How to move him into a different stable

Anuka

Anuka

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I've just bought a 2 yr old gelding, who is terrified of everything. He desperately needs mucking out, but goes crazy everytime someone comes near him. He has a head collar on, but it's impossible to grab it :/

Any tips or trick on how i can gain his trust and allow him to let me move him into another stable?
:confused:
 
Hi,
I'd just try and get his trust so you can move him without him causing either of you damage.
I would get a book and just sit in his stable and ignore him. He will come over and see what you are up to, but don't touch him, let him touch you first. After he becomes more comfortable being near you and touching you then you can start to stroke him and build up from there.
Out of interest, is there a reason you don't turn him out and work with him in the field? He may be feeling horribly stressed to be 'trapped' in a stable if it isn't something he is used to?
 
Just get in there and ignore him, he'll get over it.
Make sure the door is shut, (but preferably with someone sensible outside standing guard in case you need to leave in a hurry) you only have a short handled fork and do one side of the box at a time, pushing old stuff towards the door, when you're ready, get person to open door so you can push it outside and they can barrow it away. Bed down that side of box and move over to other side to repeat. Make sure he has some hay/haylage to eat so he can nibble that while keeping an eye on you. If he does sniff you, don't look him in the eye, just let him keep exploring you, let him be the one to move away first. Just let him get used to you, don't ask anything of him and one day you'll find he'll tolerate a scratch, usually the bum or chest but not the face, that seems to be their most vulnerable part and you can go from there. Whatever you do, don't push it; he'll come around but it does need time and lots of quiet patience. Took me nearly 3 weeks before I could scratch a bought in foal, a week later I was leading him in and out from the field using this method and he was never a mite of trouble.
Good luck and let's have pics!
 
Anuka said:
I would like to turn him out, but atm there's no way i'll be able to catch him :(
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He needs to be out with others playing in a field, he will soon settle down. To catch him just take a bucket of feed. At 2yrs old they shouldnt be kept in stables all the time. Did you ask if he was well handled before you bought him?

I have a 2yr old (that i bred myself) and he lives out but comes in twice a week for handling/walks/bitting etc. He will happily tie up in the stable whilst i do anything to him.
 
Advance and retreat.

Don't put any pressure on him, stay calm, low energy and submissive body language. Go into his stable, as soon as he looks at you, walk out again. Keep repeating this getting closer etc. Build up gradually to touching him etc. All the time no pressure, advance, as soon as he responds, then retreat. This will build his confidence, let him him come to you. The first time he touches you let him do so and then retreat. It will take time but you will eventually be able to touch him and do whatever else you need to do, move him to new stable etc. Don't take anything in there with you just yourself. Sorry horses don't have the mental capacity to just 'get over it' there's a reason why he's behaving as he is because he is frightened. You need to show him there is nothing to be frightened of in a way he will understand.
 
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His previous owners told me he was fine with them, well handled, already broken in etc, then when i got him home he was totally different and now freaks out anytime someone comes near him :/
 
Turn him out in a smaller paddock or with other friendly horses. He needs space to feel safe and at the moment your a threat....for both of your safety i really think he needs out. Give him time to trust you, doesnt really take that long and then you can slowly start bringing him up to the stable (not shutting him in there though) until he is comfortable being near the stables...then gradually introduce him to being stabled (might take months) but first he needs to trust you and to do that he needs to be AWAY from the stable!

:)
 
think of it from his point of view, he is young, been taken away from everything and one he knows and confined not knowing who will help save him from monsters! that will be you but you need to put his best interests first :) x
 
I'd turn him out if I were you, I got my boy when he was 2 and did this, didn't put him in a stable until he was much more used to me and his surroundings. Sure, he was a complete pain in the bum to catch to start off with, but he lives for food and using this as an aid, he has become the easiest horse to catch! Now comes trotting to his name, bless him! I'm pretty sure it's because he thinks he'll be fed, but I don't care, as long as he's happily coming over to me, it's all good :) I can now even go up to him in the field and have a scratch, when before he used to keep at arms length atleast lol!

Good luck, takes time but once you've got the trust it's great :)
 
Thanks guys :)

How can i get him into the field though? I can't get anywhere near him to grab his head collar, let alone lead him :/
 
Would he follow food? You could try this, get him to follow the food... This is how I've got my boy to load lol.

If close enough, you could create some sort of run way to let him go up (some fence posts and electric fencing, temporarily set up to create a path to the field maybe??) Or get some help and maybe create a moving box around him (tape again) but open so he's not intimidated but will also stop running off.

Just some ideas :)
 
How far is the field from his stable? you might have to do what someone suggested on his with the approach and retreat and wait....might take you all day and you'd need to stay happy and calm....ideall slip a LONG rope around is neck gently then you atleast have some control to get closed GENTLY and clip something to the halter....when you turn him out it might be 3 weeks before you can properly catch him....just make sure you spend ALOT of time with him, poo picking, bringing feed etc just have to wait for him to feel safe....and then dont try and take him out of that field until he is happy coming up to you...it might all be too much and your back a few spaces :)

:)
 
Anuka said:
His previous owners told me he was fine with them, well handled, already broken in etc, then when i got him home he was totally different and now freaks out anytime someone comes near him :/
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Already broken in as a 2yr old??? Did you go and see him/handle him at his old yard and get him checked over by a vet?

The reason he is so unsettled is because he needs to go out in a field and relax, hes young and moving to a new yard is a big deal for a youngster, ontop of having someone totally different to handle him.

ETA - you need someone who is experienced at handling youngsters to come and help you IMO. Do you have anyone who can?
 
I saw him at his old yard (although you could barely call it a yard) and once i saw the state of some of the other horses they had, i bought him straight away. I think they just wanted rid of him tbh :(
 
Kub said:
Would he follow food? You could try this, get him to follow the food... This is how I've got my boy to load lol.

If close enough, you could create some sort of run way to let him go up (some fence posts and electric fencing, temporarily set up to create a path to the field maybe??) Or get some help and maybe create a moving box around him (tape again) but open so he's not intimidated but will also stop running off.

Just some ideas :)
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I like the idea of creating a run way, to the field :) That just might work.
 
Really I would have him in a field rather then a stable, hes inclosed and will feel threated.
I would just spend time with him, be calm and patience, he will soon come to you once he gets used to the idea.
 
I trust you have wormed him (48hrs prior to turning out with others) and that he will be turned out with other geldings and not on his own? Do you have his passport and are all his vaccinations up to date?

Once he is out in the field just leave him be, do things in the field so he gets used to you being around but dont go up to him, just let him relax and eventually he will start coming up to you.

I reitterate what i said earlier though, you need someone who is experienced at handling youngsters to help you.
 
Tempi said:
I trust you have wormed him (48hrs prior to turning out with others) and that he will be turned out with other geldings and not on his own? Do you have his passport and are all his vaccinations up to date?

Once he is out in the field just leave him be, do things in the field so he gets used to you being around but dont go up to him, just let him relax and eventually he will start coming up to you.

I reitterate what i said earlier though, you need someone who is experienced at handling youngsters to help you.
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He's been wormed and vaccinated etc, and will be out with other geldings, if the runway thing works :) I'm gonna try and get some help, but sadly there's no one who will be able to at my yard, as most of the other liveries are just kids.
 
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