[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference noted::equitation

Title:Equine Notes Conference
Notice:Topics List=4, Horses 4Sale/Wanted=150, Equip 4Sale/Wanted=151
Moderator:MTADMS::COBURNIO
Created:Tue Feb 11 1986
Last Modified:Thu Jun 05 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2080
Total number of notes:22383

1737.0. "Bolting into the stall...." by DELNI::KEIRAN () Thu Apr 29 1993 08:10

    About 2 months ago, I was putting my 4 year old mare back in her
    stall, her foot hit the threshold and a piece of wood broke off
    and the noise or something else about it scared her.  From then 
    on she started running in the stall and its getting to the point
    where she is dangerous to herself and me.  If I try to go one step
    at a time, she gets all worked up outside the stall and will start
    to rear, and just bolts in.  I have tried backing her in, which 
    worked until she started bolting backwards which I don't want her
    getting into the habit of because of getting off the trailer.  Next
    I decided to blindfold her and see if she would go in that way.  
    It worked perfectly, she walked in one step at a time.  Now she 
    has gotten a little more confident with the blindfold on, and as
    she is going in straight, she will move her butt just enough so
    that when she starts going forward, she hits the door jamb with
    her side and bolts with the blindfold on!  This is getting dangerous,
    and I am afraid someone is going to get hurt.  Leaving her outside
    isn't an option at this time, though that is the situation she is
    in at home.  I have raised this mare from a foal, and this is really
    the only truly bad thing she has ever done.  Does anyone have any
    suggestions?
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name		DateLines
1737.1ALFA1::COOKChips R UsThu Apr 29 1993 10:2914
    A couple of questions:  
    
    Is she only distressed by *this* door?  If it's only this door, maybe
    you could practice in different doors.  And, does she do this coming
    out of the stall as well as going in?
    Have you tried using a chain on her?
    
    good luck.  I know how you feel, I think.  My 5 year old is chicken 
    about the end of the aisle where the cross ties are.  No reason...I
    guess that's where the horsasaurus hides.
    
    
    gwen
1737.2POWDML::MANDILEI wish you loveThu Apr 29 1993 12:066
    
    You could try leading her up to the door, and then before she
    gets too wound up, offering her a feed bucket with a snack in
    it.  That way, she can associate the door with "good things",
    and maybe overcome the prior "bad thing" about the door...
1737.3TTEAM!DECWET::JDADDAMIOWhen in doubt, cop out!Thu Apr 29 1993 13:3211
    I'd use TTEAM methods for something like this. First, teach her to walk
    one step at a time. Then teach her to walk through "scary" things like
    a "chute" made of stacked up hay bales or friends holding up plastic
    sheeting. Lead her one step at a time toward the chute and feed her a
    little grain when she wants to stop. If she relaxes, ask her to take
    another step forward. If she's frightened, back up and take her away.
    In a fairly short amount of time, you should be able to get her to walk
    through the "chute". Then repeat the process with doors.
    
    LTJ has several video tapes and books which explain her methods in more
    detail.
1737.4Temporary free accessCSCMA::SMITHFri Apr 30 1993 11:4813
    I was thinking of another possible solution today when I was watching
    my horses go in and out of their stalls.  They have free access and I
    was thinking that if there was any way you could set up some simple
    temporary eletric fenceing to give him free access in and out, he would
    probably work this out all on his own in a few days.  It takes just
    minutes to tap a few fiberglass posts in, I even have four posts with
    wire on them I can quickly tap in when I need to block the horse into a
    small area for a few hours when we need to bring the tractor in and
    whatnot.  If you made a small temporary paddock and threw some hay and 
    treats inside and outside the stall I'm sure he would sort it all out
    in a short time without any danger to himself or you.
    
    Sharon