Terrified of sheep - what to do??

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squirtlysmum

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Any ideas?
My homebred baby ned (5) is absolutely terrified of sheep and no matter what I do to try to desensitise him its not working. He's been in fields next to them and if they come near he stands stock still with madly beating heart, initially I thought I'd just let him get on with it but he just will not settle. This morning he was turned out into his winter paddock with lovely grass, the idea being he went out for a couple of hours to get used to the change in grazing, the sheep had been in this field a couple of weeks ago and for the two hours he didn't take a mouth of grass and went around smelling every sheep poo, they are next door but were at the other end of the field and he stood starring at them when not taking a wiff.
He had neds all but one side and the dreaded sheep the other. When I walk him down aroad next to them in hand he freeks and god forbid if I ride him near them as then he has to deal with them all on his own, even with another horse he's just terrified.
We've now been at the yard for two months and god only knows what he'll do in the early part of next year when they come into a barn near him to lamb.
I've never had a horse with such an inexplicable fear.
Other than fostering a sheep for his own fear what else can I do?
 
has the farm got some old wethers or ewes retired that he can be turned out with? best to leave him to get on with it tbh - hunger should soon outweigh the fear of the sheep and as you say they can be next to the road when you ride out - it's not really an option to not desensitise him.
 
Hi Squirtlysmum - not an easy one but it should be relatively simple IF you have access to an understanding farmer with a sane sheep, perhaps hand reared. Then use the advance and retreat technique that you can use to desensitize a horse to just about anything. To start, you have horsey on a LONG line in a safe, roomy area, then ask someone to appear leading the sheep about as far away as poss. You ONLY let the sheep disappear when horsey stands calmly or even just TRIES to stand calmly for a second or two. The long line allows horsey to feel he can still move his feet but you DON'T get dragged round the arena! Just calmly move with him. After each SHEEP appearance, rub his head and walk a little circle. Do this for no more than about half an hour, inching closer with the sheep at whatever speed horsey is comfortable with. End then for day 1. Repeat every day and you WILL find horsey getting more accepting, realising sheepy ain't gonna eat him etc. It will take time and you may have to reinforce occasionally but it does work, honest. Quite seriously, I'd start with a realistic looking toy sheep - maybe one of those kiddies push along on wheels. I know it's not the same as the real thing but it would be a very safe start to get horsey introduced to the idea of the lessons. If you buy Michael Peace's dvd on clipping horses with a clipper phobia, the idea is exactly the same, except swop sheep for clippers. And you may have to be a bit more inventive how you get a sheep that will lead! You CAN do it!!! Let us know how you get on x
 
So you won't be asking Santa for a sheepskin numnah
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Seriously, I would turn him out with an old ewe and leave him to it. Even if he sarts off by keeping to the opposite end of the field sooner or later the penny will drop. He will realise that nothing bad has happend.

This way, there is no risk of him being out faced, and more importantly, you (or any human) are not associated with the apearance of the demon sheepies.
 
As the others have suggested, I would turn him out with the sheep and let him get on with it. If / when he is hungry, he will settled down and eat. To speed things up, you could turn him out when he is hungry and / or give him a hard feed in the field (assuming that he is out on his own).
 
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