Rearing in stable

[Andrea88]

Hi so I have recently bought a 14.2hh cob mare who is 9,absolutely good in every way apart from the odd spook,have had her 3weeks but now the time has come for her to be stabled in the evenings I am having problems, she does not want to walk in the stable when she's in she's prancing round ,and then she started half rearing at the door I was so worried I turned her out last night,have popped her in the stable this morning just for her feed and she was only in 5minutes and did the same..I have another horse and his stable is next to hers they are both out in the day but this time of year in at night..her previous owner said she loved her stable ...can anyone offer advice please

 

[Damnation]

What does she do if you walk away? Do you have anywhere where you could hide and keep an eye on her without her knowing you are there?

Mine used to do this only on one paticular yard, but she was actually fine until she saw me or heard my car, only then would she cause a scene. Not sure why as she got no sympathy from me! Strangely enough, she has never done it at any other yard I have been on before or since, she doesn't like being in for longer than she has to but is usually quite settled when in overnight.

 

[Andrea88]

Thanks for your reply..that's exactly what my dad said just walk away ...I could park at the end of the drive and wait and see what she does..just hate seeing her worried apparently as I days she was fine where she was

 

[Damnation]

Thanks for your reply..that's exactly what my dad said just walk away ...I could park at the end of the drive and wait and see what she does..just hate seeing her worried apparently as I days she was fine where she was

You haven't had her very long, there is a period of adjustment needed. 3 weeks is nothing, there are new people, new horses and a new routine to adjust to. If it was me I would be very firm in her routine. In at night, out in the day, put her in the stable and then walk away. The first time do it when you have time to sit and watch, or when someone else can walk past and check her that she may not react to.

My friends TB sometimes would throw a strop when in his stable and he fancied being out, pacing, rearing, door kicking, being an idiot. She walked away every time (hiding around the corner to keep an eye) and within about 5-10 minutes he was happily munching his hay. The behaviour dwindled once he realised he was in, he had food and company, and she wasn't going to let him back out!

 

[Antw23uk]

What kind of stable is it? I have my boy at home now and he really doesnt like the stables. They are pretty dark and gloomy with a door and small window to the right of the door. All in all I don't really blame him SO I have taken the top door off because when it was open (as it should be) it was blocking most of the window. I have bashed the very top wall partitions out (flimsy wood) to expose the beams of the stables to create a more airy, open feel. My plan is to put a window in the back and grills in the side walls so he can see into the stables either side and generally open it up more.

He is well behaved and mannerly but he really just doesnt like it (breaks my heart) but with the changes I have planned it will be more than suitable and then I will be doing the tough love by walking away (planning out 24/7 anyway to be honest)

 

[SEL]

We have a 19yo welshie in the riding school who does this. I have to stop the kids faffing around after him because he's learning that if he throws a tantrum someone comes running.

I'm not sure whether its possible with your set up, but I've found draping a rug above the stable door so he can't see out works with this little terror. If he's then completely ignored (he has a haynet) he will settle down and stop rearing and threatening to jump out.

 

[Andrea88]

Yes I know it isn't long time and as the weather has been so good they have been out day and night so only this week it's time for them to be in.And your right I need be strict put her in and go instead of standing watching her and being soft ...I will do this tonight .it's a private house where I keep my horses so only my 2 there but I will speak to the owner and get him to listen out as well ..thank you so much

 

[Andrea88]

It's a wooden stable with no top door and just a small window at the top ..she just does not want to go in I put the light on and she was still not happy ...gonna try and just leave her tonight and go and hide or end up giving up and putting her back out again which I can't keep doing...your idea is a good one though that could be worth a go

 

[Andrea88]

Yes that's a good idea too I could possibly do something like that ..yes I think coz I'm hanging about it is making it do much worse coz she knows like last night I will just let her out

 

[be positive]

As it is only you there try swapping boxes, mares can be funny about their stables, the outlook or whatever bothers them, you may find she prefers the other box if it has a better view of the other horse when he is in his, otherwise look into getting a stable mirror so she has "company" at all times.

 

[Andrea88]

I know I was so worried last night even though I turned her out and tried her again this morning but she was still messing around but fingers crossed we both sort it

 

[Andrea88]

Yes I was thinking that too ..mares can be funny ...yes a mirror is a fab idea

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Make sure that the stable is ready for her to spend the night in, before you put her in, put her bucket with something that smells and taste nice, so probably a soaked feed like grass nuts, opposite the stable door, to entice her in. As soon as she is in, shut the door and walk away. She will get used to her new routine.

 

[Andrea88]

Yes that's what I'm going to do ...just shut the door and go ....then worry when I've left haha

 

[ycbm]

If you are concerned that she might hurt herself, then just until she settles put a grid on the top of the door. I had one who had to have a grid every time he went to a new place, or he just climbed over the door. He was alright after a few weeks, it was because it was new.

 

[milliepops]

If you are concerned that she might hurt herself, then just until she settles put a grid on the top of the door. I had one who had to have a grid every time he went to a new place, or he just climbed over the door. He was alright after a few weeks, it was because it was new.

was going to suggest this. One of mine has a top door grill because I just can't handle the worry and she is inclined to try to climb out if left alone. I have a weave grill which I leave up, and I just drop the infill in if she's left on her tod.

 

[Llee94]

My youngster is funny about being stables. I found the more I brought him in the better he got.
He would just smash into the door with all his force and has actually bent it, pace around and get very upset! I tried a mirror and it worked for about a day as he figured out it wasn't another horse.
I would bring him in with all the others so that he had company and giving him his dinner or a few carrots. Try and make it somewhere they associate with nice things.
I ended up getting a lady called Vanessa Bee out who I have know for years and she was amazing. She specalises in positive horsemanship and was able to pin point exactly what was upsetting him and gave me exercises on how to get him over it.
I did just have to let him get on with it sometimes which wasnt nice to watch or hear but he eventually learnt that turning himself inside out got him nowhere and he was only allowed out once he was calm. Normally I would wiat for a yawn or at least some licking and chewing.
He has had a recent relapse of being silly due to all the fireworks but now they have stopped he seems to be back on track but we are a step behind where we were before.
Repition is the best. He comes in twice a day morning and evening either on his own or with other horses and he has to get over it if he gets upset. I gradually increase the time he is in. This morning I was in a rush so he was only in for 5 mins but that was 5 nice and calm minutes. Last night he managed 20 mins. Before the fireworks started he would stand in for hours with a friend to keep him company - but again that was only after a massive tantrum which I ignored!

 

[PorkChop]

Just another thought to add to the equation, is she in work? I would up her work and try and ride before she goes into her stable for the night.

 

[Andrea88]

Yes I think that would be a good idea getting a grill so be piece of mind for me too

 

[Andrea88]

Yes I think the more she comes in the better for her

 

[Andrea88]

Yes she's in work but due to work and obviously now the nights are darker hard to ride her before she goes in as it's nearly dark by time I get the stables...but a good idea

 

[Andrea88]

Thank you everyone for your advice it's been a good help ...going invest in a grill for my own peace of mind but tonight saw hesitated to go in the stable but finally went in ..so I shut the door and sat hiding ..she had her pacing and a couple of rears up the door but ten mi usesater she was stood just with her head over the door ...so gonna be a worrying night hoping she's ok till I get the grill fingers crossed she will be