tricky to turn out

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jess31

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After other peoples experiences/advise, my horse was always an angel to turn out and catch until I moved him to a new yard and he was surrounded by mares, turns out he was obviously cut late and was super riggy, something switched in his head and he became impossible to catch and tricky to turn out, The catching I can deal with, time and patience, but the turning out isn't great, he is fine until he see's his gate then starts rearing and try's to bolt, the woman that has had him over the last year has had someone try a chiffney and apparently he was an angel in it, I'm all for using one as I've already got a knackered shoulder from being battered by a big colt that went up and landed on me so will do whatever to not get hurt but I would love to get to the bottom of this behaviour? Any similar stories/advise would be much appreciated.
 
It does sound a bit like hormones. A friend gives her late-cut-and-used-as-a-breeding-stallion lad alfalfa to calm him down. Alfalfa contains phyto-oestrogens, which is why it can affect some mares badly, and so counter-acts the male hormones.
 
I would try giving him Chaste Berry powder as a supplement - this is a natural hormone regulator, used for cushings, hormonal mares and rigs. I would also use a rope halter or a controller headcollar to get him listening to you.
 
Try a Monty Robert's headcollar, solved the problem when we had a very excitable 17.2. Also I hate giving treats to horses but maybe have a few in your hand so when he does start playing up, you can give a firm tug on the headcollar, then let him sniff the treat so he is interested in it. Then you can give him the treat when you take his headcollar off and hopefully he won't gallop off like a loon
 
although our pony is definitely not riggy, we had a problem turning him out when we moved to our new yard. He has always been a perfect gent but all of a sudden he would charge into the field with me hanging on the end of the rope and then one day he barged me into the fence as he went flying off. This worried me as my daughter wasn't able to turn him out and also it was so out of character. I know not every one agrees with giving treats but our pony is very food orientated so we would walk him down and give a couple of pieces of carrot on the way, then another piece at the gate and then once we were in the field and we had turned him and taken the headcollar off he would have the last bit. It worked for us and after a few weeks we no longer give the treats and all has been fine.
 
I would also suggest trying a monty roberts dually headcollar. I really didn't see how they'd make much of a difference, after having Pacer who used to have to be led/loaded in a bridle, and even then often legged it when I was leading him. We had suzanne marshall out to help with his difficult loading and she put him in a dually. We thought he would take the piss like he does in a bridle butt he really respects it for some reason and hasn't run off since, so he is led in one of these now :) granted he doesn't rear, etc, but would defo recommend trying one. I'm not a big fan of chiffneys for the fact they can do more harm than good! I just think if they were to get loose and stand on their lead rope, or in the wrong hands, they could easily break their jaw or something!
 
If he was good in a chifney, lead him in a chifney. It is a simple and effective piece of equipment and I can't understand why people are so scared of it. you may only have to use it short term while he settles and learns he can't get away with this behaviour....
 
If the Chiffney works and your are comfortable using then do but always have a headcollar and lead rope on at the same time.

My TB always used to ****** off at the gate and he spun round so quickly some times he nearly caught me.

I always give him a carrot when I turn him out. We go in to the field turn around and shut the gate he gets the first half of the carrot , then i take the head collar off and he gets the next bit. He knows this routine now and once he has had the carrot he walks off quietly. I had to retire him recently but have another gelding on loan and they go out together and they both go through this routine now, works a treat !
 
My mare used to be a pig to lead to and from the field. Not too bargy but bucking and rearing and on one occasion, she did manage to catch me when she bucked and broke my ribs :(

I now lead her in a dually headcollar - a lady at my yard gave me some groundwork lessons/tips and it has made a world of difference so my recommendation would be a dually or some kind of controller headcollar. I would also have a treat handy in your pocket - sometimes the though of a treat takes their minds of being naughty and if he is good, when you reach your destination, he can have the treat as a reward.

Goes without saying though - your safety is first. Wear a BP, hard hat and gloves while handling.

Good luck :)
 
If you are happy and confident using a chiffney then I'd use that.

Our stallion turns out in just a rope halter and he respects that - the day he behaves like an arse though is the day we will think again and I'd have no hesitation using whatever worked.
 
We use chifneys at work for anything like that. I undo the side and slip It out rather than pull it over the head like a bridle. We had one that pulled back before the handler took it off the conventional way and spent about an hour tearing round the field with a chifney and leadrope on which was scary!
They are just amazing, I've rarely found the need to get tough with one, they just know and behave.
 
Nothing wrong with a chiffney just please never jab the horse in the mouth as the piece in the middle can pierce the tongue beng so thin and also it can cause bone spurs, so if horse pulls against you then just pull back but do not jab. You could get a chain lead and put the chain inside the horses top lip above its teeth, you will find most racehorses in the usa are lead in these and frankel was always lead in this in the preparade ring, horse will be an angel because of the pressure on the gum, a bit like a twitch effect. If it was me i would use the dually and be firm, walk next to the horses shoulder, remember if he feels your nerves he will act up.
 
cheers guys, unfortunately treats don't work, he isn't bothered about them really, I have heard about the Dually and think I might check it out, I'm sure I can pick one up on ebay as I know they are pretty dear and if it doesn't work don't want to have wasted all that money. I think the first time I turn him out in his new home Ill use a chifney and a headcollar but I'll put a slip rope on the chifney so if he does tank off and get away the slip rope wont risk a broken jaw, to get to his field we have to walk over a bridge that is being worked on and he might freak at the scaffold and equipment. My hope is once he's felt the chifney is there he'll learn to respect it and I will break the habit and I can quit using it, to be honest I'm not worried about using one, I think if they work and it saves an accident then kick on but I'm just slightly concerned about him getting away from me in it so hopefully the slip rope will save any nasty accidents. Will def check the hormone thing out, my last vet did mention running a blood but we never got round to it. I've done some digging today to the place in France he was bred and they cut very, very late so makes sense I guess. Thanks again peeps :)
 
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