Pawing at the gate - make him stop. HELP!

056775

056775

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Problem:

Moved horse to new yard. Was in isolation for 2 weeks, very happy if not extra happy to see me at night and a new love of being stabled.

Out into his new field with 4 others and stabled at night.

1st week in - reports he is standing by the gate 95% of the time
2nd week - if any one brings there horse out - he is loosing the plot, weaving (which hes never done), "gate walking", pawing at the gate and generally trying to barge out. Get him out and he's fine again. Not stressed. Goes back
in field quietly next day.

Middle of 2nd week - rips his legs to shreds by pawing and getting stuck in the wire stock fencing
His leg has now healed but worried about putting him back out.

What can i do?
I cant use electric fencing as its not my yard, cant try and put the same horse in and out with him as every one is stuck in their ways/routine? Cant remove the fencing as sheep are in with us

There is hardly any grass and no shelter which is why hes wanting to come back in I think.. Wondering whether to keep him in until grass come though?

Turned him out in menage and after he got bored started pawing the gate in there too!! ;-(

Any one else had this? Ideas to stop him?
 
I would look at only having him out for a few hours initially - building it up towards spring.

You have (I think I'm right) an indoor school, so can work him every evening - so he won't be stuck in the stable for hours upon end.
 
amymay said:
I would look at only having him out for a few hours initially - building it up towards spring.

You have (I think I'm right) an indoor school, so can work him every evening - so he won't be stuck in the stable for hours upon end.
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Hey - yep hes being exercised 1-3 times a day so there's no major issue with him stretching his legs.

SUCH A PPAAAIINNN!!!!!!

Shall turn him out whilst hiding close by and keeping an eye.... May try and find a long range tazer!
 
Or you could put galvanised mesh on the gate - not too heavy (or expensive) and can be fixed on with cable ties, and easily removed when you don't want it there any more.
 
Fence the gate off with electric tape :)

Either make a sort of corral around the gate, which also makes it a great deal easier to get any horse in or out without escapees, or, if the gate is in a corner simply run a wire across the gate so the horse has to breast the wire to get at the gate. I have this with one stonking great belgian draft - stupidly I didn't have the wit to do it until he had bent most of my gates :mad:

Boarding gates is all well and good, it reduces the risk of injury of course, but it doesn't prevent a horse actually pawing the gate unless the gate is too high for him to get hs head over.

As for the stock wire, there are two fencing options - neither of which may be feasible due to expense or YO. You can put up electric tape at knee height, or, you can create an entire inner fence about 2' - 3' inside the perimeter, it has the additional bonus of stopping horses scratching on the wire, stock fencing is bliss to itchy horses. Neither option is of any danger to sheep.
 
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Being the new kid on the block and no grass is a temporary problem, which fortunately will resolve itself over the next few weeks. The more interaction he has with his field mates, the better. Could you ride with one or two of them and then turn him out for a few hours when he is not hungry ?

Would it be possible to tie a couple of old rugs around the gate or piece of carpet for a short while, as this would not hamper others getting their horses in and out.
 
Thanks for all suggestions - Not really sure what the owners would say if I asked to put up boards/carpets electric fencing and being the "new girl" don't really want to make too much of a fuss...

I will ask if i can do some thing however...

Think turning him out after a good feed for few hours and then before he has a chance to be naughty bringing him in so he doesnt get in the habit.

He REALLY hurt his leg and vet said he was sooo luckly not to have sliced the tendons down the back of his fetlock.

Some one was there when he got the injury and said when he got stuck it looked like he was trying to rip his leg off... ;-((

So the fact that he's done it since even though does not stop eating hay all day is just so frustrating.

I have just separated him from a 7 year strong pair bond so am also putting it down the separation anxiety although is fine in him self and displaying no other symptoms.
 
I'd be making the gateway safe (boards/electric/watching while he's turned out) immediately. Wouldn't be happy with stock he can get stuck in either. He's been isolated and herd moved around. Stick him in a steady routine and slowly let him get back to the turnout you want.

In the past I've known several gates come down with a horses leg through. On every occasion you are so thankful that the gate has given not the leg. Not something I'd ever take a chance on if a horse is pawing/kicking out at it.
 
PandorasJar said:
I'd be making the gateway safe (boards/electric/watching while he's turned out) immediately. Wouldn't be happy with stock he can get stuck in either. He's been isolated and herd moved around. Stick him in a steady routine and slowly let him get back to the turnout you want.

In the past I've known several gates come down with a horses leg through. On every occasion you are so thankful that the gate has given not the leg. Not something I'd ever take a chance on if a horse is pawing/kicking out at it.
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He is still in but do want him out - will be watching 100% and only letting out while im there to begin with. Cant do any thing about the stock fencing... Electric fencing will also be hard to install as is not my yard and not sure of insurance implications. Dont think I will be allowed to put up boarding but think thats the best option...

Hopefully have some grass soon and that will take his mind off things.

Hes never been like it before and the irony is that Im on BHS approved yard with post and rail but also stock and is very secure. The yard I came from had appalling fencing that was half up half down yet no problems in 15 years...
 
What we need to remember is that hunger is not just hunger to horses, it is agony. They are constantly producing stoach acid and if their stomach is empty for prolonged periods, it is PAINFUL. Can you not feed hay in the field?
 
Wagtail said:
What we need to remember is that hunger is not just hunger to horses, it is agony. They are constantly producing stoach acid and if their stomach is empty for prolonged periods, it is PAINFUL. Can you not feed hay in the field?
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Nope not allowed.

Just to clarify that he does this nonsense after being out for what could be 10 mins - if some one has just come over and patted him/ A N Other on the nose, if a horse comes in, goes out, if no horses are coming in or out... So sure its not just down to hunger or just separation...

Mentioned the grazing as think when grass is better it will give him some thing to do....

I mean the grazing isnt pitiful and two of his field mates do live out on it - its just not great but thank you for that comment as I feel have learn something! Was unaware about the stomach acid.
 
056775 said:
The yard I came from had appalling fencing that was half up half down yet no problems in 15 years...
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He has had 15 years of consistancy and now his world has been turned upside down several times in a few weeks. New place, new people, new horses, new turnout, new forage. Give him time to settle - why did you move? If he was okay and you were happy enouh but wanted a school/closer etc it may be worth considering a move back or a different yard if the behaviour doesn't improve after you've given him time.

Edit: To say that I also am not impressed with a yard where you are worried about putting something up on the gate. If that was my yard there would have been something up on that gate, or separated off (this is what we did with electric fencing) before an owner had to ask. It's a lot easier than dealing with the aftermath.
 
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PandorasJar said:
He has had 15 years of consistancy and now his world has been turned upside down several times in a few weeks. New place, new people, new horses, new turnout, new forage. Give him time to settle - why did you move? If he was okay and you were happy enouh but wanted a school/closer etc it may be worth considering a move back or a different yard if the behaviour doesn't improve after you've given him time.
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I totally appreciate this and am amazed that when not in his field, hes fine. Was also amazing how happy he was turned out in the isolation field and his general well being and presence.

There were many reasons for the move, It wasnt a decision I took likely and pondered over for about 2 years... If not more.

Fingers crossed he settles with his new friends... He has a girl friend who he walks out with every day and they scratch each others necks and play in hand on long leads but hes not allowed in with her as geldings and mares are separated ;-(
 
I'm afraid I'm not impressed with the management of this yard. The YO should have installed electric fencing far enough away from the stock fencing to keep the horses' legs away from it. We have sheep and horses and use electric to keep the horses off the fencing, it is quite simple really.
Was there a particular reason why you moved?
 
Stock fencing isn't ideal for horses and a YO should really be prepared to help if people are paying to keep their horses there and they are damaging themselves on it. I think putting something on the gate at least isn't really being annoying, I am sure if it doesn't look too unsightly then they will actually think it is a good idea. No YO wants horses slicing tendons on their gates when it can be prevented surely!! I would be horrified if it was my yard and trying to do anything I could to prevent it happening again.

Electric fence isn't really an expensive option for the yard in the grand scheme of things. Even non-electrified tape might help.

I think keeping him in and gradually extending turnout time sounds like to best idea.
 
If he wants to be in, keep him in. Just because we think it's good to be out doesn't mean the horse agrees. I have one who does this when it's wet/cold/miserable. When there is grass in the field and something to do out there (i.e. eat, roll, run about) he's happy to mooch about, but really he enjoys being in most of all.What is the point in making him miserable and risking injury just because he "should" be out?
 
Definately board the gate. Can't see it being an issue, makes it safer for all the horses.
Electric fence the stock wire off.cante see it being a problem, even wood posts can be taken back out again.
 
Whatever you do cover the gate. Dont turn him out for so long when he wants in he means it until the grass comes through. Does he paw the gate when people are watching then he is trying to get attention, ask people not to hang around by his gate, incl you because it will encourage it, and dont feed him over the gate not even treats.
 
A quick, if somewhat unsightly, compromise to make a gate safe is the plastic mesh you normally see being used on road works.

Wickes stock it at about £14 a roll, there is about 30 metres on a roll. Secure it with cable ties and put up at least 2 layers each side of the gate.

I have used it for a broodmare who thumps gates and her daughter who learnt how to do it from her mummy - bless!!!

It does the job - but both of them are unshod.
 
Thank you for all of the ideas and suggestions guys..

Will see how it goes with small periods of time and if he does it approach YO

Thank you!
 
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