Something stressing my horse out?

[racebuddy]

Evening , have posted re my horse not sleeping properly and vets at specialist hospital said it might be because something is stressing him out , the problem is we can't work out what's upsetting him , his routine jas hasn't changed , I tried him in another stable which made him worse , anybody else experienced things on a livery yard that have upset there horses ?! Thanks

 

[Echo Bravo]

Does the stable have windows?,you don't say how he stabled???

 

[Ladyinred]

Can he see/touch other horses? We have 'friendship bars' between the stables and it really helps.

 

[Littlelegs]

Anything going on in the vicinity of the yard/field? Eg neighbours, public, other liveries doing something that could be causing it? Anything from a livery feeding him mollassed feed to move him from the gate, to neighbours having garden fires? A new horse, or even one he previously got on with treating him differently? Or any difference in other liveries or horses routines or behavior at all?

 

[robysfarm]

Could it be the yard is too busy for him? Some horses love the constant comings and goings of a yard and can shut it out when they want to rest, others however can't block it out and will react to any noise or movement. Is it possible to move to a quieter more out of the way stable where he has other horses he is familiar with around him but maybe has less foot traffic to see if it helps? If not maybe try a stable mirror especially if he is quite enclossed in his stable as might give him some reassurance that he's not on his own and allow him to be a little more calm due to the herd instinct?

 

[Gingerwitch]

Rat nest in your stable?
Cat or fox visiting at night
Someone coming up at night and disturbing your horse?
Someone teasing your horse ?

Get a infra red camera and set it up over night, you may be surprised what you find

 

[Gingerwitch]

Dont think i am nuts but has anything "happend" in the stable

 

[racebuddy]

Sorry for late replies , he is sables next to one of my other horses which he gets on fine with and also he can see out of the door aswell , although that gets left open at night as broken at the minute I moves him into another stable which made him worse and actually took the stable door off so he has gone back into
His own , the other stable
Did have mice in as on straw in there but his stable got shavings only and no mice that I have seen , I am interested in the infra red camera idea does anyone know were I can get a cheap one from? X

 

[Gingerwitch]

your local shooting shop or camera shop - you could also look at a remove cctv thing that links directly to your computer.

 

[WandaMare]

I had similar issue with one of my horses a few years ago. A friend (policeman) suggested leaving a thin layer of sand in front of stable last thing at night, so we could see what / who if anyone was approaching the horse over night. Worked for us and was a cheap but effective way of checking what was going on before investing in a CCTV. Not sure if its practical for you but thought it was worth mentioning.

Also one of mine gets very stressy overnight as soon as there is a rat around, he's good at reminding me to top up the poison!

 

[racebuddy]

Thanks for ur suggestions might try the sand idea also as well
As the camera , something
Is
Obviously upsetting him!! X

 

[maccachic]

Maybe he would be happier outside? Might feel unsafe in a confined area.

 

[Gingerwitch]

When i lived in County Durham, there was a girl on the yard who was brutal to her own horse - she would hold a lit lighter under his nose until he would jump back. My Ginger never ever settled at that yard, in the end i had to turn her out with a bridle, hard hat and gloves for me, holding a whip in front of her nose to stop her running through me.

We moved - she went on the box like a nutter, came off like a nutter and within 2 steps had turned into her normal self.

So you never know

 

[Ginger Bear]

Sounds like something may have frightened him in his stable.. My boy had a falling out with another ( more dominant) horse in his herd.. He struggled to settle in that field for a whole even though that other horse was separated.. It even got so bad that he wouldn't be turned out, he'd literally turn round to go back to his stable.. He did gradulayy get his confidence back but it took a while.

 

[flirtygerty]

I would also set up an infra red camera, somethings not right.
Have you checked his heels, it has been known for rats to nibble at horses and cattles heels

 

[redriverrock]

Also re vermin etc make sure to look in the rafters...we have a pan tiled barn and we had a family of rats in the roof, couldnt see anything but noticed the felt was being chewed. Cats were sent up to do what good farm cats should!

 

[thehorsephotographer]

I'd set up a camera to my pc if at all poss. Something is clearly not right.

Gingerwitch what an awful story. Can't believe what some people do to animals. It's very, very sad.

 

[Alyth]

Maybe he would be happier outside? Might feel unsafe in a confined area.

This would be the most likely imo!! Most horses are claustrophobic...