPN dutch warmblood mare, and had a successful show jumping career (up to 1.40m). We bought her for a slower pace of life, as she was no longer showing interest in competing at higher levels and was sold as a quiet (for breed etc) mare suitable for lower levels and general riding.

She is brilliant in all ways, and has no vices or behavioural issues. She does however appear overwhelmed by turnout and time out in the field, and we believe this may be due to a lack of time in the field in her younger / competition years, lack of socialisation with other horses and generally being outside of her 'safe' zone when out in the field requiring her own confidence.

She was turned out into a herd situation and jumped out on both occasions, appearing overwhelmed and becoming quite stressed. We have spent a number of months following this attempting to train and get her used to the field, starting with her grazing in hand, grazing with us sat in the field with her and are now at the point where she can spend 1 - 2hrs in the field and appears to be settled and happy. However, almost as if from nowhere she can have panicked moments (0 - 100 in behaviour) and appears to have an instinct to run right towards the gate, ready to jump out and take herself out of the situation.

Does anybody have any experience of getting an ex-show jumper or any horse used to the field at a later stage in life? If so, please do let us know any tips or training info that may help. We appreciate she may never be a 24/7 turnout horse but really do want her to have the best balance of environment and be happy doing so for her life with us.

Many thanks in advance!

 

[MidChristmasCrisis]

I have only had close experience of one seriously good show jumper bought for competitive teenager and I’m sorry to say he never was happy turned out for as long as the other horses on the yard. Being able to jump meant he popped out over the fence whenever he d had enough. The fencing height was increased and he went through it. When fence was topped with electric wire he paced the fence line and was very stressed. It was easier in the end to let him have an hour out in the morning and in the evening for as long as he would stay relaxed. The teenager was unemployed (bank rolled by doting parents) so was able to attend to him. I am hopeful that other folk here have had more positive experiences which they can share with you.

 

[P.forpony]

Patience and an emotional support animal settled this one.

He'd been in racing for 6 years and the only way to describe him was agoraphobic. Outside was a scary place and it would only take the tiniest thing to upset him, like a bird taking off or something calling from the yard, and he would start to pace the fence lines. Complete tunnel vision, once something triggered it he just wouldn't stop pacing, he could go all day.

He's now a very happy settled 24/7 turnout horse, so I promise there is hope!

 

[Horsegirl25]

My girl also showjumper although not quite to that level, however she had spent the majority of her life stabled being at various sj yards/dealers etc. When we got her (August last year) she was fine for a couple hours in the field but would then become unsettled and pace the gate getting more and more worked up the longer she was left and if another horse round about her got brought in that was game over she would blind panic run through fences.
This year she has been turned out overnight since April for 12-14 hours a day and sometimes I can't even catch her in the morning!
She was stabled 24/7 over winter (turned out in arena etc) I know not everyone's cup of tea but she was too flighty and dangerous and would've really given herself a sore one as well as bugger my field up! Coming out of winter she was much more settled in her surroundings and went straight out with my gelding and has been settled ever since.
I'm not sure if it was time she needed to settle or a friend (I think a herd would be too much for her)
Not much in the way of advice tbh but there is hope and they do settle, I thought I would've had a hard summer of bringing in after 2 hours but there is light at the end of the tunnel!

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Srry, not advice on top of what has already been said, but wanted to say @P.forpony what a lovely pic!

 

[sportsmansB]

My idiot event horse had only ever been turned out for short periods (like 2-3 hrs, never over a meal time), loved his comforts and hated the rain. He fence walked and galloped around at the competition yard he lived at if he thought it was past coming in time, I was completely prepared when he retired to have to PTS if he didn't settle
I got him a companion mare pony who takes no nonsense but is submissive enough to not start a fight, and he went from spending most of his day either in his shelter sulking or standing at the gate whinnying for me - to being out in a snowstorm without a care. It was the companion made all the diff. I know its not practical in every situation but I had bought a house with land for this guy to retire (he was very special to me lol) so I was able to build him a suitable shelter and provide him with a mate.

 

[ponyparty]

The one I knew of like this only settled on moving yards to a place where he had free access to a barn, so could choose to be in our out as he pleased - and a sensible companion in with him. Would a set up like be possible?

 

[SEL]

She wasn't a showjumper - just neurotic - but a companion who was besotted with her made the world of difference.

 

[Squeak]

Have you tried her with one other quiet companion or on individual turnout next to other horses? Could it be being in a big herd that she is finding overwhelming?

 

[horses2024]

Patience and an emotional support animal settled this one.

He'd been in racing for 6 years and the only way to describe him was agoraphobic. Outside was a scary place and it would only take the tiniest thing to upset him, like a bird taking off or something calling from the yard, and he would start to pace the fence lines. Complete tunnel vision, once something triggered it he just wouldn't stop pacing, he could go all day.

He's now a very happy settled 24/7 turnout horse, so I promise there is hope!
View attachment 146654

What a wonderful photo - thank you so much for sharing, it is great to hear of a success story! Agoraphobic is definitely an accurate description and especially with the smallest of things like birds moving, wind / weather related

 

[horses2024]

The one I knew of like this only settled on moving yards to a place where he had free access to a barn, so could choose to be in our out as he pleased - and a sensible companion in with him. Would a set up like be possible?

We haven't found any local options that could offer something like this but thank you for sharing, its all really helpful to hear what has worked to support and create the right environment!

 

[Bobthecob15]

I think it also depends on time of year and grass etc. My TB decided in September that it was definitely better to be in than out in his field…he would fence walk and call to come in after 2-3hrs when he has been fine out all day or overnight (stabled half of the day). Tied in with not much grass too in the field. He now pretty much wants to stay in his stable and eat hay all day! He’s only going out a few hours a day and usually he’s standing at the gate after 1hr! I’m not a believer in leaving them out if they want to be in, assuming you have the ability to have them in. Could just be yours prefers a stable and hay etc!

 

[Janique]

I look after a 4 years old flat race horse Falcao, as a youngster he was broken at 18 months and started racing at 2 years old.

He never went in the paddock at all till August this year, at the moment, he goes once a week but after 1 hour, he starts galloping round.

There is lot's of grass and quiet horses all around him but he seems to know when the hour is up and get's all upset.

I usually try to get him in before he ge'ts all upset and try to leave him a bit longer and turn him out more often.

I think it will take time but slowly he is getting better.

I hope to have him once he is finished with racing ( hopefully he won't have broken down by then....) and i believe that with time and patience, he will get used to it,
i will also try a compagnion if needed.

Good luck !

 

[paddi22]

i agree with the poster about an emotional support animal, pref a mini!. we get a few in like this and they get paired up with a mini who stays with them 24/7. I also found herds could be very overwhelming for them so they split in their own section and field time is gradually increased. Then another animal is added in, and then another, until they gradually adapt to herd. this has always worked and all animals ended up being on 24/7 herd turnout.

 

[Trot_on]

My pony who (we believe) had a SJ'ing past never really understood turnout when he frst came to our yard. I buddied him up with my Welsh Cob who is every horses best friend and he took him under his wing and showed him 'how to be a horse'. I took him out of any work routine for a fair few months to let him properly let his hair down and forget about 'working life'. He's been obsessed with turn out ever since! (Much to my detriment these days - he is grey and likes to get very muddy!)