Pony won't stay in his stable

[Barnacle]

I'm really rather opposed to the keeping of any horse in a box. I think it's an outrageous practice and frankly have no clue how it's legal. However, the fact of the matter is that this is how most horses are kept in this country for at least some part of the year because we have an awful climate. And, of course, there are occasions where it's very much a necessity - such as when a horse needs to be on box rest or for travel. So they have to learn no matter what. Not to mention if they move on to someone else, it's very likely they'll be stabled a good portion of the time and to not train them to be accustomed to that is just spiteful.

Anyway, that said, I'm with the people who have said give him some more time to get used to his new environment and then start bringing him in for short periods every day, while you are there, with nice treats and food etc in the box. A grill to keep him safe while you pop around the corner to extend the length of time you leave him is wise to prevent injury if he tries to jump again.

After he's a bit more settled, you may want to look into getting a stall guard for him and leaving the door open. Many stall jumpers are much better about being kept in a box if they do not feel "trapped".

You can also teach a horse to "stay" much like you do a dog, with the stable door wide open. Once they've got the idea, you can leave them and walk out of sight for a fair amount of time and they'll still be waiting when you get back. It's not plausible to leave the horse over night with this command but it can certainly help make him more accustomed to the idea of being in the box with no physical barrier forcing him to be. Then jumping over the door will hold less attraction.

 

[Tnavas]

Hic10 you are doing the right thing, a grille above the door is the ideal thing at the moment. He'll get over the stress of being stabled after a while.

Ensure he has heaps of hay to keep him occupied, placed near the door so he can eat and see out at the same time.

One of mine jumped out of her paddock, at 6months over the gate despite having a companion. She's now fine and has made no effort to jump out for the past couple of years.

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

Hic10 you are doing the right thing, a grille above the door is the ideal thing at the moment. He'll get over the stress of being stabled after a while.

Ensure he has heaps of hay to keep him occupied, placed near the door so he can eat and see out at the same time.

One of mine jumped out of her paddock, at 6months over the gate despite having a companion. She's now fine and has made no effort to jump out for the past couple of years.

There is no need to keep a young equine in a stable on it own, its not natural, and during the period of "learning" not to stress, it can learn to injure itself and learn to start weaving etc etc. The OP should have not put it in a stable on its own, and if she want to raise it in a natural way within the constraints of the un-natural environment we provide, she should keep it with the other youngsters, preferably with a nanny mare who will teach it how to behave, and calm it down.
horses, esp young horses do not "think", they "react"

 

[Dry Rot]

I've just read this thread again. We do abrupt weaning here. Foals are put into a 12'x24' field shelter and the mares removed several fields away, hopefully out of ear shot. Usually, there will be several foals together so they have company. But this year I had a single. She was weaned exactly as the rest were weaned, but alone. She was stressed for a couple of days but the shelter is foal safe and she came to no harm. Yes, she did try to jump the gate but it is designed so that is impossible, as is getting caught up. She was visited several times a day and encouraged to take a handful of soaked sugar beet pulp but not let out into a small paddock until she could be handled. She is now back with the herd with the previous year's youngsters.

I can honestly say we've never had a more friendly well balanced foal! I don't know whether it is because she's a Highland or something in her breeding or even maybe my sometimes weird training methods (!) but the girls remarked how quickly she progress, coming from not liking to be touched to having her feet lifted, etc., in under a week!

Nothing more to add except to repeat some advice given to me years ago by an old woman. "Nothing can remain frightened for ever".

We recently sold another pony, a 4yo gelding, to a novice owner. He too was fearful of going into a stable and got stressed when inside and tried to jump the door. New owner, new home, new field companions, and new routine, so not unexpected. Our ponies live out 24/7 but might come in for grooming etc. for a short period. In that scenario, he is just being led into the stable for some hard feed and led out again when his meal is over. The delay between the end of the meal and his being let out is increased slightly every day and he has a large small hole hay net he is encouraged to pull at. He too is getting used to being inside and seems to be looking forward to it.

So that's two conflicting methods that seem to work. There is no right or wrong method of training nor is there a rule book. Just do what works for you. In my experience, if progress isn't fairly rapid, it's usually the wrong method.

 

[HipoH]

You could try a stable mirror and things like likits are good for keeping them entertained in such circumstances.

 

[Tnavas]

There is no need to keep a young equine in a stable on it own, its not natural, and during the period of "learning" not to stress, it can learn to injure itself and learn to start weaving etc etc. The OP should have not put it in a stable on its own, and if she want to raise it in a natural way within the constraints of the un-natural environment we provide, she should keep it with the other youngsters, preferably with a nanny mare who will teach it how to behave, and calm it down.
horses, esp young horses do not "think", they "react"

I don't know how many youngsters you've raised or worked with so cannot comment on the validity of your ideas.

From experience of raising my own youngsters, and working in the yearling barns with TB's destined for the sales the best time in a young horses life to learn to be stabled is when they are young.

OP DID NOT stable the youngster on its own but with horses on either side. Putting two horses in one stable is a big risk on its own - what if one takes ownership of the hay and kicks out at the other - did you think of that?

While its not necessary to have any horse stabled it is also an important part of any horses education. What if in the process of playing in the paddock it injures itself and has to be on box rest - which is usually done to prevent excessive moving around - and your youngster has hysterics everytime its stabled.

We would all love to have our equines running free in a paddock with perfect horse friendly grass, no mud and safe fencing but stabling for many is a compulsory part of their livery - YO's insist on it.

OP is going about acclimatising her youngster in a sensible manner - he's not going to learn to weave or injure himself while he comes to terms with being confined overnight. While I was doing my BHS training my young TB was stabled EVERY night, year round and turned out during the day. She couldn't see her neighbour unless they stuck their head out over the door, but to her her stable meant a lovely feed when she came in, being handled and groomed and having somewhere warm and cosy to sleep when the weather was poor.

For some horses its actually safer to stable them overnight, if you have ever lived next to your horses paddock you will know the dread you feel when you hear hooves thundering towards the fence in the early hours, your fingers crossed they will remember its there and stop or turn in time. And yes I have witnessed the odd few that forgot or didn't stop in time - messy!

He is in a barn type stabling complex, will have plenty of food and a grille over the door to prevent him trying to jump out. It won't take him long to accept the situation.

OP would be lovely if you would keep us updated on your youngsters progress.

 

[EQUIDAE]

Giving an example of how TB foals are managed isn't perhaps the best example. Youngsters do learn to weave and develop ulcers when stabled - I have first hand experience of a yearling wind sucker and weaver.

 

[Tnavas]

Giving an example of how TB foals are managed isn't perhaps the best example. Youngsters do learn to weave and develop ulcers when stabled - I have first hand experience of a yearling wind sucker and weaver.

TB YEARLINGS - not foals! I think it was a good example as these equines are most often the most sensitive ones. We had around 100 of them each year and none got injured, developed vices or ulcers in the 6 months they were stabled overnight.

Your yearling windsucker/weaver most likely learned the behaviour from its mother - that I have seen happen a few times

Feed the youngster a sensible High fibre diet that keeps it occupied and it should settle reasonably quick.