So frustrated right now..

[SatansLittleHelper]

I'm being driven crackers right now by the horses (shock lol). Just before Xmas my friend sold her pony and bought a youngster (he's 3 this month). Bear in mind we have had a couple of horses come and go in the 3 years I've had the cob. I had given my cob a couple of months off as I hate winter and truthfully just couldn't be arsed to do much riding in the rain and mud.
Fast forward to just over a month ago, when I was over a bit of a long winded Fibro flare, I decided to saddle up the cob for a short hack to start getting him back into work. Young cob screamed his head off (which then set off my other horse and the Shitland) and my lad napped like a blithering idiot, eventually got about halfway of our usual route with him trying to spin and do little mini rears etc, ears right back, very tense, very anxious. He can be an anxious boy but this was completely over the top. I decided to ride back to the farm. Since then I've been trying to work more with cob in hand but so far have had no luck getting him off the farm, even if the others are quiet. My other horse will happily trundle off the farm in hand with no bother even though the cob screams for him.
I have booked Justine Harrison (very well respected equine behaviourist) to come out and help us with the issues as well as a couple of other little niggles but she can't get here til mid July. I can just continue to work with my younger horse in the meantime but I'm thinking that I should be trying "something " with my cob. He's not being "naughty", he's just incredibly anxious and I refuse to try to force him into compliance. I'm thinking that bringing him out daily and giving him a cookie and praise if/when he relaxes at all outside of the field might help?? Or should I just leave him bebril the trainer comes out?? He and I usually have a lovely partnership and despite his anxiety in certain situations he seems to genuinely like and trust me so I'm keen to avoid wrecking that. He lived on his own for most of his life before he came here and has been pushed from pillar to post via loan homes ( his previous owner loved him and had him from a foal but hates riding cobs) and this is the first time in his life he's had horsey friends and a consistent person to call his own.
Just to add, he has had the physio not so long back, just had farrier and saddle fitter and I'm waiting on a dentist app. I don't believe the issue is pain related at this point as it all started with the youngster fretting.
Thoughts on this appreciated.

 

[cauda equina]

It sounds as if he's become 'stuck' to his field companions during his time off; do you have any sensible people with sensible horses nearby who could accompany you on hacks for a bit?

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

It sounds as if he's become 'stuck' to his field companions during his time off; do you have any sensible people with sensible horses nearby who could accompany you on hacks for a bit?

Unfortunately not, mine HAVE to be able to go out alone. Otherwise would be a great idea x

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

As a minimum, I would continue to get him out of the field, on his own, at least once a day, so that he accepts that it is part of his routine, until your behaviourist can get to you.

 

[Abacus]

Could you try riding and leading one of the others? Maybe start at home around the field until they get used to the idea? It doesn't solve the long term problem of wanting to hack alone but might at least help him to relax elsewhere with a teddy bear by his side. That's assuming the one left behind would be ok.

 

[Tracking_up]

Could the company be an interim measure, to get you back to hacking alone/with only you? eg horse, then foot soldier then eg on a bike, further along, until he's back to hacking only with you.

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Thanks. There are 4 altogether. 3 horses and a Shitland. All are geldings.
I guess I could try riding the cob and leading another but I'm not 100% confident leading as we have to be on the road.
I'm going to definitely carry on getting him out of the field and attempting to take him out in hand...even if it takes forever.

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Could the company be an interim measure, to get you back to hacking alone/with only you? eg horse, then foot soldier then eg on a bike, further along, until he's back to hacking only with you.

I literally don't have the option for a riding buddy but a foot soldier "might" be worth a try.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Will your anxious one stand on the yard tied alongside your steady neddy, whilst you pootle about grooming and humming tunes and generally ignoring the separation anxiety of the youngster? If you can get to the point where your horses are not reacting, it is a big step forward. We had a similar situation where owner brought a young rescue yearling on. Every time a horse was being led to the gate he would come hurtling down the field screaming his head off. It has taken around three months for him to work out that he is ok to be in a slightly smaller herd for a short while.

 

[tda]

As a minimum, I would continue to get him out of the field, on his own, at least once a day, so that he accepts that it is part of his routine, until your behaviourist can get to you.

I would do this too, take it a minute at a time, staying further out of the field each tjme then going back in. Very small steps

 

[planete]

I have changed mini cob's mindset by allowing him to graze for 5 minutes at the point furthest away from his field, starting quite close and increasing the distance. He forgot to be anxious after the first few times as all he could think of was grass. The coward's way I admit but if it works I do not care.

 

[Peglo]

Could you take him out hand grazing? That way he is getting something out of leaving the field but getting used to leaving his pals.

cross posted with planete.

 

[Tarragon]

What is your friend doing with her new youngster? Can you enrol her help and work together on this? I assume that she is going to have some separation-based issues with her new cob when she tries to take him away.

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Thanks for the further replies. Cob is happy enough to come out of the field on his own, will stand to be groomed and so on. It's when we try to leave that the problems have started. Baby cob is being taken out in hand for walks and is good as gold, he just gets upset when any of the others leave him. We are currently working on keeping him distracted while we remove rhe cob but, while baby cob is responding well to this, big cob is having absolutely none of it. It's all a big mish mash of issues that we would like to nip firmly in the bud but with as much sensitivity as possible, hence the consultation with the behaviourist. The absolute last thing either my friend or I want to do is cross any line that causes a breakdown of trust. I just want to address the situation at its core to try to prevent any further problems. It's clear that anxiety is the underlying issue, do I guess that's what will need addressing.
I should add that all 4 live out together 24/7 with no access to stables or a school.

 

[scats]

Enlist a foot soldier to help you walk out a few times. Do a circular route if possible.
Nappy horses who have got clingy to friends are a pain but can be fixed. Eventually ask your foot soldier to walk behind but be ready to nip up alongside if you need help.
Another option can be to lead out half the route then get on for the second half.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

Lots of good ideas to try. Slow progress is good progress. Hope it all helps.

 

[rextherobber]

You could try a valerian calmer, helps my anxious horse loads.

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

Enlist a foot soldier to help you walk out a few times. Do a circular route if possible.
Nappy horses who have got clingy to friends are a pain but can be fixed. Eventually ask your foot soldier to walk behind but be ready to nip up alongside if you need help.
Another option can be to lead out half the route then get on for the second half.

If I could get the bugger off the farm that is ????‍?‍

 

[cauda equina]

If he's nappy even in hand groundwork would be useful - stop/go when you say so, not when he feels like it
You could do that just outside his field where he can see his mates

 

[scats]

If I could get the bugger off the farm that is ????‍?‍

Will he not follow a person?
Millie used to point blank refuse to leave our farm. We have a long lane with the river birket alongside, so any hi jinx left us in serious danger of falling down a 10ft bank.
She would reverse, spin and rear (which got seriously high!). The amount of times I had to leap off before she sent us plunging down the bank was comical.
So I used to pick a quiet time where we wouldn’t be too disturbed by traffic and I realised I had to do it in a way that caused minimal reaction from Millie. Any form of leg just sent her up. Through trial and error I just sat it out and then wiggled in my saddle instead of using my leg. I found that after 20 or so minutes of pawing the ground, spinning, reversing, she would eventually go forwards a few steps. She’d stop like this every ten or so metres and I’d repeat. Slow process. If she really kicked off I’d jump off, lead her and then get back on. I did many, many tiny hacks getting on and off, getting stuck for 15 minutes and having to sit her out. Nightmare coz I have to negotiate a seriously main road to get to the quieter ones, and I had to leap off in the middle of the road on a couple of occasions before she put us both on a bonnet.
Even if inside I was seriously concerned for our safety, I just made myself seem as chilled and unbothered by her antics as possible. Big pats and fuss when she went forwards, chatted away to her or played a podcast in my pocket for background noise. It was a long, tedious and occasionally dangerous process, but she’s 95% good to hack now alone. Early Sunday mornings in winter were our friend for training.
Occasionally she’ll still kick off but I just do the steps above.

I’ll never be a world beating rider, or get to Grand Prix, but I do have a knack of sorting out nappers ?

 

[tda]

If I could get the bugger off the farm that is ????‍?‍

So, still small steps, get on ride to the gate turn round come back.
Next day ride thru the gate two strides, come back
Etc, it will take time
Also agree someone walking for him to follow, with a carrot in their back pocket might also help ?

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

If he was going to follow anyone it would be me....and he won't. He's not at all concerned about going out alone, he's just now anxious about leaving the others...if that makes sense??

 

[Tarragon]

Can you lead him out and then get on him after a while and finish the ride ridden?

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

He won't leave, full stop

 

[Floofball]

Agree with CE suggestion above about doing groundwork to get him listening to you again. Sounds like he’s very distracted and you need to get his attention back on you when he’s out of the field.

 

[I'm Dun]

He won't leave, full stop

What is he doing that means he wont leave?

 

[SatansLittleHelper]

What is he doing that means he wont leave?

Plants his feet, won't move forward and if pushed he starts to do little mini rears up, tries to spin etc

 

[Clodagh]

I would certainly do ground work so he is listening, he obviously isn’t at the moment. Then make him leave, once he is clear on what walk on, stand and woah back mean. It only needs to be 10 yards, but he needs to respect your opinion.

 

[Highmileagecob]

You have my sympathy. Once the horse works out that he doesn't have to co-operate, it can be a devil of a job to turn it round. Try having a crinkly sweet wrapper in your pocket, and a handful of pony nuts. First couple of times, walk up to him, stand just out of his space and crinkle the wrapper. As soon as he walks up to you, tiny reward, and walk away. Once this is established, catch horse as usual, and lead on until the planting starts. With your back to him (stay safe!) crinkle the wrapper and wait for him to walk forward - even one step. Tiny reward. Repeat as many times as it takes to get him out of the gate, and pick a day when you don't plan to ride, just have the time to do this. If you can get this far, you then have a base to build on, and can plan to work on leaving the gate etc.. Loads of positive reassurance for stepping forward, scratches on the wither, rub behind the ears. As long as he stays interested in the rewards/bribery you are half way there.

 

[I'm Dun]

I would certainly do ground work so he is listening, he obviously isn’t at the moment. Then make him leave, once he is clear on what walk on, stand and woah back mean. It only needs to be 10 yards, but he needs to respect your opinion.

This. He has to do as asked. You don't have to be aggressive or force him, but that's why the ground work is important. It teaches them to respond positively. You can teach them to manage anxiety with it. A really simple thing is to teach them to lower their head and relax. You can do that when he shows even a tiny sign of anxiety, then when he's calm, ask again to do whatever it was you wanted initally.

Usually when an issue like this happens, its because the basics arent instilled properly, but you just muddle along fine. Then a problem happens and the little issues suddenly become a huge issue.

Is there anyone local that comes with a decent recommendation, that could come out and do some work with both of you?