Pony is very excited to come in!

[TwiggyL]

My welshie is good as gold to catch, he canters round the corner when called! He then stands patiently at the gate (occasionally paces a few times when he sees me coming) until I lead him in.

Once I start walking him back up towards the yard he breaks into a little trot! I am not increasing my own pace at all, he just seems very happy to be coming in! I’m assuming this could be because he knows his dinner is coming, but is there anyone else who’s equine does this? I was wondering if there is any other known psychological reason behind it

 

[be positive]

That sounds fairly normal, he is coming in from a wet, possibly muddy field to a feed and hay in a dry stable so should be keen, you do need to take charge of the situation though before it becomes more than a jog for a few strides.

2 things to do, 1 don't leave his feed ready, just put the hay in and feed a few minutes after he comes in and ensure he waits or steps back when you feed him, 2 stop the jogging, bring him back to walk or halt immediately, at the moment it is not an issue but it can quickly escalate to the horse taking off in his hurry to get to the feed, much the same as riding what seems funny to start with can soon become a potentially dangerous habit.

 

[TwiggyL]

I always tie him up for about 20 mins before he is put away, as he is a fidget when tied. I faff about and give him a brush etc in this time. I make him stand before he enters his stable and always feed him about 5 mins after he’s put away... he moves back just by voice command now. So, I think I’m doing all the right things and he is a good boy generally! Just think he’s very food orientated (maybe because he’s had to fight for his food in the past).
But I will nip the jogging in the bud!

 

[scats]

I’d remove any food from the stable- hay included. Then he comes in to nothing and isn’t being rewarded for jogging in. After he’s been stood in quietly for five or ten minutes, I’d then put hay in.

I had to do this with Diva when she came. She learnt a fabulous trick that involved rearing full height in hand if I dared ask her to stop jogging on the way in from the field, and bogging off when she hit the floor- all because she knew she was going in to her stable where there was a big haynet waiting. This was knocked on the head by the use of a bridle, lunge line and removal of said haynet until she had stood in an empty box quietly for ten minutes.

 

[TwiggyL]

Is keeping him tied up on the yard for 10-15 mins as good as doing this? After he has stood quietly I put him in his stable with just a hay net. I then add his food 5 mins after x

I’d remove any food from the stable- hay included. Then he comes in to nothing and isn’t being rewarded for jogging in. After he’s been stood in quietly for five or ten minutes, I’d then put hay in.

I had to do this with Diva when she came. She learnt a fabulous trick that involved rearing full height in hand if I dared ask her to stop jogging on the way in from the field, and bogging off when she hit the floor- all because she knew she was going in to her stable where there was a big haynet waiting. This was knocked on the head by the use of a bridle, lunge line and removal of said haynet until she had stood in an empty box quietly for ten minutes.

 

[be positive]

I always tie him up for about 20 mins before he is put away, as he is a fidget when tied. I faff about and give him a brush etc in this time. I make him stand before he enters his stable and always feed him about 5 mins after he’s put away... he moves back just by voice command now. So, I think I’m doing all the right things and he is a good boy generally! Just think he’s very food orientated (maybe because he’s had to fight for his food in the past).
But I will nip the jogging in the bud!

That sounds fine, he will learn to stand still and by making him wait you are doing the right thing, if he is very hungry let him have hay as soon as he goes in otherwise he may get worse waiting, nipping the jogging in the bud now is probably all you need to do or maybe some days instead of tying him up keep him moving and do some basic groundwork, stopping, moving backwards, sideways etc just to keep him thinking and give his brain something to do if you are not riding every day.

 

[TwiggyL]

Unfortunately, I suspect he was not very well treated in his former home, which may also account for some of his bad manners - I took him on with back soreness due to long term use of an ill fitting saddle (we think) so I am currently having a physio fix him so no riding at the mo! So ground work it is!

That sounds fine, he will learn to stand still and by making him wait you are doing the right thing, if he is very hungry let him have hay as soon as he goes in otherwise he may get worse waiting, nipping the jogging in the bud now is probably all you need to do or maybe some days instead of tying him up keep him moving and do some basic groundwork, stopping, moving backwards, sideways etc just to keep him thinking and give his brain something to do if you are not riding every day.