problem with fudge

[XxFudgexX]

Im hoping you can give me a bit of advise on best way to solve this problem.

Fudges field is through Amy's so Amy has to come in first (she also has to walk through his stable to get into hers so has to come in first) as soon as I start to bring Amy in Fudge goes crazy galloping buck and squeeling round the field, its mainly in excitment for coming in and part because Amy is leaving, but when I go to catch him he thinks im part of the game and runs at me, today I went earlier in the hope he wasn't expecting to come in he still did it but reared up at me then turned round and kicked out, once I have his headcollar on he is ok quite strong but ok and he goes out first in a morning no problem stands tied in his stable for grooming so he is not nasty just very excited and playfull but it is quite un nerving when I go for him,

I have tried growling, waving my arms, shouting no, and today swishing the leadrope about all he thinks are part of the game,

so im looking for advise, I could swap their stables and fields but the problem with that is when I do things with Amy in a morning he would have to stay in and also it wouldn't really be teaching him not to do it...what do you think is it just a baby stage???

[XenaWarriorPrincess]

I think thats a normal reaction for any horse left out on its own and especially because he is a baby.
I would either bring him in first or bring them in together.
x

[My Crazy Clan]

He's just being playful, I find the more your wave/shout the more they get excited because they think your playing with them, just try to walk away and ignore him, walk out the field if your have too.

[XxFudgexX]

Ill try that tomorrow rhea, see how he is,

xwp I wouldn't be able to bring them in together myself when my oh is home he helps so I can bring them together which does help,

its not him getting excited to come in that bothers me its the rearing up and kicking out at me that I want to stop.

[XenaWarriorPrincess]

Ahh i see! I would either bring him in first or just ignore the bucking/kicking just be firm and confident.

[Loony]

Like Rach said, a lot of mature horses don't like being left on their own and can behave like that. But obviously it's dangerous if he still acts like that once you come to get him.

If you think it's him being playful, rather than nervous of being left alone, then walking out of the field and then coming back 5 minutes later might be best. But if not, then its likely his behaviour will just get worse in the field when he realises he's on his own.

Personally I'd just bring him in first.

[Lorraine]

Bringing them in together might make life easier for you but doesn't really teach him not to act like this, or teach him to accept Amy being taken away from her field, and if at any time you need to bring in Amy first or want to do something with Amy you'll have the exact same problem again.

Personally I'd try and solve his behaviour rather than find a way to work around it.

Try going up in the day and bring Amy in, wait a couple of minutes then turn her out again. Do this once, twice or even 3 times a day and vary time you bring her in and the length of time before you turn her back out again - the more times you can bring her in/turn her out on the first day of trying this the better. Hopefull this will teach him to get less excited about her being taken away as he will start to figure she comes back again some time afterwards and it is no big deal and he will start to disassociate her being brought in with him being brought in immediately afterwards.

You could also bring Amy in, go to him and pat him or give him a carrot, then bring Amy back out. So again he disassociates Amy coming in and you going out to his field with him actually coming in.

When you do bring them in vary the time as much as you can so he doesn't associate a particular time of day as "coming in time".

Bring him in at different times after Amy ie 5 minutes after one after day, 15 after minutes the next, 5 minutes the next, half an hour the next, etc so the time between Amy coming in and then him coming in varies.

All this should hopefully teach him that Amy coming in, you going out to him once Amy has gone is nothing to get excited about as it doesn't automatically mean he's coming in straight away and calm his behaviour.

[XxFudgexX]

Thanks Lorraine Iwill try that, thats like I thought bringing him in first or together is not teaching him just making it easier for me,
before we moved he lived out and Amy was in, he never bothered then about her coming in and leaving him and he was out at night on his own and was happy enough, now he sees Amy come in and gets so excited that he is coming in too, so I will bring her in through the day and put her back out to try see if that works, thanks.

[CityLights]

chase him off again and tire him out a little bit, it does however trash your fields, its just normal behvaiour though cause his freind has left, you could bring him in first and leave Amy out some days then bring him in second other days that way he doesnt know what to expect the same and you also will get some days where he comes in nicely and calmly so he doesnt get bad to bring in all the time

[Zeitgeist Mom]

I think Lorraine's suggestions are excellent. You could also try bringing Amy in, then leaving Fudge until he has settled before going to bring him in. You don't want to get yourself hurt! It could also be that he is unsettled having just moved, and with a little bit of time he will hopefully calm down again.

[The Little Magician]

I agree with Lorraines answer, this is what I do with my 2 to avoid clingyness, it also makes them alot more independant.