problems with horses crowding field gate

[waterfront]

my pony shares his field with 4 or 5 other large horses and when I go to bring him in in the evenings at least 3 of them all charge up to the gate and he ends up backing away. I usually have to wave my arms about to get them to back off for long enough for me to catch him, and this makes him nervous & he ends up rushing through the gate in a flap while I'm trying to hang onto him & shut the gate before any of the others get out! one of them usually tries to bite him while he's on his way out & it all gets a bit hairy & it's turning what should be a pleasant time of day into a bit of a nightmare!Have spoken to yard owner but she said there are no other fields available for him to go in, does anybody have any tips as to how I could help alleviate this situation,thnx

 

[Kokopelli]

Can you go out with someone else, then someone can keep the horses away and focus on shutting gate and you can focus on getting you and your horse out safely?

 

[Dolcé]

This is why I am sooo glad we are on a small yard with individual turnout, I have a couple that hog the gate and it is bad enough when they are your own without having to deal with someone else's. Is it possible for you to time bringing in with someone else, or after the main culprits are in. I know of someone whose horse was made ill after being hit with a whip and chased away by another livery so definitely wouldn't recommend anything like that. Would YO not consider a fenced area around the gate that you can let yours into loose before going out of the gate, this would give you chance to move the other horses back and let yours get through without panicking.

 

[MochaDun]

I sympathise, I have totally this problem when the grass has all gone and the field's a sea of mud - anytime about now (once the snow has gone!) - I have to try and get my pony out of a field of 10 other geldings. Some nearly 17hh.. It's not fun as mine is way down the pecking order. Like yours he gets very nervous as we approach so I do the clearing ahead of me by initially encouraging voice and if they don't shift - raise my voice and my arms. Do take precautions for your safety - I have been known to wear my hat or take a crop as some of the horses have no manners and will not get out of the way. Others are great and will shift off and tend to move the other horses out the way too. As K suggests, get someone to help you from the yard if you can so they can deal with gate opening and closing whilst you keep an eye on the others and yours or they can be in the field herding the horses well away - this I think is actually more helpful as then you can just get yours out the gate swiftly. I also circle away if I can't clear our path initially and have another go. You just must try and get enough space between you and them and drive them far enough way to give you a chance. It's horrid though when they are all hanging round the gate. I only have to do this at weekends normally as we have someone who gets the horses in during the week. I also vary my time to bring him if possible to beat the rush so to speak. My pony also seems to be quite sharp about spotting when the area near the gate is clear and head down ahead of the others so if I'm there I can grab him.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

I share your pain hun. My 15.2hh veteran Sunny is pretty far down the pecking order so when YO gets them in in the morning, he's usually last and gets crabbier and crabbier by the minute. We used to have a teeny fat Section A called Darren on the yard and he was the only one below Sunny. If Sunny couldn't get in fast enough or if another horse pulled a face at him at the gate, to send him back, he'd look round the field, spot Darren and gallop over just to bite him and feel better! One option is to electric fence a "holding" area inside the gate. At my yard, all the neds come in at the same time and as long as you stick to THEIR pecking order, the whole job takes minutes and can be done single handed. Sunny mooches in all on his own. So do 2 of my other 3 horses/ponies. Last shetland writes her own rules lol. Another option is to take a crop in with you and flap it around sort of sheepdog style to separate your own horse - I find that works but perhaps only because Sunny and Bridie come in on their own. Try not to get panicky as all the horses will get excited. Stay calm and unflappable. Easier said than done, I know!

 

[kirinsam]

Another vote for a fenced of area near the gate . This method makes the whole process safer and has the advantage of keeping the gate area less muddy. Also useful if you just want to catch one to check rugs etc.

 

[teasle]

If you get one of the long,12 foot "natural horsemanship" type lead ropes you can use the end of the rope to swing it and move the other horses that way.It helps to stand upright and have assertive body language. You need to move the others from the gate before you bring yours through.If you manage it once or twice , really steel yourself up to do it , I find that the horses will look at you and sigh and walk away from the gate when you come.If one particular horse is a problem, get him out of the field first and tie him up while you get yours out.and then put him back in the field, dont put the troublesome horse in his stable where he finds his food or he will make you get him in first every time.

 

[Tnavas]

Definately a fenced off section is ideal - the other thing is a length of elkathene ppipe - it makes a great noise when you swing it around and they certainly respect it pretty fast. Makes a good noise to if you happen to smack anyone with it.

 

[scarymare]

I agree with all of the above. It can be very scary when they are all crowding. I have fenced off a square area with electric fencing and have gates both sides so that I can get them in and out easily, the gates form 2 sides of the square, field gates one side and the other side is fenced. I dont think temporary poles would work though, you need permanent posts to be strong enough.

 

[maxapple]

We have the same problem at my yard with 14 geldings on one field, some of them who are very big boys.

I find the key is being assertive (NOT agressive - I wouldn't want anyone scaring either of my boys!)

As I am approaching the gate I tell the horses in the way to move back ... as in strong commands of 'back!' and making 'Ssusshing / shooing' noises' . I also have my arms in the air if needed (maybe it makes me look a bit bigger as I'm small!)

I get all the horses well away from the gate before approaching mine. Some of them I have to physically push back (but all are well mannered - none kick etc, they are just keen to come in)which involves just pushing them so they have to walk backwards a bit, getting them to turn around to the side and then with more strong commands of ' off you go' getting them to walk away. I also have my headcollar and leadrope with me so with the worst horses who just won't go away I will swing the leadrope at their bum which just encourages them to walk off. Also if they start coming back towards the gate as we're trying to get out I'll throw a bit of mud / small pebbles at the back of their rug which makes a small noise and just encourages them to back off again. The two most dominant horses in the herd are the ones I move well away first - sometimes even putting a head collar on them and walking them well away - then keeping them shoo-d away.

Once they are all out of the way I will collect my pony, who comes to call helpfully and who always waits in a perfect place for me. My other horse is a bit slower but also waits patiently until I have cleared a route and then walks out sensibly.

I think they key really is being assertive and firm. Everything I do encourages the other horses to just back off and walk off slowly. There is no panic at the gate to avoid me or my swinging arms / shouting like I have seen with some people! Also - I have seen other people whp are not confident enough bringing their horses in have problems. I also think the horses know if you're a bit worried and play on that. I find now most days when I approaching the gate the horses will start mooching away like 'oh its her again - might as well shift'

Failing all that - get some help and go out in 2's if you can. One person to do the shooing while you collect your horse. Good luck x

 

[Tickles]

Great advice above. I'd only add that at the moment it sounds like you're waiting at the gate and then trying to move the other horses back whilst your boy comes to you. Personally I find it easier (if a touch muddier!) to move the others back from the gate then walk through to mine. We then walk back to the gate together with me in front sending any others away. That way I'm not asking a horse low down the pecking order to challenge those above. They are only ever being moved away by me, and even if it doesn't always feel like it I'm at the top!

 

[Wagtail]

This is alway a problem in winter as all the horses are desperate to come in to where they know there is food and shelter. It is a potentially very dangerous situation, especially for you, and I hope that you wear a riding hat when going to get your pony.

I am a yard owner and have found that horses have to come in in their pecking order, otherwise it causes huge problems. The other horses do not understand that your pony is only jumping the queue because you are forcing him to. They see it as insubordination and that needs to be punished (hence the biting).

How well do you know he other owners? My suggstion is that you take it in turns to bring in all of the horses, in their pecking order. You will find it quite peaceful and safe if you do this. Can you not offer to bring in their horses in exchange for them bringing yours in?

 

[criso]

I am a yard owner and have found that horses have to come in in their pecking order, otherwise it causes huge problems.

We have some interesting dynamics in our herd.

Although they have their hierarchy - mine is second in command, the lowest horse wants to come in most and gets the most pushy at the gate. He will move away if they tell him to but they don't move him, it's like that's the one area that others let him have his way.

It's just 4 in the field and the head horse comes in last as he's on DIY. Mine comes in second last as he's happier out and sometimes doesn't want to come in until he realises they are all coming in. So horses 3 and 4 come in first.

However they accept our routine even if it upsets their hierarchy but get upset if we alter it which is inevitable as people catch horses to ride.

They are all fine to handle and step back if asked but you have to be really careful that one doesn't dash out behind your horse, I have this manoeuvre which involves feeding mine through the gate while I stay behind to block the entrance.

 

[Willow1]

I used to have similar problems and always took a lunge whip out to the field with me - all i needed to do was flick it in the general direction of the herd and they would give me enough space to manoerve mine through the gate!

 

[waterfront]

Thnx for all the helpful tips will try a few of these tecniques & hopefully coming in time will become less fraught!

 

[3DE]

Can you electric tape the gate off diagonally - that way you have a barrier to get through quite easily to get away from the thugs

Doing a 2nd gate diagonally means you wont get penned into a corner too!

 

[Horses24-7]

Is there hay/enough grass for them in the field? Mine tend to only hang around the gate etc when they are hungry and desperate to get into a stable with a big tea waiting

Could u bring yours in earlier before they are all hungry and ready to come in? Other than that i'm not sure if ur unable to move fields? Try not to manage on ur own though otherwise ur just going to get hurt x

Take care x

 

[clairefeekerry1]

i know exactly how you feel! i hate this!! one of mine is 30 and panics loads, plus if i took a stick or waved my arms she'd never come near me again. we have made 4 gateways along the fence so lots of options but due to this weather they have been esp bad so i have popped my mare into a spare paddock on her own foer a few days until they settle down a bit