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My mare is having a real tough time in the new barn

3K views 49 replies 14 participants last post by  BreezylBeezyl 
#1 ·


Day 4 now and Ive been bringing her into the barn everyday so she can get used to it. I just tie her and do what I have to do. Because she has to get used to it, I started off with just light stuff at first, so she would only be tied for 10mins the first couple days.

This barn is considerably smaller than the old one. The first time I brought her in, she was snorting non stop and looking behind her shoulder like crazy. I knew she doesnt like how narrow the barn grooming stations are and how dark it is inside even with the lights on. She feels uncomfortable with the stalls behind her being so dark and not knowing whats inside. When I bring her in, every single time she will immediately pop her head over the first stall to see whats inside.

Ive been thinking of picking up a work lamp to turn on when I bring her in but my trainer says to stop babying her and that she just needs time.

Yesterday when I had her in there she was pretty good but there was also lessons going on and a few other horses tied along the isle so she easily kept herself distracted.

In the old barn, she had to adjust and when I first brought her in, she was constantly shifting back and fourth from side to side, making it literally impossible for me to groom her. And this is with a barn with a lot more light and more space.

But over time, she got a lot better and actually got quite good in terms of standing tied. Still room for improvement but a huge difference from the first day she was tied in there.

Well Im a bit worried about whether or not she will get comfortable with the new barn. I brought her in tonight to take off her blanket, give her a light brush, put more fly spray on and put the blanket back on.Well it took a lot longer than expected cause she wouldnt stand still.

The fact there was no other horses inside, it made her feel uncomfortable. She kept calling for the other horses and didnt know where they were. So once I finished what I was doing, I untied her and off we went. I only had her tied for maybe 20mins but I was with her the whole time.

The new barn is pretty narrow. When I tie her, I cant tie with too much slack or she will be able to back up and run out of space behind her. Even with not much slack in the lead when tied, when she stands facing the tie hook, her butt will just about touch the stall doors behind her. If there is shovels or anything there, I need to move them. This barn would be too small IMO for 16hh horses.

My goal has always been to be able to get her to stand tied with her facing the tie hook. But with the new place, it wont work cause I cant get behind her. I would have to get her to stand at like 45 degree angles as I groom her on each side. Bit of an adjustment, but its one of the sacrifices i just have to make with the new place. No barn will be perfect.

I was speaking with my new trainer last night and it looks like this will be my first lesson with her. This is what I requested because I feel I need to get her comfortable when tied in the new barn. So we will be bringing a lesson horse in with her and that horse will stand tied right next to mine, to give her support.

Anyone have any suggestions on what I can do to make it less uncomfortable for her when tying her inside the barn?
 
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#2 ·
it's only been four days. I'd give her a little more time to adjust. If you're worrying about her the whole time she's tied in the barn she's going to feed off of you and be nervous.

You're micro managing her too much. Easy to do with a first horse :) sometimes you have to take a step back and let them hash things out.
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#3 ·
Do you think it would be better for me to just maybe bring her in the barn the next few days, tie her but dont do anything with her? Just let her stand tied for a bit while I stay close by doing something else and then off we go?

That way Im not near here to make her feel nervous or any pressure. She can prance around all she wants, if it makes her feel more comfortable each time we go inside.

Maybe with me brushing her, she feels it as pressure in an uncomfortable space for her. Cause I mean if Im having to constantly shift her hind back and fourth, over and over, its no fun for either of us and I should probably just not groom or do anything with her for the next few days while tied in the barn.
 
#7 ·
In the old barn, over time I got her to tie without any pulling or setting back. But she would still prefer to stand with her barrel to the stall doors so she can see straight down the isle.

Even though she was only there for 3 months, she actually got quite comfortable with the place. But it was also a lot bigger and had a lot more light passing through.

What I like the most about the new barn is that its a sanded floor and no cement. No more sweeping yay! And my horse likes to paw, so I will no longer need to buy a rubber mat for her. The sand wont be bad for her hooves like the cement would in the old barn.

I would always make sure there are other horses in the barn.

Agree to just go slow and act normal and not worry about it. She's adjusting it's a new place!
I thought about it and decided that for the next few days at least, Im going to just take her into the barn, tie her for maybe 15 mins and not do anything with her. I'll stay close by but I will let her just stand there and get herself more acquanted with the new barn. If she wants to look around and snort, she can do it all she wants if it makes her more comfortable.

It would be nice if another horse was inside with her but if not, then theres not much I can do about it.

But because there was a few other horses and a few other people in the barn yesterday, that would clearly explain why she stood well and was quite calm and looked comfortable with her surroundings, than today where she was calling for other horses.
 
#5 ·
Your trainer is correct, stop babying her. Why is it uncomfortable for her, is she standing on broken glass? LOL. She is fine, and to groom her, move her around, she should accommodate YOU, not the other way around. Relax and enjoy.
 
#9 ·
Honestly I really wouldn't push the issue until AFTER she's settled. When she's settled she can deal with being alone but I wouldn't do both at the same time.
But if im grooming her (or even putting fly spray on) and shes constantly shifting from left to right and I constantly have to move her back to where she was, you dont think that annoys that or puts pressure on her?

I would think by just leaving her tied and not doing anything makes her feel more comfortable no?

You can't arrange a time when another horse is in?
Not if anyone isnt there as thats what happened tonight.
 
#10 ·
Tell her to quit. Use a strong voice, not yelling, or panicky, but with force. If she is tied high, where she cannot set back, then just leave her there. Give her a good 30- 45 minutes alone. She KNOWS you are there. Horses survive in the wild because they know what is ALL around them, behind bushes, in the trees, etc.

If you are telling her easy...easy...don't get upset, honey, settle down, easy, darling....you are FEEDING her fear. Rewarding her misbehavior. When she dances, tell her to QUIT.
 
#11 ·
I never reward her for not standing still tied. I use a strong voice and always say quit or stop it and she will listen sometimes.

The last time I worked with her on her patience was when I ended up having to tie her for just over an hour. At 40mins she was pawing her heart out and was getting furious. I let her stand some more and eventually she quieted down and I untied her.

What should I do when I leave her tied?
 
#16 ·
Saddlebag is correct - however if the horse respects and trusts you it will follow you anywhere.

Tie her and leave her. Go away and have a coffee, clean your tack, your car, paint the barn, just let her stand until she is totally relaxed, then go and do whatever and turn her out.

Let her learn she can be on her own without a dragon coming along to eat her.
 
#18 ·
Took her in tonight and there was another horse there so I put them two tie hooks from each other. My girl stood really well! She still pawed once but I untied her after I left her be for about 25mins. I feel her having another horse near her gave her comfort. She didnt call out while in the barn like last night. What a world of a difference having another horse in there with her makes.

When I went to take her blanket off and put fly spray on, she was still very shifty, constantly going back and fourth left and right. I would still continue to move her hind over to where she was and she would shift it right after few seconds later. I just dont know how to get her to stand still. Im leaning towards having this as my first lesson with my new trainer on Saturday
 
#19 ·
One of the big things I'm working on with my mare is learning to stand tied. I take her next door, tie her to the fence and go hang out with the neighbours. She doesn't get untied until she's standing still relaxed.
Then we go off on another adventure. She gets tied all kinds of places now. If I'm working another horse she comes out and gets tied near the round yard, or the arena, next door, out the back of the house, middle of the backyard, tied up to the horse float. She has been taught to tie well first obviously and will not pull back but can dance sometimes when tied and left in a new environment. Not for very long now and less and less each time before she basically just has a nap. Sounds like your horse has more of a being tied up problem then a problem with the barn per say.
 
#20 ·
yes my mare has more of a problem of being tied up than the new barn itself, but the new barn (with it being much smaller) does play a factor. It definitely doesnt help the cause.

How I found this out was when I would brush her in the arena (at the old barn) with just having her lead in my hand or under my arm. I did this 4 times and each time she stood just about completely still. She would still take a step here and there but she wasnt shifty at all left to right and so on.
 
#21 ·
So start out easy, take her somewhere safe that she's comfortable and tie her up. Don't untie her until she's standing quietly, usually one back hoof is cocked in the resting position and they look very bored/relaxed. It's easy for me because I have other horses so its nothing to have another horse tied for an hour or more while working with others. Just be smart about it. Don't tie in the blazing sun or freezing rain. Tying up is not a punishment and shouldn't be uncomfortable for them. It's just a fact of life and they need to get used to it. Once she ties well in that location bring her somewhere else rinse repeat.
 
#22 ·
Also worth noting that every time you tie her and she carries on until you untie her you are reinforcing that behaviour. It will only get worse and worse until you teach her that the only way she will get untied is to stand quietly. You also may find she escilates the behaviour before settling. Every time you interact with your horse you are teaching them something. Right now she thinks being tied means pawing, moving around, looking at stuff, then gets untied and continues on. If she doesn't get untied for presenting the same behaviour she always has its only natural for her to try harder to get untied which means more pawing, more jigging, more calling ect. standing quietly is a completely different behaviour so she might need to be tied for quite some time until she quits trying to get untied and just relaxes.
 
#23 ·
good example thanks. I feel I can do this on my own and not nessecarily as a lesson since I might need to have a few hours of my free time free (just in case). It would be best if i did this on a Sat or Sun morning as there will be more traffic in the barn so she will constantly have company from other horses.

I cant do it with her the only horse in the barn, at least not to start.

The only way to get her to stand tied is to have her distracted on something. If theres a lesson going on, she will watch and she stands tied as easy as pie.

Her previous owner says shes only been able to get her to ground tie quietly for 15mins due to her short attention span. She has trouble staying interested in one thing before losing focus and interest and moving on.
 
#29 ·
Time, and repetition
That means you tie her up for an hour at least, or until she is standing quietly.
She has never been taught to really tie, but has been babied, getting un tied when she fusses, having another horse, or you to baby sit her, and with a program like this, you will never be able to tie her , and trust to leave her, nor tie her in new locations etc.
Show horses go to new barns all the time, accept to work in strange arenas, so she does not need to settle in.She calls for the other horses, thus has never been taught to accept being tied up by herself-something I feel very,very strongly every horse needs to learn.
 
#30 ·
by the way, in case you don't know, horses have much better night vision than we do.
Yes, they have to adjust for a few minutes, going from bright light to dim, but your mare can see as well in that barn, then she would with you bringing in more light

Here is some info from Equus:

Horses have excellent night vision, and on a night lit by a partial moon or by bright stars alone, normally sighted horses can see as well as you do in full daylight.

Riding in the dark does make some riders queasy, but mounted horses are perfectly capable of safely negotiating open fields and lightly wooded areas after sunset. The extreme darkness of dense woods and those rare pitch-black nights isn't entirely suitable for riding, but in familiar territory your horse can navigate well enough when you allow him to choose his own path.

Horses require approximately 15 minutes for their vision to adjust when moving between differently lighted environments. Remain on familiar paths and keep to a slow pace after emerging from a brightly lighted barn for an unlighted evening ride or when turning horses out for the night.

Sudden brightness takes an equal amount of adjustment, as you notice each time you flip the barn light switch for the predawn feeding: Every occupant squints and blinks until his eyes adapt
- See more at: Your Horse's Night Vision | EQUUS Magazine
 
#31 ·
Thanks I will tie her up tonight and go from there. Should I consider her moving from side to side as part of not standing tied?

If thats the case, then each time she moves side to side or paws, I will probably allow 5mins to pass before I untie her (taking it that she stands quiet in that 5mins). Does that sound reasonable?
 
#35 ·
Leave her tied longer. She will eventually quit shifting her weight, or paw, ect
Immediately un tying her, just because she quits for a few moments, is not enough
I also believe that if you are going to teach a horse to tie, that knows how to give to pressure, then tie them-not loop the lead shank , or 'pretend ' to tie them
When I am training horses, they get tied up, after being worked, in a safe place and left. They will learn that fussing, pawing , shifting weight, is all futile , and , yes, they can learn to stand there quietly, but rushing to untie them the minute they pause in pawing or fussing, is not it
After they stand there quietly for at least an hour, is the time to reward
 
#32 ·
If I'm working with my horse, and he's tied, and he constantly shifts from side to side, then I have a problem.

Shifting once or twice is okay, but constantly until it's annoying? No, I don't put up with that.

In this case I loose tie him, so he thinks he's tied but I can undo it in a blink. Then I go about what I was doing. It might be grooming him, fussing with his mane, moving the tack closer in anticipation for riding, whatever. He shifts from side to side again and again, I say "QUIT" (this is my warning). He continues, and that lead rope is untied, in my hand and he's backing up QUICK.

Then he's tied again and I go back to what I was doing. He shifts, and it's QUIT, and if he doesn't it's back! Back! Back!

I make him work. :wink: It doesn't take long for him to realize it's easier to stand there quietly, not shifting, than it is to fuss around and get backed up.
 
#34 ·
I'm sorry that this post is so blunt, but I have a different opinion on this matter that has consistently worked for me; I don't believe in the whole 'adjusting' period, especially if it persists for more than 2 days. I'm a no-nonsense horseperson and I think that you need to stop trying to accommodate her feelings. The more you dote on her about this, the less confident she will become. You are essentially acknowledging her insecurity and trying to cater to it, which is the wrong way to go about this.

When she misbehaves (looking around, jigging, crying out, etc) you must reprimand her for this IMMEDIATELY. The only way the horse will learn what she is and isn't permitted to do is if you tell her. When she throws a tantrum, get really stern and loud. Yell "Quit!" at her, and get her attention. Make sure she is looking at you - you must demand her respect and get her worrying about you, not everything else going on in the barn.

If she will not pay attention to you, grab a crop and smack it against your boot or the wall, wave it in the air, etc. The noise should be enough to bring her back to her senses. If she is not considering your space when she becomes nervous, swinging her hindquarters into you when you are trying to groom her etc, MAKE her move that butt over. Take a hold of her halter and make her look at you, and with your other arm wave the crop and MAKE her move. Keep her tied and keep doing your daily business with her, consistently correcting her when needed, until she stands still and is relaxing - head lowered, eyes soft, a hind foot cocked... Preferably on the verge of falling asleep.

A respectful horse gives you two eyes. A respectful horse pays attention to you and patiently awaits your next move. Your horse lacks basic ground manners and respect for you, but I feel that is because you are not demanding it nearly as much as you should.

Stop trying to cater to her insecurities and change your perspective on this.. Rid yourself of the idea that your horse needs 'time to adjust'. My mare is a show horse and I expect her to be on her best behavior at all times, no matter what new arena or barn we are at. I don't have time for that nonsense when I'm getting ready for a show, and neither should you.
 
#37 ·
What the heck is loose tied? A horse is either tied or he is not tied

Okay, just read response. Loose tied to me is not the same as tying with a quick release knot, as that is just the sensible way to tie any horse! You certainly don't tie with a knot you have to cut loose, should the reason to do so, in an emergency, arise !
 
#38 ·
Everyone wants this mystical cookie cutter horse

There's a saying that goes 'Make the right thing easy and the wrong thing hard'

Stop expecting 100% immediately and allow the horse some adjustment time and make that right thing easy. Yes some horses will settle in straightaway but anyone who expects all horses to do that is going to be very disappointed when they get the one that doesn't
You horse isn't acting up to annoy you, I doubt the poor thing even realizes its being naughty, its just reacting in the only way it knows how
Yes teach it to do the right thing but don't punish it for doing something it doesn't even know is wrong or you'll end up with a neurotic mess on your hands that's got no trust in you at all.
 
#40 ·
Nice! Horses a pretty much happy when they are being left alone. Once she learns that being tied is nice, because she doesn't have to work, she just has to stand there, she'll be a lot more relaxed. Unfortunately we can talk to the horse and explain that to them, so it just takes time for them to figure that out.


I just want to commend you on your excellent attitude and willingness to try new things. Not very many people would take the criticisms that you have, without jumping up to defend themselves. Don't stress so much about doing every little thing perfect. You already have the most necessary quality for becoming a good horseman -- the desire to learn and improve, and the ability to hear corrections and try applying them. Keep at it :) Hopefully this new trainer is a good one and you can stick with her for a while!
 
#41 ·
One hour now tied and shes been pawing her heart out for the past few mins. Ive been telling her to quit, stop, wacking the whip against the barn door. She wont stop.

Even untied her a couple times and backed her down the isle and back up a few times. Then retie her.
 
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