pony refusing to go out - pls help

S

stanley101

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Hi

My pony has been moved to a new paddock on our yard and he hates it, he's a big scaredy cat any way and just seems really nervous and unhappy there. We have only been moved a week or two and when we go past his old paddock he plants his feet and refuses to walk on past the gate. A couple of times now I have had to turn back round and take him back to his stable as I have had to get to work and don't have the time to waste trying any longer.

This morning he did a huge spook, I cut my hand on the lead rope, had to pop him back in his stable and then went onto work in tears. So now he's had no turn out today, he's not being ridden tonight as I have to work this evening as well, so he's stuck in his stable all day. I feel awful for him as I really do think he's scared and not just trying it on.

Has any one got any ideas I can use to help him / me?

Thanks

S
 
Oh poor lad I think you need to try and find out why he hates it.

Maybe take a feed bucket and give it him in the field or just outside it?

Some horses would have a reason to hate new paddock and others just wouldn't like change, if you know which it is it maybe easier to deal with.

Is there another route you can take to the new paddock?
 
Poor lad is it more muddy in his new field ?? When I weaned a few weeks ago I moved my mare into the nextdoor paddock and she hates it !! It's with out doubt the mud as she's always hated it and the foals paddock drains down into the large on the girls are all in, she'll be happier when the grass comes through !

Try his breaky in there and see how he gets on
 
Its a lot muddier than his old field so it might be that, I take his breakfast hay out with us and try leading with the bucket in front letting his have a little snack every other step.

He's never really been one for running around he usually just stands sedately in his field picking at the grass but in his new one he runs back to the gate with me when I leave (when I can get him there) and starts running around wild eyed when he see's me coming back.

Just dont know what to do.
 
sounds as though there is no grass in there and there is in his old one. Although it may not seem that way to you. Or as you say he doesn't like the mud

Does he have to go in new paddock?

If it is to save grazing, could you not half the other paddock and save it that way?

It is such a shame when we need to do something for the longer term benefits and they just don't know that, he is trying to tell you something and I know how hard that can be when we have to make them do it and we know they don't understand why,

I know it sounds really stupid, but talk to him tell him why he has to go in this paddock

I once had a horse that hated the horse walker. one day walking back I had this conversation with him

I know you hate the walker BUT you have a bad leg and vet says you need to go in there for the next 3 wks. After that I promise you won't need to go in there anymore.

The next day he was as good as gold ??????

Its not the only time I have done it either always with some positive result, odd I know.
Oh and I am not normally the sort of person that would believe it would work so?????
 
stanley101 said:
Its a lot muddier than his old field so it might be that, I take his breakfast hay out with us and try leading with the bucket in front letting his have a little snack every other step.

He's never really been one for running around he usually just stands sedately in his field picking at the grass but in his new one he runs back to the gate with me when I leave (when I can get him there) and starts running around wild eyed when he see's me coming back.

Just dont know what to do.
Click to expand...

Mine have been like this in the bad weather. Simple fact is they preferred to be in.. I know.. they should be out but they never read the book! They have been so much happier having the odd day or half day out, or just a run in the school; I never realised how much they hated the mud and wet.

Goes against all we are taught, but hey, maybe sometimes the horse knows best.
 
Has any one got any ideas I can use to help him / me?
Click to expand...

For a starters you need to give yourself more time in the morning. It's ridiculous that your horse can't go out because you don't have enough time to sort this issue out. And also be more organised.

Put his feed and hay out before you put him out - that way you have your hands free to lead him properly.

And then - put him out, making sure he has plenty of hay if the grass is limited.

What company does he have?
 
Another question...
Is the new paddock on the edge of the rest?
We have 5 fields, one of which is an individual turnout paddock (for injuries or new arrivals (Aintree)). 2 of the horses that went into field E (Epsom) became very stressy and a handful to lead in and out, once theyu moved back into either B (Bath) or C (Cheltenham) they settled again straight away.
E is on the edge of the 'yard' and beyond that there is only open crop fields, we believe that they felt less secure on the 'outside' of the herd and preferred to be in the 'middle' of the herd... in the middle fields.
 
This new paddock is on the edge of the yard with tractors and ducks etc on the other side of the hedge that you can hear but not see, There also runs a railway line that you can hear from there but not the other paddock he was in.

I will try talking to him, I do talk to him all the time anyway.

He just genuinely seens scared in there.

I wish I did have more time in the morning amymay but I can only drop the children off at school so early and then get to the yard before work, I can't go to the yard first as there only me at home with the children and the yard is 20 miles from home with school in the middle. Its all worked well up till now.

Thanks
 
I would say that he is genuinely unsettled and worried in that particular field. Could be any number of things - horses can hear and sense things we cannot and there is obviously something he doesnt like. Abit more mud usually does not warrant a horse behaving like this. Is there another field you can pop him in for now? Then at the weekend spend a long time with him in the new field and watch his behaviour.
 
Wait until your day off and hand graze him in the new paddock so he feels reassured. Don't try until your day off as nothing ever goes right when you are rushed and flustered.
Don't worry about him staying in for a few days until you have time, give him plenty of hay and he will be fine, my horse has been cross tied to the door for almost 2 weeks and you'd me amazed at how they cope.
Then, when you have time, work on the situation.
 
Hi

Yep there is electric fencing in the field, his old one had it too but didn't seem as strong and didn't click quite as much, if you know what I mean. He is scared of the electric fence. As i said he's nervous of most things. He is on his own, and was before but he's surrounded by other paddocks with horses in.

I will try each day but not get stressed if it doesn't work and then go out with him for a couple of hours saturday.

Thanks for all you help
 
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