Herd Bound/Gate Sour

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Posted : 2/1/2010 8:53:43 PM

Hello,

My horse who I have owned for 2months now has lately become what I think may be herd bound. He is an 18yr old appendix quarter horse. He seems to get attached to other horses in the barn. The barn owners have moved him twice and each time he gets aggitated and at first I didn't understand why. Then I read about herd bound horses. He also continually stops at the gates in the arena when I am lunging him. I don't really understand what to do because I read that it could be boredom which I can understand because we just use the arena and I don't know how to make that more interesting? Also that he is insecure in himself or me and I don't see that. He has been pushy with me lately, on the ground and in the arena. i.e. cutting corners, stomping when he needs to stand, moving a lot while being groomed. I could understand him being insecure when he gets moved because any animal could be. He neighs loudly when he returns to his stall after being in the arena. His stall has an attached run. I have done reading online but I feel that I need input from other people.

Thank you,
Estie

trainer101

Posted : 2/2/2010 3:43:56 AM

What do you do when he stops at the gate? Is he constantly looking away from you while you are lounging him as though looking for a way back to the other horses?

I would start on getting his attention away from the other horses in the arena by puttin him online (Clinton Andersons halter and lead work good) with a good rope halter and 14 ft lead line. Start with getting forward motion and everytime he looks away at the gate it will cause his shoulder to kick into you if you watch you'll be able to see it, bump his nose till he brings it back in the circle. I always look to see if the horse is trying to cut the circle or bend the circle, you want him to bend around you in the circle not cut across you. If he does use the end of the lead with a twirl motion to get him to move back. If he offers to stop at the gate really get after those hindquarters so that he rethinks what he should be paying attention too.

If you think he is bored have him change directions every other circle. You can send him over tarps or poles or around cones, what ever you have laying around becomes a training tool even an old empty milk jug with rocks in it. I have even placed small boxes down on the ground flat to mock a bridge because it looked and sounded different to them. Get his focus back on you not the other horses and he will look to you for advice on where his feet should go next. If it is a confidence issue then this helps them gain trust in you and realize that they can indeed tackle those scary things all alone.