Stall Behavior

Question
Hi, I have a 4-year-old quarter horse gelding named Peanut. I've had him for a little over a year. He has great ground manners, but when he's in his stall, he can be very dangerous. Especially when he has food. He has an outdoor run attatched to his stall and i work with him about 4-5 time a week. I have a feeling some of the stall cleaners may be mistreating him, but i do not know for sure. When i go to his stall, i talk to him first and let him know it's just me, and then i open the door and he tries to kick as much as he can, usually i can't even get near him until after a lot of coaxing and convincing. Everyday it gets worse and worse. I just don't want anyone to get hurt because although he is bad in his stall, he's a dream when he's out of it. What can I do?

Answer
Hi Mariah!

Yikes!!!  This behavior is extreme!  Horses can become territorial about their space and food but not like this!  It is time for a conference with the barn owner and make some drastic changes in who is allowed into Peanut's stall until this problem is solved.  It is very difficult to be in a boarding barn with many different people handling your horse.  It has been my experience that some people hired to clean stalls and care for horses have very little horse skill and end up creating a mess just because they too are trying to survive.

If the problem is getting worse...stop everything, the path you are on is NOT working.  Do not allow anyone into Peanut's stall unless they are going to do exactly what you ask them to do and have the skill to do it.  NO ONE should be cleaning the stall while Peanut is there.  Catch Peanut up and put him out in his pasture or run and close the door while the stall is being cleaned.   This is a simple change but will make a huge difference in your geldings behavior.  He may be feeling trapped and insecure enough to kick and try and protect himself if people are trying to clean while he is in his house.  

With the feeding issues, if he were my horse, I would halter him and make him part of the feeding process.  I would  make sure my ground work was top notch first!  He would be respectful and obedient.  I would go get his hay with him on the lead.  We have a hay cart at my barn and a horse with food issues would have to go on feeding duty with me while I fed all the other horses and laid out his feed.  Finally, he would be led back to his stall and asked to stand quietly until I left BEFORE he was able to come forward and eat.  If he was rude are aggressive, I would halter him again, I would NOT be angry or frustrated, and I would put him to work.  No big deal just get going on my ground work until my horse relaxed and developed a more obedient attitude.  I would NEVER hit him as punishment, I would simply put him to work.

Another thought is to feed him several times during the day so he is not getting so hungry between feedings.   I would have him fed had 3-4 times per day so he has small amounts to snack on throughout the day.  This may make a huge difference for him as well.  Make sure he is maintaining proper weight and condition and is not feeling starved during the course of the day.  I like to feed horses as natural as possible.  Horses are grazers and their whole digestive tract is set up to process small amounts of food all day long, not two huge feedings that are convenient for humans!

I would also pay a visit to the barn at different times during the day and carefully watch all caretakers.  I would not allow anyone to hit my horse as punishment after the negative behavior has already happened.  You have to change the behavior BEFORE it happens not after.  If your horse bites you and you hit him it only sets up a war between you and your horse that will cause both of you to lose in the long run.  If you stand out of your horses reach he cannot bite you!  A simple concept that the human has a hard time understanding!  If my horse is giving me respectful distance and if I am aware of horse body language, I cannot be bitten, kicked or run over.  I am aware of how my horse is thinking and feeling and what he is telling me.  I can then change any negative behavior before it goes so far as to become a kick or a bite.

If you talk to the barn owners and you limit the number of people that are in contact with Peanut, it will be easier to solve the problems that are happening.  Make sure that the person caring for your horse is someone you really trust and that will be aware of your horse and be respectful of him.  I just have a feeling that someone has started some very unfair punishment and Peanut is just defending himself.  Check things out.  If the barn is not willing to work with you it may be time for a change.  

Keep me posted.  I'm hoping you find some answers and can get going on re-building Peanut's trust and manners!

Smiles!  Denise

Hi Mariah!  I noticed the answer has not yet been read!  How are things going???