Post by Elaine on Oct 9, 2007 11:24:59 GMT
How to stop a horse not to kick stable door:
First, why is he kicking the door? YOu've got to figure this part out first, before you think of how to solve this.
Is he stabled for too long? Horses (bar any vet reasons) should be allowed out to graze every day. This is for their digestive health, physical development, mental stimulation, social stimulation, and to allow them time to be a horse. Horses are not built to live in stables and do develop vices including door banging, windsucking, weaving, cribbing, etc.
Has the horse got enough hay, so that he's not hungry for long periods?
Does he have to wait until everything else in the yard has been fed before he gets his?
Does he have to wait until last to go out?
Has door banging worked for him and it's got him what he wants?
Does it matter if he bangs the door?
Will he hurt himself?
Can I change my routine in some way?
Or is horse on a huge yard where what I say , ultimately doesn't matter?
Bearing all this in mind, here are a few ideas:
1. Take horse out of stable and put him in field.
2. If you're bringing in horse to stable to be fed, have food in stable before you go out to catch your horse. (though might cause rushign into stable...)
3. If horse is stabled near other horses feed him first (before he bangs door) as you don't want behaviour spreading.
4. When in stable, ignore him when he is kicking. (this means ALL people on yard, not just his owner)
Do not look at him,
Do not walk over to him,
Do not bang on door yourself (this is a bit ironic as now both of you are kicking the door
)
Do not feed him, etc.
So banging on door doesn't get any results.
5. When horse is not banging on door, then you can look, walk over, feed, etc.
6. Put carpet on inside of door and just at the start of the stable floor, if its a long term issue.
7. Take out door, put in wooden pole instead.
Anyone any more ideas?
First, why is he kicking the door? YOu've got to figure this part out first, before you think of how to solve this.
Is he stabled for too long? Horses (bar any vet reasons) should be allowed out to graze every day. This is for their digestive health, physical development, mental stimulation, social stimulation, and to allow them time to be a horse. Horses are not built to live in stables and do develop vices including door banging, windsucking, weaving, cribbing, etc.
Has the horse got enough hay, so that he's not hungry for long periods?
Does he have to wait until everything else in the yard has been fed before he gets his?
Does he have to wait until last to go out?
Has door banging worked for him and it's got him what he wants?
Does it matter if he bangs the door?
Will he hurt himself?
Can I change my routine in some way?
Or is horse on a huge yard where what I say , ultimately doesn't matter?
Bearing all this in mind, here are a few ideas:
1. Take horse out of stable and put him in field.
2. If you're bringing in horse to stable to be fed, have food in stable before you go out to catch your horse. (though might cause rushign into stable...)
3. If horse is stabled near other horses feed him first (before he bangs door) as you don't want behaviour spreading.
4. When in stable, ignore him when he is kicking. (this means ALL people on yard, not just his owner)
Do not look at him,
Do not walk over to him,
Do not bang on door yourself (this is a bit ironic as now both of you are kicking the door
)Do not feed him, etc.
So banging on door doesn't get any results.
5. When horse is not banging on door, then you can look, walk over, feed, etc.
6. Put carpet on inside of door and just at the start of the stable floor, if its a long term issue.
7. Take out door, put in wooden pole instead.
Anyone any more ideas?