Blue is a star I just adore him
He is turned out during the day with a mare, and has other horses either side of their field as well. Both he and the mare come in at night and are stabled next door to each other.
Blue is turned out and brought in at different times to the mare as I do DIY, and he always catches fine. He goes out by himself if Im up first in the morning and whinneys a bit then settles down. The only time they come in together tends to be at a weekend if we hack them out together.
Yesterday when i brought him in by himself, as soon as he went in his stable he seemed to 'click' she wasnt there as well and had a wee tantrum Circling in the box, shouting lots and head tossing. He got ignored, then I tied him up to groom and he settled down.
Tonight they happened to be brought in together - BUT the mare was taken off to the wash bay while I took Blue straight to his stable. He always has hay waiting in his stable. Again, when he realised she was gone he got anxious. It was like suddenly he didnt know I was there and circled in the box, shouted, and barged into me as I took his rug off. He got a smack on the neck and pushed over very firmly, I roared at him to behave and put his headcollar back on and controlled him with this until she came back. He did stand better then and i praised him. Each time he tried to barge over and flung his head up I tugged back and made him stand. He is always to careful around me and aware of my space, but it really is like he forgets im standing there.
As soon as she came back he was fine again.
Now this doesnt bother me as he is pretty easy to deal with compared to what I had before - even when he does this But want to make sure im dealing with it in the right way, and want to nip it in the bud.
My theory is that he needs to know me better (only been 2 weeks) and be more confident in my leadership so as not to rely on the other horse? And not to attempt to pacify him or soothe with food etc, but reward with a pat and 'good boy' when he does stand. ?
He is turned out during the day with a mare, and has other horses either side of their field as well. Both he and the mare come in at night and are stabled next door to each other.
Blue is turned out and brought in at different times to the mare as I do DIY, and he always catches fine. He goes out by himself if Im up first in the morning and whinneys a bit then settles down. The only time they come in together tends to be at a weekend if we hack them out together.
Yesterday when i brought him in by himself, as soon as he went in his stable he seemed to 'click' she wasnt there as well and had a wee tantrum Circling in the box, shouting lots and head tossing. He got ignored, then I tied him up to groom and he settled down.
Tonight they happened to be brought in together - BUT the mare was taken off to the wash bay while I took Blue straight to his stable. He always has hay waiting in his stable. Again, when he realised she was gone he got anxious. It was like suddenly he didnt know I was there and circled in the box, shouted, and barged into me as I took his rug off. He got a smack on the neck and pushed over very firmly, I roared at him to behave and put his headcollar back on and controlled him with this until she came back. He did stand better then and i praised him. Each time he tried to barge over and flung his head up I tugged back and made him stand. He is always to careful around me and aware of my space, but it really is like he forgets im standing there.
As soon as she came back he was fine again.
Now this doesnt bother me as he is pretty easy to deal with compared to what I had before - even when he does this But want to make sure im dealing with it in the right way, and want to nip it in the bud.
My theory is that he needs to know me better (only been 2 weeks) and be more confident in my leadership so as not to rely on the other horse? And not to attempt to pacify him or soothe with food etc, but reward with a pat and 'good boy' when he does stand. ?
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