marion
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Post by marion on Dec 17, 2006 19:25:05 GMT 1
Advice urgently required. My horse keeps barging out of the stable when you go to open the door. it is now getting to the point that it has become dangerous and today I was knocked to the ground trying to stop him. When I turn him out I make him go to the back of the stable but when the yard staff turn him out he seems to get away with it. Today I was just going in to rug him up and he decided he wanted out, and he does not let anyone stand in his way. Urgent advice needed before I get chucked off the yard!
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Post by wozzer on Dec 17, 2006 20:00:58 GMT 1
Fit one of those stall chains so that when you open the door he still can't come out. Then I suppose it is back to the groundwork and respect stuff. Good luck xx
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marion
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Post by marion on Dec 17, 2006 20:07:17 GMT 1
Out of the stable he is a perfect angel. tried one of those guards, he nearly took the whole stable down!
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Post by janetgeorge on Dec 17, 2006 21:19:03 GMT 1
He needs to learn some respect! And fast! Getting knocked over is no fun - neither is getting jammed between the stable door and a horse!
Have had several horses arrive here with this rather nasty habit. Keep a piece of polythene pipe by the door - the sort used for underground water. When you approach the door, show him the pipe and tell him to get back BEFORE you open the door. Once you're in, keep telling him 'back' (sternly!) until you've closed the door behind you.
If he attempts to barge past you, USE the pipe - on his chest. Makes a nice loud noise and will sting without marking or cutting him. Keep that door firmly shut until you have a headcollar or bridle on him. Speak to yard manager/staff about how to ensure he doesn't do it. He'll learn!
I have a VERY large RID stallion who used to TRY to do the same. Now I just point a finger at him and say 'back' - he does as he's told.
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xxx
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Post by xxx on Dec 17, 2006 21:39:54 GMT 1
Our coloured mare did this when she arrived. I attach a lunge rope to one side of the stable and held it. When she tried to make a break for it, I tightened the rope and waved it at her. No hitting involved although I also made myself very big and shouted at her and now she is the picture of manners. An elbow in the chest can work too sometimes. Does he wear a headcollar? If so perhaps you could attach a lead rope to it before you open the door?
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Post by rosemaryhannah on Dec 17, 2006 21:46:30 GMT 1
This sounds to me like a panic issue if he is fine when he is out. Has something happened to him while he is coming out? Did he barge and get hit/knocked himself? Whatever, this sunds like a horse who thinks it is not safe to come out of a stable and so gets it over as fast as possible.
I would work on leading him in, leading him out, etc. If he ever barges, then he must go back, and come out calmly - even if he has to do it again and again. The aim is to teach him that 1 it is safe to walk out slowly 2 running out only means he has to do it again. And again. And again.
I can see the problem is when you are not there. It is jolly hard to teach an animal to be good when you are not there to enforce it, and other let him follow different rules.
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carol
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Post by carol on Dec 17, 2006 22:02:17 GMT 1
Agree with Rosemary.
Also Janetgeorge, I'm sorry but I doubt if anyone who is a regular on this forum would endorse the use of plastic pipe.
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mobismum
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Post by mobismum on Dec 17, 2006 22:11:23 GMT 1
I agree with rosemaryhannah.. my big lad used to rush out of the stable when Id tacked him up but not at any other time.. so I worked on leading him in and out the stable, first in just his bridle, once that was ok I then did it when he was fully tacked up and in a short amount of time he was sorted.. seem to think he may, at some point in his past, got caught up when tacked up coming out of the stable, either with stirrups or reins...Ive also learned him to wait at the back of the stable when I take his feed in, simply by saying back and pushing on his chest.. Its no joke having a 17.2 barge you into the manger!! Beleive me.. still now he has the manners of a saint..at times.. Good luck anyway..
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marion
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Post by marion on Dec 17, 2006 22:13:50 GMT 1
Thanks all, I think he just hates being away from the herd. He also thinks he should be the first turned out everyday and since he is not he barges out when it is his turn. Tonight he could hear an owl and he was on edge so I think he run from instinct even though every other horse was in.
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Post by Gail&Merlin on Dec 17, 2006 22:37:56 GMT 1
Hi marion, Scarey !!! id agree with back to basics, take him in and out in and out, over and over...always stop by the door with it open..he must learn to wait for you to go first, everytime he barges go straight back in and start again...if he has been good, stop outside for a sec before moving on...practise backing him up and back him into his stable, and around an obstacle course, try and teach him some games, have you read perfect manners, its a great book...another option if he will go through the chain, is to put electric across where the chain would be, get him used to being in his stable with just a wire or tape in front of him...a couple of shocks should make him stop and think about rushing....i dont know if you work but when you get the time, bring him in and out of the field too, in from the field into stable, back up, then out again nicely, hell soon get the message he is going back out with his pals he just has to learn a bit of patience..what headcollar are you using, i found dancer listened much more to a rope halter...best of luck and stay safe...
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chitori
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Post by chitori on Dec 17, 2006 22:48:28 GMT 1
Methinks a dually could help with this if you have one. If you went in and shut the door and put it on and led him around the stable a couple of times, turning him so he gets used to moving past mum = increased pressure he may very well be less inclined to run for the door as it would tighten up. Good luck! x
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marion
Intermediate Poster
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Post by marion on Dec 17, 2006 22:49:49 GMT 1
Gail, your so right. I have this week off work cause work over xmas, so will go up everyday and turn out as well as bring him in etc. I wonder if this has started because he is the most dominent in the field. There is only three of them cause a livery with 2 horses left and he is very much top dog although they all just seem to graze, there are never any rows. Just a thought
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Post by Gail&Merlin on Dec 17, 2006 22:56:45 GMT 1
Has he always done this marion, how long have you been at the yard? when you get it into his head and he starts to listen, ask the yard staff to watch you and then let them do it and show them how you want it to be done..
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Post by janetgeorge on Dec 18, 2006 0:51:31 GMT 1
Also Janetgeorge, I'm sorry but I doubt if anyone who is a regular on this forum would endorse the use of plastic pipe. Fine - maybe they like being mown down by horses who charge out over the top of them the minute they open the stable door. I don't! And using plastic pipe is far kinder than a whip - it makes more noise but hurts less and doesn't bruise or cut - and it's rather more effective than many other suggestions. For example, trying to use a lunge line across the doorwas as one poster suggested - which is likely to end up with bad rope burns on the hands of the handler and a horse tangled up in lunge line. And if I understood Marion correctly, he tries to barge through when the door is opened - rather than when he is being led out - therefore a change of halter is not much use. I may be wrong and Marion may have meant he barged out when being led - in which case my suggestion would have been different.
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xxx
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Post by xxx on Dec 18, 2006 1:07:51 GMT 1
plastic pipes are not a tool I would want used in this situation. My suggestion is not for use in all scenarios but it worked in my case without the horse getting upset. It does depend on if your horse is lieable to go right through the lunge line. You are basically whacking a horse with a great lump of plastic, ever been hit with one? hard as you suggested?
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