New horse is fence walking / anxious in the paddock

[Barton Bounty]

Just reading this thread makes me want to drink. I had a fencewalker. Owned her for 21 years and at times, got to the point where whisky (for me) was the only answer. In one of my least classy horse ownership moments, I may have caught her from the field, a muddy sweaty mess from walking for God-knows-how-long, and shouted, "What the f*ck is wrong with you??" It may surprise you to hear that this was not effective. Nor was groundwork, putting crap on the fenceline for her to walk around, or anything else. I once asked the vet if she could have Prozac. He laughed at me, but in the US, they do prescribe SSRIs off-label for horses with horrendous stereotypies and it has shown some efficacy. It wasn't a totally nuts question.

It's a stereotypy. Basically the horse has OCD, or it's an alcoholic. It probably started as self-soothing behaviour during a traumatic weaning or some other traumatic event when it was a baby, then the wiring has gone awry as it has grown up, and now it's what the horse does when stressed. It's a feedback loop. They get stuck in the repetitive behaviours. Once they start, they don't stop. My current two horses do not do this, and you can see that the way they process stuff is totally different than my fencewalker.

All you can do is try to identify the triggers and mitigate them as best you can.

I knew some, but not all of my horse's triggers. Most of it seemed related to the set-up and general vibe of a livery yard. When the pacing kicked off, the only solution was moving to a place where she didn't do it, or at least did it in a slightly more predictable way so you could control for it a bit.

Your post fair made me laugh this morning.. it’s horrendous to go through though

 

[ycbm]

No suggestions re turnout but I’d definitely be doing a course of Gastroguard. Extremely likely given his history and current state of anxiety that he has ulcers and that won’t be helping. Or try Abler, a cheaper option.

It seems much more common here in the states to treat horses ie when they move barns, or have been competing or whatnot.

OP might need to know that importing Abler isn't legal, though there are plenty who do and it is the right stuff (tested by the FDA) and it does work. It's a good point re. ulcers, and a good whack of aloe vera might also be worth trying. I give aloe every time a horse is going through a stressful event like a move.
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[Flowerofthefen]

I've had my ex NH 6 years this year. I got him in the Augiust. He had done a little bit of re training. He was fine out until the weather changed in October. He would do the death run, screaming round the field until I bought him in. He had friends and was in the same field he had been in. The first few winters I had to keep him in. He wouldn't even turn out for 10 mins, even when I made a pen right next to his stable. It was very stressful. He is now okk out from 6am til around 12.30/1 ,in the winter which I am totally thrilled with. Its taken a long time. Being in training in NH He wouldn't have been turned out over the winter as he would have been racing. If it were me I would pop horse out for 30 mins, bring in. Pop back out later for the same then try and extend it over time.

Eta, if he is at home would it be possible to somehow attach his turnout to the stable so he can go in when he wants?

 

[Cates123]

No suggestions re turnout but I’d definitely be doing a course of Gastroguard. Extremely likely given his history and current state of anxiety that he has ulcers and that won’t be helping. Or try Abler, a cheaper option.

It seems much more common here in the states to treat horses ie when they move barns, or have been competing or whatnot.

I'll be on the lookout for this but he is very low stress in all other ways, eats well, has good weight (for a TB) and has no issues with girthing etc, so I don't think that's an issue at present

 

[Cates123]

I've had my ex NH 6 years this year. I got him in the Augiust. He had done a little bit of re training. He was fine out until the weather changed in October. He would do the death run, screaming round the field until I bought him in. He had friends and was in the same field he had been in. The first few winters I had to keep him in. He wouldn't even turn out for 10 mins, even when I made a pen right next to his stable. It was very stressful. He is now okk out from 6am til around 12.30/1 ,in the winter which I am totally thrilled with. Its taken a long time. Being in training in NH He wouldn't have been turned out over the winter as he would have been racing. If it were me I would pop horse out for 30 mins, bring in. Pop back out later for the same then try and extend it over time.

Eta, if he is at home would it be possible to somehow attach his turnout to the stable so he can go in when he wants?

Sadly no, but there is a different paddock with a massive field shelter but it's the starvation paddock so I'm worried the lack of grass will mean he's even less interested in eating

 

[Goldenstar]

Get him happy first and then worry about his weight if he loses some he can get it back and you can feed him a decent amount while he’s in
Then deal with getting him settled in all situations in the field .
I have had horses here who simply don’t understand about paddock turnout it’s a thing .
I think he will be very different in three months .
Works always helps so when you get a saddle and get into a routine with I think it will be better

These problems are not uncommon especially with TB’s.
It might be worth trying feeding a magnesium supplement and see if that helps him .

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Sadly no, but there is a different paddock with a massive field shelter but it's the starvation paddock so I'm worried the lack of grass will mean he's even less interested in eating

Could you put hay out?

 

[Birker2020]

This isn't my experience. I've probably owned 15 in my time, none of them with separation anxiety.

I also don't think separation anxiety is a reason to deprive a horse of company. The separation anxiety is, after all, a sign of desperation to have company. Many people would recommend keeping 3 together in that situation so the anxious one is never left alone.

I have mostly kept my horses individually, one was out in a herd and when I first had Bails she was out in a small herd, but after Bailey got kicked and her bone was chipped and required stapling she was on individual turnout and I left it that way with Lari too. I was told that it could have turned into a catastrophic fracture so she was very lucky that I perserved and insisted on it being xrayed.

I lost a horse with a broken leg in herd turnout. He was only six and had a compound fracture of his tibia.
Lari is really struggling at the moment with herd turnout at retirement and is absolutely terrified of one of the horses, Lari has jumped out of the field twice to escape, the YO is doing as much as she can bless her, and seperating them for a week or two but its a nightmare and takes up all my thoughts and all her time. Yesterday it came towards him albeit separated by fencing, Lari was about 50 yards away, turned tail and cantered off, spun round and was looking at it on high alert. I have no doubt that they will all be friends eventually but its traumatic at the moment, given what's happened in the past to me but its a lovely yard so I need to perservere.

Most livery yards cater for individual turnout these days (obviously retirement yards are different) so a lot of people don't have any choice but to keep theirs individually.
My horses have never suffered through being in individual turnout. Despite the mains electric fencing being on they can still 'chat' to horses next to them and take each others fly masks off or 'pretend bite' in play.

Sometimes individual turnout is the lesser of the two evils.

 

[ycbm]

I have mostly kept my horses individually, one was out in a herd and when I first had Bails she was out in a small herd, but after Bailey got kicked and her bone was chipped and required stapling she was on individual turnout and I left it that way with Lari too. I was told that it could have turned into a catastrophic fracture so she was very lucky that I perserved and insisted on it being xrayed.

I lost a horse with a broken leg in herd turnout. He was only six and had a compound fracture of his tibia.
Lari is really struggling at the moment with herd turnout at retirement and is absolutely terrified of one of the horses, Lari has jumped out of the field twice to escape, the YO is doing as much as she can bless her, and seperating them for a week or two but its a nightmare and takes up all my thoughts and all her time. Yesterday it came towards him albeit separated by fencing, Lari was about 50 yards away, turned tail and cantered off, spun round and was looking at it on high alert. I have no doubt that they will all be friends eventually but its traumatic at the moment, given what's happened in the past to me but its a lovely yard so I need to perservere.

Most livery yards cater for individual turnout these days (obviously retirement yards are different) so a lot of people don't have any choice but to keep theirs individually.
My horses have never suffered through being in individual turnout. Despite the mains electric fencing being on they can still 'chat' to horses next to them and take each others fly masks off or 'pretend bite' in play.

Sometimes individual turnout is the lesser of the two evils.

I don't know why you replied to me on this B. I haven't criticised individual turnout except as a suggested way to avoid problems with separation anxiety.
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[Michen]

I'll be on the lookout for this but he is very low stress in all other ways, eats well, has good weight (for a TB) and has no issues with girthing etc, so I don't think that's an issue at present

All things that plenty of horses who scope for ulcers also are. He's a stressed horse, it would be a miracle if he didn't have them.

 

[Birker2020]

I don't know why you replied to me on this B. I haven't criticised individual turnout except as a suggested way to avoid problems with separation anxiety.
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I was the 'depriving horse of company' sentence that yanked my chain. Some people don't have a choice. Every yard by us has individual turnout. I don't see it as a bad thing.

 

[ycbm]

I was the 'depriving horse of company' sentence that yanked my chain. Some people don't have a choice. Every yard by us has individual turnout. I don't see it as a bad thing.

That comment was made very specifically with relationship to depriving a horse of company to prevent it from starting to have problems with separation anxiety.

It had no relevance to any situation in which you have kept a horse yourself, or indeed to any other person whose horse is on individual turnout for any other reason than that.


In taking such personal umbrage, you're assuming I'd never have a horse on individual turnout, aren't you? Well you're wrong.
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[Barton Bounty]

I was the 'depriving horse of company' sentence that yanked my chain. Some people don't have a choice. Every yard by us has individual turnout. I don't see it as a bad thing.

I also dont see why people quote my posts for no reason or just to disagree but they doooooo

 

[Ratface]

Old Horse has been on individual turn-out for the last seven years. He is next to his two favourite herd-mates and can see the whole herd, who are also in their own paddocks. They have electric fencing between them at the moment. On other bits of the farm, they have wooden fencing and hedges. Old Horse, being a screaming diva, has to come in first or he roars round, winding up everyone else and they do the same. This is not popular with the grooms. Usually, YO marches out and grabs Old Horse and brings him in first. Peace reigns.

 

[Birker2020]

You made the statement that most ex racers have separation anxiety. I made the statement that isn't my experience, having owned probably 15 who did not suffer from it.

I made the comment about 3 to counter you cautioning the OP against allowing her horse to have a companion, when he is clearly stressed without one as he is fence walking.

You've made it perfectly clear why you have to keep BB alone. I was not commenting about BB.
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I knew a livery horse who fenced walked constantly despite the fact it had its friend next door to it. It would spend nearly all day up and down the paddock walking back and forwards. It also displayed alarming behaviour when brought it. Investigations showed it had serious physical issues and so was retired.

Not suggesting your horse has a problem but might it be worth getting a vet to give him the once over?

 

[Goldenstar]

I think it is too soon to involve the vet .
Yes he might have ulcers many TB’s do but I do think he needs some time to settle .
Hes young he’s had a lot of change.

 

[Cates123]

We moved the horse/ponies into a different paddock set-up so that there was only electric fencing between them rather than an actual fence and it's like I have a whole new horse. Totally chilled and grazing all day - I can't believe the complete turnaround just by removing the more solid fence between them. So relieved!! Thank you everyone for your advice, it was gratefully accepted during my first few days of new horse panic! May still look into a companion so he can have his own friend in the field but, for now, we're doing so much better!

 

[AmyMay]

That’s the most wonderful update!

 

[eggs]

Great news - he is clearly making his preference for company known

 

[Goldenstar]

Good .

 

[poiuytrewq]

I’ve just read through this, I had similar with my most recent horse. He was a nightmare turned out, fence walking and shouting constantly even though he was with others.
He had hay, was warm, everything I could think of and yet did it all day every day.
I too really wanted to switch to over night t/o but figured no way I could risk that.
I was going to reassure you with the fa f that one day he just stopped and chilled, it did take a long old time though.
However I see your update and you’ve nailed it already! Really pleased you have a happier horse. It’s pretty stressful when they won’t settle.