Very important HORSE RELATED question?

Question

My horse and I are having a problem.

First, our trainer left. Then, our other trainer had surgery and is no longer giving lessons.

Now, we've reached a dead end.

Because of space at the stable we are staying at, he is kept in his stall 24/7 by himself. The only time he gets out is when his stall is being cleaned, or I am there.

I am a fifteen year old girl... I can't go out there everyday. Especially in winter. Both my parents work and I have school work. I feel horrible, but there isn't anything I can do until I get my license.

Because he is always in his stall, he has turned to biting whenever I try to be around him. He isn't doing it to be mean, because his ears stay perked forward on me. When I scold him and walk away, he calls out for me.

Now, because he's been in his stall for so long, he has so much energy, I can't even take him out of it. I was leading him around today and he started bouncing around and almost reared.

Keep in mind, this isn't like him and I (continued)

am still a new and timid rider. Last summer when our trainers were still around and he was getting out, we had a blast.

I am wondering if I should move him to a stable with more room. I'm having problems finding one, but that's a different issue.

My main concern is the biting. I am also worried about him developing some vices like weaving or cribbing. PLEASE! Any and all advice is needed! I don't have a horse support system anymore and I don't want to mess up the relationship I want with my best friend (my horse).

I am not selling him.

I am looking for a cure for the biting. I am moving him to a different stable.

As for riding and lunging- I can't even lead him. It would be impossible to do those things if I can't lead him.

I lunged him all the time before this happened. I am afraid of his engery right now. I can't even groom him because I am afraid of getting close to him because he might kick.

Although he's never kicked before. I am just being skittish.

Answer 1

Horse were not meant to live in a box! He is protesting because you are taking away two things that are very important to him - his herd and his freedom to run. You need to move him to a place that he has as much turn - out time as possible. If he stays where he is, his behavior will only worsen.
He would do well in an environment that he is outside all of the time with adequate shelter, or put into a stall late in the evening and put out early in the morning. When you do this, his behavior will change drastically.
Obviously with the way things are today, its hard to let horses live naturally. But we can put them in an environment that is as close as possible.

p.s. If you are giving him treats by hand, discontinue this to help with the biting. Put his treats in his feed bucket.

Answer 2

I know what that is like. My horse and I had almost the same problem.. but our stables are at our house. If I were you I would try and find another place with more space. Its not natural for a horse to be in a stall 24/7. They need to be out and running. Since you are still young and cannot yet drive right now and you cant find another stable then I would suggest finding someone to hire to work your horse. I dont know if you are like me but I do not like letting others ride my horse or even being around my horse because I have such a great bond that I dont want to let go. But If i were you i would hire someone to lunge him. That way he gets some energy out and feels good. And about the biteing thing.. it takes time. All horses do it and then again depending on their age. Little horses (round the ages of 2 and 8) like doing that and then when they turn around (11 and older) they come back to biting. All you can do is repremind him. He will stop in time. The more and more time you spend with him the better it will get. I hope that answers your question. if you want another answer please email me!!!!!

Answer 3

Your horse is very board being in that stall for long periods of time.
Since you are looking for another boarding facility, I would look more into what they have to offer for your horse. You need to think about your horse and the behavior that he is expressing your horse is trying to tell you that he needs more attention and more contact with another animal such as another horse or a goat, Llama...anything that is a herd animal will work for your horse.
If a new boarding facility doesn't have were you are not able to come out that they let your horse run in a round pen or in a pasture, your horse needs to release some energy....
Since you are not a seasoned horse person and you are having a difficult time keeping a horse trainer, start to read behavior books and or trainer books and start doing things that you learn from those books with your horse, once you get your confidence up you will and your horse will thrive together as a team I am sure your horse is a very sweet animal, if you show that you are trying your horse will work with you, it is amazing how animals just know what is going on inside us.
I hope I helped you out some.
Good luck

Answer 4

Definately move him. Horses are not made to sit in a stall 24/7. He should be getting turn out in the arena time for at LEAST an hour a day, if he can not be turned outside. Plus at another stable, you should be able to find an instructor there. If anything, you can post an ad- some beginning/intermediate instructors will come to your barn to gain references and experience.
If you like your stable now, You could also mention his extra energy to the stable, and say that he needs turn out time. If he doesn't get any, you are moving him. Period. A stable owner will usually adjust things around when that happens.
It sounds like his biting is more of a play thing- he wants socialization and is bored out of his mind. Get him a jolly ball to hang from the ceiling until you move him- then he can bite that and get some of his energy out.
If he starts bouncing around when you are leading him, give him a jerk on the rope (or jab in the shoulder) and say NO while giving him a mean stare. That will usually work. If it doesn't- you may need to go to a chain over his nose- one jerk, a NO, mean stare, and that should work. Once he quits, you go on like nothing ever happened, and make sure your posture says that too. That works for a nippy (because bored) horse as well.
If you are nervous about his extra energy, have you ever tried lunging him? If my horse is full of it, I will train her on the lunge line first before I get on her. That way, they get out their kinks and bucks before you get on them- safer for the rider and gives the horse some time to concentrate and calm down.

Whatever you do, don't give up. It is something to work through, and I am sure he will be back to his old self once he gets some time to get out and have fun with the other horses.
If you have any other questions, feel free to message me.

Answer 5

, Do you have someone else you know at the stable that would turn your horse out for you for a while, maybe a neighbor in the area that you might know that wouldn't mind turning your horse out for you, as for the bit ting it could be the result of being in his stall 24/7 but other horse stay in their stalls and don't start to bit , there could be another issue happening there.,but the bitting needs to be addressed quickly as it will only get worse. When you do get a chance to go to the stables work your horse really good get him tired he'll like being in his stall.

Answer 6

All right,
a horse will never be content inside 24/7.....you need to get him out of his stall......In half a day and out half a day would make a Huge difference (and it would be cheaper)....
I don't understand, you barn has enough stalls, but not enough pasture space???.....Even if he was turned out at night.........or if you have to move to a different barn........
How often were you getting over there when you had an instructor? Can't you go over there just as much, even though you don't have a lesson?
Why can't you get a new trainer?
Is there a place, like a ring, or an indoor, where you could just let him run?
this horse need to get out of his stall....he has already become dangerous, and it would be terrible if you had to get rid of him.
look at this question for biting.......In my answer I mentioned an article in Horse Illustrated....
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AiEyldvisIHYySQsBLup3jXty6IX?qid=20070123174755AAJEeEp&show=7#profile-info-cf0d3cebad8b163bd4b109688e178afdaa
What I would do....do whatever it takes to have him out at pastrure for half a day...get a new trainer...then give him as much attention and training/work as you can......

Answer 7

I do understand your situation, but you are allowing your fear to over ride your training ability and owner ability towards this horse.

The horse knows you are afraid. How else do you think he knows he can do it and get away with it basically? Horses are smart. I have quite a few who.....sometimes like to take advantage of the situation.

He is begining this behavior as a result of lack of being messed with. With this weather change, so does their behavior. Him being confined to himself and not turned out as often, he will develop some behavior patterns if not consistant with firm handling.

You have to be consistant.

If you get kicked, then you were not in the right area next to him. You should give yourself enough space to move and not be directly behind him. Getting kicked happens though. Trust me, I got plenty of bruises over the years. Most was my stupidity of not paying attention, but nothing is bomb proof when around a horse.

If you are not able to see him more than 4 times a week, it is best to see about leasing him, especialy during the winter time when you don't get to see him as often.

Not working with him and not giving him the firm handling will actually have him loose respect, to which is what he is doing. by that, you develope fear of his strength and activiness. I have a 1,100 at 14.2" a 1,300 at 16" and another 1,250 horse at 15'3". I understand strength, weight, height and endurance ability. The main thing is once you begin to fear, you will begin to lack in training and doing what needs to be done.

You need to build that confidence to feel comfortable with your own horse.

Moving him to another stable might help, but the problem of you timid and him in his stall for awhile, still will be there. While you trying to figure that out, I would recommend having stable owner or another trusted horse owner to help turn your horse out for you and look for leasement. You might even find a riding/show buddy or find new trainers or people to give tips on.

Answer 8

You really should move him to a location that you'll be able to spend more time with him and he'll have more room to roam.
If you are unable to do so- check around the barn and see if anyone that is at the stable daily would mind taking him for a hack in exchange for you cleaning their stalls or tack or grooming their horses when you are able too.

Until you are able to spend more time with him and establish that respect you once had with him again- you won't be able to cure the biting. If he is becoming a stall nuisance then I suggest filling a hay bag full of hay and hanging it outside his stall where he can get it. He won't be able to eat it as quickly as he'll have to reach through the stall bars to get to it. It'll kill time for him, allow him to graze throughout the day, and give him a game to pass time by. You may also need to switch up his diet a bit with a lower protein feed as protein creates extra energy. You may also find him happier with an enrichment toy such as pony pops or likits or a nice little jolly ball.

If you are able also- see if your parents or someone at the stables you board wouldn't mind picking you up and dropping you off from the stables. You could offer them gas money or offer to muck, groom, or clean tack just like I suggested you do for finding a stand in rider.

Answer 9

okay maybe u can get him an outdoor stall?
do u know any farmers that wouldnt mind a horse in their field?
ur horse just sounds like hes bored. for the time being try getting him a toy.
does ur stable have an arena? do u have a friend there?
maybe u could get (if u do have a friend there) to just take him out and let him run for a while.
remember it takes 3 good falls to be a cowgirl.
just get on and ride dont be scared
ur horse can tell when ur scared and he will get scared cuz he sees u as a leader...
good luck

Answer 10

I am a big proponent of turn out. Horses need to get out of their stalls, stretch their legs, and be among other horses. It creates a saner, safer animal. I've worked with countless ex-racehorses who spend twenty-two hours a day cooped up in their stalls. The first thing we have to do is give them a few months of just roaming around in a pasture, learning to be a horse again. The change it produces is dramatic. Turn out time really does improve the horses' dispositions and mental health. Your horse sounds like a classic case of depression and frustration at being left inside so long, especially by himself.

If your stable refuses to turn your horse out, then yes, by all means find a better location for him. Get him out of the stall for at least a few hours a day. Put him in environment where he's surrounded by other horses and thus has outside stimulus. Right now, he's probably bored just standing in his stall, nothing around to interact with. Hence the cause of his acting out, boredom and frustration.

You'll have to keep in mind that moving a horse can put them under stress. If you're uncomfortable handling him, you might want to consider hiring a professional to work with him for the first few weeks until he's settled into the new routine. It's going to take time getting him back to the way he used to be, but if you have patience and try to accommodate his needs, you should be fine.