Stable Phobia?
Why Won't My Horse Go Inside?
I have just had new stables built for my two horses, both of whom have lived at grass or indoors intermittently all their life. My first mare a 6 year old,just waltzed in without a care in the world and settled in straight away. My second horse an 11 year old refuses to go inside even though she has been used to a box all her life. I need help as nothing I have tried will encourage her to enter. Meadhbh
Thank you for your question. Our first observation would be that your mare feels that something is fundamentally different from her previous "home". You don't say what you have already tried but it sounds like you have been very patient.
Making Change Work For Your Horse
From a human standpoint, we are in no doubt the building probably looks absolutely first class with no expense spared and you are right now the envy of your friends!
However, it's worth taking a few minutes to look at things from your horse's point of view. Like some humans, they often find change hard to deal with and although you have probably done a superb job of making them look inviting - something is holding her back.
It may be even as straightforward as they "smell" different from her old home. If she has become used to the same box for many years this in itself could be the key to your problem.
Some of the top considerations to keep your horse happy indoors are the right amounts of
Natural Light and Ventilation
which can make a big difference to a horse's ability to relax and feel truly "at home".
In Your Horse's Shoes...
For example, from the doorway if the space looks dark and unfamiliar, a cautious horse may be reluctant to venture inside even if other equine companions are quite comfortable with the situation.
Another consideration is "headroom". Does your horse have to duck her head to get in through a low doorway? Or is the doorway lower than she has previously been used to?
Once a horse has banged their head (accidentally or otherwise) they are extremely wary of doing so again and it may be that she has had a bad experience with her head a long time ago and the layout just happens to bring back memories.
Finding the cause of the problem will always be the most time-consuming part of the process but often with the benefit of hindsight it can seem staggeringly obvious.
By far the best advice is to listen to your horse, sometimes we are so anxious to do things "our way" we can overlook the fact that they are trying to tell us something important.
Do the measurements stack up? Read our helpful information to check whether the space is
The Right Size For Your Horse
Rewarding Even The Smallest Progression
How do you encourage your horse to venture inside her new home?
Once you have established that the space is safe for your horse with no obvious safety or measurement issues, if at all possible try and leave the horse to explore for herself.
Leading an already wary horse into a small space is just going to build up suspicion and resentment and perhaps reinforce negative behaviour such as pulling backwards or resisting your instructions.
If the area in the immediate vicinity of the boxes is secure or can be gated off, we would suggest leaving the horse to wander around on her own and perhaps place a bucket of food in the open doorway.
Over a matter of hours even the most skeptical of horses will be tempted to overcome their curiosity of their own accord and explore this new territory. If you can stay nearby all the better and just quietly observe from a nearby gate.
Reward her bravery by giving her loads of praise and a small treat. Do this as soon as she goes inside so she associates being in her new home with lots of nice things. Gradually let her build her confidence until you are able to lead her in and out freely.
Only at this stage consider leaving her unattended with some food and with the door shut. If she has previously been comfortable being boxed this should be the easy part of the process.
Watch out for signs of fretting or anxiety but if you have successfully helped her to gradually become accustomed to her new surroundings this should be minimal.
Often the problem is as simple as successfully managing change for your horse. Good luck - it sounds as though they will be in seventh heaven with their wonderful new boxes, not to mention their lovely generous owner!
Thanks from the Team at Total Horse Expert.com
Return from Stable Phobia to our Q&A Page for more helpful horse information
|
