Post by Trouble on Jan 4, 2009 12:50:03 GMT 1
I feel like I can't just sit around and wait for Snip's scope next week before I at least try to make some improvements.
I've spent the morning watching him today and it isn't lack of turnout he's suffering from, he was out all morning but was just standing there wanting to come in.....when he was in, he realised 'his mare' wasn't in (she was out on a ride) so he started his routine of boxwalking and only snatching half heartedly at hay. He kept calling for her, every time he heard hooves he'd shout and stress, then when she did come back it was like he took a deep sigh and then he chilled out totally.
Unfortunately this mare lives next door to him, but is on a very different 'schedule' to Snip...so he has to deal with her being taken away from him at least twice a day.
His stable is dark and claustrophobic, so I've asked our YO, today, if I can trial him in one of the barn stables, it has 4 open sides with low walls, it's massive, it's right next to our barn turnout area so there are horses coming and going all the time, he can see about 6 other horse who all have open walls like him, whearas at the moment they are all in standard stables and can't see eachother unless they all have heads over doors.
He hasn't moved yet, but YO has said he can do next weekend. I wouldn't want to go disrupting him before the scope anyway, just in case I make things worse. But I feel happy knowing I've done it, that he might settle better in there.
Course, he may not settle in there, I may have got it wrong, but I would always have the option of moving him back out to his original stable if it doesn't work out....but I will give him a good long trial and monitor his behaviour.
I've spent the morning watching him today and it isn't lack of turnout he's suffering from, he was out all morning but was just standing there wanting to come in.....when he was in, he realised 'his mare' wasn't in (she was out on a ride) so he started his routine of boxwalking and only snatching half heartedly at hay. He kept calling for her, every time he heard hooves he'd shout and stress, then when she did come back it was like he took a deep sigh and then he chilled out totally.
Unfortunately this mare lives next door to him, but is on a very different 'schedule' to Snip...so he has to deal with her being taken away from him at least twice a day.
His stable is dark and claustrophobic, so I've asked our YO, today, if I can trial him in one of the barn stables, it has 4 open sides with low walls, it's massive, it's right next to our barn turnout area so there are horses coming and going all the time, he can see about 6 other horse who all have open walls like him, whearas at the moment they are all in standard stables and can't see eachother unless they all have heads over doors.
He hasn't moved yet, but YO has said he can do next weekend. I wouldn't want to go disrupting him before the scope anyway, just in case I make things worse. But I feel happy knowing I've done it, that he might settle better in there.
Course, he may not settle in there, I may have got it wrong, but I would always have the option of moving him back out to his original stable if it doesn't work out....but I will give him a good long trial and monitor his behaviour.
