What would you do?

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Morrigan_Lady

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www.teamterrellshowjumping.co.uk
I have problems EVERY night when I bring my two horses in from the field. I have to bring them down a long track in the dark and on the other side of the hedge is a road and every time a car goes past Archie sh1ts himself and I really struggle to control him. Tonight was no exception and I lost both horses. They galloped back to the yard with me trailing behind them. Ive really had enough now and just cant risk either of my horses getting hurt (or worse) or me getting dragged or injured either.
So, Im thinking the only thing I can do is to leave them in during the week and only put them out at the weekend when I can get them in in the daylight. Its not ideal, but I just dont know what else to do, for safety sake and the yard Im at is totally DIY, so theres no one to get them in for me
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do you bring them in seperately? or could somebody else bring them in while its light? sorry probably stated obvious and something you've tried already
 
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Have you tried using a chiffney or lunge line when you bring your horses in??

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I half thought about a chiffney, but Id really rather not.
The problem with a lunge line is, theres just more rope to get caught up in and I just cant hold them both.
 
I take it no one is able to bring them in for you ?
Is there a reason you bring 2 at a time, do they get more upset on their own ?

Leaving them in all week - they'll prob end up stressed out if they are used to going out, and if you can't get up early enough to bring them in during daylight, I'm presuming that riding in the evenings is also out of the question??

Is a yard change an option to consider to somewhere more suitable?

Could they live out ?

Sorry lots of questions, just throwing ideas around x
 
What do you lead them in? Could give a bridle or a stallion headcollar with a chain on?

I had problems leading two a while back (just trying to move between fields thankfully) and they both freaked, I got rope burns off one, which I let go, but kept hjold of the other. As a quick fix I put the rope through his mouth - and he led quiet as a lamb
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Would having lots of treats on you keep them focused? Maybe if they were more bothered what was in your pockets. they wouldn't bother with the car?

Do you wear a headtorch/have lights or is it completely dark - horses make ghosts out of anything when it dark
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I would either lead them in a bridle or a headcoller with a lunge line attatched. Don't you just hate winter! Hope you come up with a solution x
 
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Have you tried using a chiffney or lunge line when you bring your horses in??


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I half thought about a chiffney, but Id really rather not.

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not sure why you wouldn't want to use a chiffney - it is used on the yard I'm on for a couple of horses who are 'lively' to lead in hand.

Perhaps you could try putting on their bridles and leading them off their reins?

I think you will have more trouble at the weekend if you keep them in all week - they will be so hyper about being out that leading them will be just as bad if not worse.
 
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do you bring them in seperately? or could somebody else bring them in while its light? sorry probably stated obvious and something you've tried already

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I cant bring them in separatly, coz they are the last two out and are unseparable. Also, the yard is totally DIY, so there in no one to bring them in for me.
 
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I wont use a bridle, coz then if I loose him, theres reins or a lunge line dangeling around

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but you're probably less likely to lose him if he's wearing his bridle. Perhaps you could take the reins off and thread a lead rope across the bit for leading?

Is it one horse that spooks at the cars or both? If it's one then lead them with that horse furthest away from the traffic.
 
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Have you tried using a bridle or putting the rope around his nose or using a lunge line?

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I wont use a bridle, coz then if I loose him, theres reins or a lunge line dangeling around

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Could you not just buy a sliphead and put a snaffle on it and lead from a leadrope

Personally I use a chiffney on lord now as it's getting cooler and he is getting livlier and I'd rather not have a 16.3hh lump of muscle bolting away from me!
 
What about putting the rope under their chin? Least that way if they get free it wont be digging onto their nose?

I'd also try to do a bit of ground work when you get the chance. Take the spookier horse up/ down/ up / down / up / down that track until he's blue in the face
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OK so you don't want to use a chiffney, why not just a sliphead with a snaffle. Then in the event they got away from you they'd have no more than when they wear headcollars
 

Id love to leave them out 24/7, but I dont have enough grazing.
They are ridden every day, as we have a flood lit menage.
I have looked at a few other yards, but Ive not found anything suitable yet.

Ill give a chiffney a go tomorrow and see how we get on.
 
Lead them in one at a time... you stand a chance of holding on to one horse pratting about but two is much harder... otherwise could you find someone freelance to come and bring your horses in for you? is there no-one at the yard you could PAY 'pocket money' to bring them in for you? All other sugestions above are pretty sensible but if all else fails you might have to move them somewhere else..
 
Cant you just pay another livery to bring them in when they bring their own in in daylight?
And maybe take some time on days off to make him stand in that lane at night to get used to it? holding carrots/feed?
Im sure he;d get used to it
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Sorry CBfan, just read your reply
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I would either get yourself some stallion chains, invest in a couple of eskadron headcollars with chains already built in to the headcollar. OR put the leadrope through their mouths so it is acting like a bridle.

Get tougher with them. Mine is sh*t to lead, always has been as he just knows his own strength and off he goes (only ever to where food is though!). An Eskadron headcollar solved this. He is 18 yo I've had him since a 4yo and got the headcollar a couple of years ago - voila, easy to lead horse! He still tries it on and you still have to be on the ball but he doesn't get anywhere these days.

I certainly would NOT ever leave horses in for 5 days of the week. If you have no other option then leave them OUT!

If you still cannot lead them can you not just let them out to bring themselves in or do they run straight onto the yard/can they get onto a road? if the yard is through another gate I would be tempted to just let them take themselves if this was safer.
 
If you are worried about them standing on the rope if they've got a chifney in (or other bit) then lead them with a short rope, that way the only way they can tread on it is if they stop and put their heads down
 
I too would recommend a chifney much less likley to get away from you in one in the right hands they are a godsend have a flighty 18.2hh gelding who always pi$$es off in a headcollar but is an angel in his chifney as he knows he has to respect it
 
Going against the grain here - please don't use a chiffney, and for God's sake not a stallion chain either. If the horses are going to go they'll go regardless of what you have in their mouth or under their chin. However, you'd probably stand more chance with a bridle on them with a slip rope, rather than the reins. Both chiffneys and stallion chains will make the horses go up if used incorrectly - a bridle probably won't. And if they get away from you in a chiffney or a stallion chain, then you've got real trouble on your hands, and potential broken jaws to boot.

Don't leave them in. Get to the yard earlier, so that you're bringing them in in daylight. Get someone to bring them in for you, or move them closer to the yard.

Difficult situation - and I've been there myself, so understand the difficulties.

Good luck - and keep yourself safe.


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I think one day just going up/ down / up / down/ up/ down with them one by one with pauses and rewards for good behaviour should crack it aswell as the method mentioned above.

Don't forget your gloves!!
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I love the Eskadron headcollars with chain attached as you don't have to get a chiffney on when horse keen to come in. For safety's sake, use something so you have control. Good luck!
 
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