new yard - catching issues

[bramblesmum]

Tommy is my 10yr old gypsy cob stallion I moved him last week from Cheshire to Aylesbury and on the whole he has been a saint his manners in hand have been ace and he seems to be settling.

In the first couple of days he was out in a speciality stallion paddock, he's conducted himself so well he's been given a different field where in a few weeks hell have a gelding in the neighbouring field for company to give him a better social life. Now to the problem.

He went out in this field yesterday, he was happy when I left him when I came to bring him in at usual time he normally runs to me shouting however he hung back in middle of field. I walked in and walked to him he ran off when I went to clip his lead on, I quietly walked in his direction managed to clip on but as soon as he felt the lead he tried to bolt I kept hold speaking to him quietly and he calmed a little it then took 15mins to walk him in two steps at a time praising him.

Today I've gone to get him in he saw me and shot off away from me I very quietly walked towards him he trotted off in opposite direction, he then got distracted by person hacking (who said I need a lunge whip ) I sat on floor 5 feet in front of him as is as close as he would allow and munched the carrot I'd brought him he was interested but he was terrified of my hand coming towards him eventually he took it and he allowed me to stand next to him, I clipped on and gave carrot at same time but he did panic momentarily but the carrot won him over he then walked in well.

I think he's had a whack off the fence which is mains leccy and although a cob he is very sensitive and gets worried/stressed quite easily not one tthat does well with heavy pressure so I want to find away to make him feel happy again does anyone have any suggestions on how to catch him better and make him feel more confident in his new home

[Lorraine L]

Aww poor Tommy and you ! Must start by saying that I have NO knowledge concerning stallions so probably going to be no help whatsoever ?
I just wondered if he needs longer to settle ? By that, I mean if you are correct and he has been upset by the fencing / shock, you might need to do nothing more than just to hang around with him in the field for a few more days rather than try to bring him in ?
Obviously you know him better than anyone but at this time, you are the only ' constant ' in his life and just hanging with him with no pressure might settle him down before starting to do anything much with him at all ? I wish you luck though x

[bramblesmum]

Unfortunately being livery he's not able to stay out so I do have to catch him in but thankyou for your thoughts if my own place would certainly do this, I should prob say I'm 28 weeks pregnant so am limited in lots of physical workouts atm x

[Lorraine L]

Congrats on your pregnancy but I think you might speak to yard owner and explain that you might need some assistance ? If they are the type of person who you'd want helping of course ? It's tough enough when they decide to jump in your lap for safety but you need to protect yourself particularly now. Aside from the person who suggested the lunge whip ....sigh ... Is there anyone else on he yard who might be able to help ?
I am sure with time, it will get easier and more ' norm ' for him. I know that so many horses stress for several weeks with new surroundings and sometimes by the most bizarre things that wouldn't normally upset them. Horses ay ? Who'd have them ?? X

[bramblesmum]

They will bring in for me if I pay but have a feeling hell settle quicker with me catching him esp as traditional yard and not sure they'd spend the time doing it my way as such x

[clipclop]

Even before you said it I was going to say he's probably had a zap on his nose!

D does it, even at his age. I can tell if he's accidentally touched the fence as I can't catch him for 24 hours or so but I'm lucky with my set up as I can herd him onto the yard if necessary.

Knowing Tommy, I would hope that with consistency he'll improve. If he'll let you near enough, try a rub on the forehead rather than putting your hand underneath his chin where he can't see it coming. Failing that, bailing twine from his headcollar to assist you.

Sent from my GT-I9195 using proboards

[bramblesmum]

Lol well confused him this morn as popped him out had to walk him through the gate a few times as he bolted through to begin once he did it quietly he got a carrot and let off I mucked out then went in field again to try your idea Lorraine it's left him completely confuzzled as he got scratches and carrots then left to chill hopefully hell get the idea and this arvo maybe be bit easier x

Clipclop with reaction going through the gate it's the conclusion I've come to the yard may be traditional but they don't interfere so can be fairly confident that this isn't a yard handling issue x with regards to catching he's frightened of anything touching his head/face even frightened the carrots gonna bite him lol x

[portiabuzz]

Glad you found a yard in the end for him

Sent from my GT-I8160

[Lorraine L]

Fingers crossed. Well done x

[VeronicaF]

Hi bramblesmum, I haven't read all the replys so please excuse if this has already been said?

also no nothing about stallion's but I wonder if he has been hit??
maybe someone went to get their horse and he came to them and they saw- read it as a threat so chased and hit him away??

of course it could be he wants to stay with his friends longer, be longer out and needs time to settle? but just wondering if its somethingmore going on?

[crazycolt]

Was going to say the same as Veronica F, do others have access to him? Not a nice thought but being a new place...is there anyway you can watch without being seen? Then again I am totally neurotic, etc etc: 

[bramblesmum]

No hitting is unlikely he's in his own paddock out of the way with noone needing to go past his field as it's on the end of a run. We think that as he has an electrical pylon overhead he's been getting a static charge, he was wearing a fleecy headcollar with extra buckles etc now he's in plain leather he's much happier and starting to settle being caught again x

[kafee]

Pity they can't talk, and we have to play the guessing game as to what could possibly be upsetting them. I would never thave thought a pylon could cuase a horse to not want to be caught. Hope he settles in quickly.

[portiabuzz]

hope hes ok now

[crazycolt]

Ah, that's good then.