Horse breaking down stall door

I bought a four year old ranch breed mustang three months ago, and I havent had to put him in a stall. Being out in the pasture with my other two horses he got attached, and the last two times I put him in the stalls with the other horses he was fine when they were in there. But the minute I pulled one of the other horses out to put them in the pasture he would ram his stall door with his chest and bust it open. I know I could just put him out first, but I don't want him to think this behavior is alright. Any suggestions?

Close the top of the stall door so he can't get that kind of leverage against it. You can really go all out and reinforce the stall door so he can't get it open no matter how hard he tries. It would take some doing but that would be the best way to stop him from doing it. He may not quit though since he has already broken out by ramming the door. A 4x4 fastened across the door until others are out would keep him in.

Its only a half door, so there is no top. I was thinking about doing the two by four thing, I'm going to have to look at the stall in the morning to make sure it can be done. Thanks for your suggestions.

I suspect he needs time to get used to the routine of going in the stalls and understand he will get out again. For the next while you could try putting them in every day, give them a little grain and mix up the order of letting them out - sometimes he's first, sometimes the second horse and sometimes the last one out. Also, it would be good to just bring him in the barn for grooming in the aisleway and then turned out after - if you haven't done this with him before chances are he will be somewhat anxious about it so make the first time not much more than a walk in, turn around and go out back out again; then start gradually increasing the length of stay. The more consistent and regular you can be with these steps, the more settled he should become until it's second nature to him. Good luck.

You said you haven't had to put him in a stall yet, but that you've put him in at least twice with your other horses...? Which is it? I don't think he will think he's winning if you put him out first, but I would worry about him going through your pasture fence. Sounds to me like he needs to be separated from the other horses for a while.

I used one of those stall guards. The one that has three clips on each side and I clipped it above his stall door.

The stall guard is something he could get tangled in and will if he panics. Why not have him put out as the 2nd horse to go out. That way he's not alone in the field, nor alone in the barn. This is something your are going to have to work on or riding isn't going to work out. Something I suggest is taking him for a walk away from the others and as soon as he begins to get upset, turn back but make him mind his manners. When knows the others are nearby, take him back on his walk again, then return. Each time you will try to take him a little farther. Offer him a few treats before you turn back. This give him a pleasant association. What you are doing is creating an elevator effect. As you leave his stress goes up, on the return it goes down. His mind will want a release from the stress and he will get better at going away. Be prepared to spend an hour doing this and keep offering a treat when you reach the farthest point. Do this three days in a row if you can. I'll even stash a pan of feed just past the previous last point so he can see it. He'll begin to look forward to leaving the others. When he's ok with this, do the same when turning him out first, show him the pan of goodies and he'll soon want to be first one out.

Ideally, wouldn't you want to turn him back before he gets upset? If you turn him back when he starts to get upset, you allow him to think he can have his way. The rest sounds good. Treats and a little farther each time. Or you could do the opposite. Work his butt off next to his friends, and let him relax away from them. Then he'll associate friends with work, and being alone with rest and treats if you choose.
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I have a rope in my pony studs stall that hangs from the rafters.
And that's how I tie him. From above, so when he's being an idiot, he won't get hurt or mess anything up.


Depending on how your barn is you could do something like that.
I wouldn't try tying him to a wall cause he can pull back on that and get hurt it break stuff.


But if you have the ability to do what I said. I'd tie him when it's time to put them out and bring him out last. If he's tied he can't get away/bust the door open.

And don't let him go till he chills out.

Sounds like he could use some work with patients.