help with box walker

[madmaxwell]

Hi everyone!
Newbie here! Haven't been on this site for years. Now, seems as we're all Intelligent horsemen/women, any suggestions about box walking?

I have a PBA who is quite highly strung. I resorted to leaving him out last winter cos i couldn't cope with his box walking habit!

I've read that most cases are due to separation anxiety but no matter how many horses are in or around him he still walks round and round, right rein, tossing his head in every corner. I've thought about mirrors but if he's not happy with horses i'm sure he won't be impressed with an imitation!

However, if i take him out and tie him up outside he's perfect. Is it just habit or is he generally stressed about being inside???
He's never been a good loader either but we've been doing it regularly and he's going great now. We even thought he might be clostrophobic!? or is it just naughtyness?

Ideas? ;D

[madmaxwell]

yes i know i've put it in the wrong section! 1st mistake!!!

[kaye]

Hi there are a lot of people a lot more experienced than myself on here but I give you my thoughts for what they are worth. Firstly does he need to be kept in? If not leave him out if you can. When boxed, try to make his box interesting for him by hiding food-veg in his bedding for him to look for. Buy some toys ie the feed ball and feed what you can from it. I put an old welly soaked in apple juice in with mine once, kept him amused for hours. Obviously lots of hay.

[blackarab]

put some old tyres on the floor so he has to walk around them

[Ryan&Dizzy]

ill be intressed with the answers you get fromk this... my horse box walks, not all the time ie he will stable over night but if im not there to turn him out at 6.30am on the dot he starts! and he will also do it when he is in on his own

[Louise C]

My boy weaves - and it's all down to stress. So he lives out and is as happy as larry - highly recommend that you do the same. Over the years he has got better and I can now leave him in for clinics and stuff every once in a while, but they are really happier out. He's a TBX, and much better off out, with a rug if it's really wet.

[lovelylace]

my loan mare fliss box walks occasionally, better when horses are in but still, but apart from now when she is on box rest for a broken pedal bone she is living out, much better for airways, for circulation and for their sanity.

if you have to have him in then give him a small holed haynet, positioned so that he can see out and about and preferable other horses, try to keep him occupied...dont foreget that it must be incredible boring for a horse to stay in for long hourse in such a small area.

[madmaxwell]

Thanks guys!

I have tried all sorts of toys and food but when he does start walking all interest in food is completely out the window (not literally!) he won't even eat out of my hand.

I have found a yard that will let him live out but it is 23 MILES from home. Every other yard in the area will not allow horses to live out. Thank god I only do him once a day cos 46 miles a day is bad. I don't think i could cope with travelling 92 miles!!! think of the petrol costs?!

But he's worth it cos he's so talented and i love him to bits XXX

[kaleigh]

when i got my pba filly she had been kept in a stall most of her life & had many issues. She would box walk, crib etc etc. She is now turned out through out the summer but comes in for the winter....
She related bad exsperiences with the stables as she had been twitched in there. I have spent a long time walking her in the stable, feeding her in there,grooming, making a fuss, then turning her out again, so she learns the stable doesnt have to be a bad place.
Then i left her in for longer periods. when she cribbed or box walked, i walked away, when she stood nicely, i rewarded her with a click from the clicker & a treat...... Ok, it takes months...but she is now much better in the stable.
i found a rock salt lick, treat ball, play ball & lots of hay/haylage helps too, as it stops them from getting bored. & i have spent at least 1 night sleeping in the stable with each of my horses!

[madmaxwell]

Well before i found this yard i gave in to the idea that he'd be stabled so i started to bring him in everyday to groom him, tack him up and even feed him in there so it would be pleasurable. I did this for about 2 months.

At first i had to tie him up then after a week he'd go loose with a stall chain across the door and be quite happy. even when i left him for 2 minutes to get my tack he'd be fine. Then i started closing the door a bit and so on and so forth.

All was going well but the tiniest thing would upset him. A horse leaving the yard or coming in(even if there were others in) Me being away for more than a few minutes etc. There was a dressage comp held at the yard. he could see everything but he just flipped even with me there, the door open and being tied up (i had to in the end)

He has fallen over a couple of times by rushing around so i put in rubber mats.

Another thing is the constant pooing! He came in and pooed atleast 2-3 times. I could tell when he was upset cos he pooed more. The day of the dressage competition was terrible. It was water in the end!

I much prefer him living out and as long as he's happy, I am. so lets hope this new yard turns out ok...

[Louise C]

Where are you based - perhaps someone on here knows of a yard nearer to home?