Nappy Hacker

Booboos said:
That was me Tarr Steps! I had a horse that was very difficult around pigs and I moved him to a livery yard that was also a pig farm. We tried everything, e.g. gradual exposure, a nice calm buddy, turning him out next to pigs and leaving him to it. By the end of the summer he was unhandlable, I couldn't do much with him and he had lost all his mane and tail so he was seriously stressed. We moved yards and he was fine.

Then again Rusky is very weary of pigs but with strong riding and a confident companion you can get him past.
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Ah! Somehow I thought it was someone in Scotland. Maybe there have been two!

A client of mine had her horse on a yard with pigs next to the school and he never really settled. Interestingly he didn't spook at the pigs per se, he was just super tense. He's been much better since a move.

That said, I currently ride a horse on a yard with pigs and it doesn't bother him one jot. It ask also doesn't seem to bother any of the other horses. I used to work at a QH training yard that had a pig that lived loose (I loved him!) and while we had a few that fussed initially, most got used to him quickly
 
We have a Connie who has issues. Good showjumper, we put him on loan but they nearly ruined him, overjumped with no rider support. He also had pain which doesn't sound like the case with yours. Calmers didn't work, made him worse, feed merchant said a lot of Connies can be cereal intolerant too. Ours just wants to be with us, one pony friend and he likes the dog, ignores everyone else. All of which is to say that some of the competition bred Connies can be very quirky and over sensitive but also argumentative. You could also try posting his breeding, see if anyone knows his lines. Ours is O.K again now but it took over a year to settle him.
 
We have much the same set up at our yard, our land lady owns to pet pigs who live behind the stable yard. Initially the horses were horrified and when one escaped and was trotting round the yard I thought several might actually have a heart attack. Over time they have all got used to it, even my tb although he still keeps a very close eye on them in case one does a commando roll under the fence and gets in the yard again!

We didn't really do much to help them, just left them all to it but we are lucky in that the pigs are not anywhere near their turnout. They do have to pass them when we leave the yard but luckily for me it is on my horses blind side so although he can smell them he can't see them!!!
 
Thank you to all who replied!

Upon reading everyone's comments I definitely feel that perhaps he isn't being worked hard enough (comparable to what he was used to). I've since decided that before hacking he should do at least 15-30 mins constant schooling (I hope this may settle him when I try to ride alone). I haven't been doing a lot of canter work out hacking, it's mostly been trotting and walking as I was advised trotting is harder than cantering? Not sure now if that's a myth?!

I have also decided to enlist the help of an instructor and am in the process of looking for the right person to help at the moment. Thank you all so much for your help, any more gratefully received.

Ps I received your PM alphanumeric, I tried to reply (I hope I have) although I'm relatively new to this and so if you haven't received it let me know and I will send again!
 
Brilliant op, great idea to get help from an instructor :)
Melms92 said:
Thank you to all who replied!

Upon reading everyone's comments I definitely feel that perhaps he isn't being worked hard enough (comparable to what he was used to). I've since decided that before hacking he should do at least 15-30 mins constant schooling (I hope this may settle him when I try to ride alone). I haven't been doing a lot of canter work out hacking, it's mostly been trotting and walking as I was advised trotting is harder than cantering? Not sure now if that's a myth?!

I have also decided to enlist the help of an instructor and am in the process of looking for the right person to help at the moment. Thank you all so much for your help, any more gratefully received.

Ps I received your PM alphanumeric, I tried to reply (I hope I have) although I'm relatively new to this and so if you haven't received it let me know and I will send again!
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