Yesterday I was just about as stressed out as my horse was. We live out in the country and it seemed that everyone around us decided yesterday was a great day to site in their guns or target practice for the upcoming deer season. My horse is scared to death of the sound of guns going off, even if far off in the distance. He was galloping through his pasture non stop, so I finally was able to coax him into the barn and lock him into his stall, where all he did was pace and dance from side to side, until he got totally sweaty. I've never seen him like that before, even when my husband and son are target practicing, he was never ever that bad before. It really surprised me to see him that way and I stayed in the barn with him and even put on the radio to help blur the noise some. And when my husband or son is out usually our horse will get locked up in the stall until they are done, but he will stand at his window and watch them and be fine with it. (maybe because he can actually see them?)
Any other horse owners out there with suggestions on how to keep him calm during times like these?
I take it that he doesn't have a pasture mate? Horse's are herd animals and when they live alone, they tend to be more paranoid than if they live in a herd environment. He has to take care of himself 100% of the time and can't depend on another horse to watch out for danger.
Since you can't control what other people do with their guns, the only thing I can think of is systematic desensitization. That means, keeping him in a safe place where he can't escape or hurt himself and then expose him to those sounds everyday until he stops fretting.
By any chance, was it a windy day? The wind can increase nervousness in some horses. Maybe check out the Horse Lovers Group and see if you can get some more ideas.
When you have a special needs child, it is like floating in the ocean. You will have highs when you ride the top of the wave and move forward and lows when the wave crashes over you and sucks you back. As you are riding a low wave of sadness, frustration & disappointment, just keep in mind the next wave will take you back up and move you forward once more.
Condutive Education Information Sharing at: http://www.cafemom.com/group/50043/
No, he doesn't have a pasture mate yet, however we are planning to get another horse once my husband gets back to work. It wasn't windy that day, but since our neighbors were shooting the sounds were close, but he cant see them as we are surrounded by a corn field. He seems to be fine if my son and husband are out target practicing, but I'm thinking it's because he can see them. I always put him in his stall when they are out target practicing, which they don't do too often, and my horse will watch out his window and not even act spooked at all. But on this particular day nothing could console him and locking him in his stall seemed to make it worse, that he broke out in a horrible sweat. When I let him back out to pasture, he was fine. Thanks for your suggestion though, it sounds like a good idea.
a loss
- hightideatsea
on Nov. 11, 2009 at 7:16 AM