Stabling issues-Advice??

Lexie81

Lexie81

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Has anyone got any tips on helping a horse who becomes very stressed when stabled? Mine weaves and box walks and most recently rammed the door open to liberate herself as she didn't want to be in. She has been out 24/7 for the last year with a shelter which she did use, prior to me owning her was stabled 24/7 and also stabled over night and turned out in the day, with occasional weaving at feed times. I would really like her to be able to come in at night in time for the winter as have now moved yards and don't have a field shelter. She could still live out over night but others all come in and my other pony is 24 and likes to come in so she would be by her self. would also like to clip her this year as we now have a flood lit arena and will be able to work her through the winter so would be far better if she would tolerate coming in over night from say Oct - March.

Any advice would be appreciated!!
 
I just gave into my TB mare with stabling issues (she'd also been stabled 24/7 in the past) and I just keep her out all the time. She is rugged in the winter now she's older and I don't have a field shelter, although there is a tall hedge.

Mine shakes, grinds her teeth, cribs and wont eat when she's stabled.
 
A friend of mine has a stressy mare, like yours she box walks and frets but a stable mirror has made so much difference she stands by it and is so much more relaxed. She can now be left alone while the other horse hacks out, something never thought possible so worth trying with yours.
 
be positive said:
A friend of mine has a stressy mare, like yours she box walks and frets but a stable mirror has made so much difference she stands by it and is so much more relaxed. She can now be left alone while the other horse hacks out, something never thought possible so worth trying with yours.
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Thats interesting and could be worth a try, although she has been able to see plenty of others when she has been stabled, but i am definitely keen to try anything!
 
I've had my tb out all winter, fully clipped and with a big rug, and in full work. He weaves really badly when in but he has actually kept more condition on being out - plus no mucking out! :)

I can see why you want her in though. If you have just moved her she may still be unsettled due to the move, perhaps she will improve as she settles?

Good luck!
 
Thanks Patterdale, she wintered out this winter and came out of it looking fab, but there it was quite sheltered and she also had a large shelter to use where as where we are now its quite open. I am going to try again, wondered if a calmer would helo but she is so easy going in every way except in a stable, I don't know if I should?
 
We used to have an Appaloosa mare who was claustrophobic and hated being stabled when we got her. she got much better as she got older. We found that always having the same horse next to her, on the same routine was very effective.
For yours, I would ask to have the 24 yr old next to her, or directly opposite, whichever you feel is most effective. Then I would get her used to coming in for very short periods, starting now and building up to overnight in winter. To start with, give her a small but tasty feed and put her straight back out, Then give her some hay to pull at but don't leave her in until it is finished. Never give her time to get bored in the stable. Stay with her so that she knows that she isn't going to be left on her own overnight. TBH, I'm not surprised that she dreads the thought of being in 24/7 - I would too.
I can't see any problem in giving her a calmer - one of the instant ones perhaps - as she does get stressed in this situation.
Good luck!
 
Agree entirely with pearlsasingers method. Mine spent 12 months on box rest & for the last few months had turnout in a paddock about the size of two stables with a 7' fence to stop any ideas of jumping out & therefore no interaction. As a result, it took a while to build up her turnout again, but after a few weeks she then one day refused to even go inside at all. She's usually very obliging so I just worked up to it very slowly. By winter she was happy for an hour or two but when it got cold in Dec she was happy after a few hours one evening & I left her in overnight. She now happily stays in at night from Dec till end of march. Fine in her stable in the day for a few hours too.
 
I second the bringing her in for a feed and a short time and gradually building up to longer stretches. I also think that having treats in the stable will help too.

I've heard mixed opinions about mirrors, some horses really like them, others don't seem to even notice them, but still worth trying. :)
 
Thank you all. My problem is that she seems to totally ignore food as soon as she is in. I usually feed her on the yard or in the field and she is quite a food orientated horse but as soon as she is in her box she is so busy stressing she doesn't even notice the feed, no matter how nice I make it! Maybe with an instant calmer type thing she might relax enough to eat....
 
I am using a calmer called Calmex by Vetplus on a big horse on his 10 month of box rest. It is vet only supplied but it works nicely.
 
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