Question: I have recently bought a 9 yr old Saddlebred Mare. She was never stalled regularly from birth. I plan on showing her in 2016, and am having extreme difficulty in stalling her for short periods of time. We have tried feeding her in the stall. She will eat her grain, but as soon as the grain is gone, and hay is left she weaves terribly. She has other horses in the stalls next to her. She doesn\'t seem to be herd bound or attached to her pasture mate. She is pastured all the time except for working and eating. She will walk in the stall and as soon as you take the halter off she\'s run over you weaving, before working herself into a dead sweat. I don\'t want to stall her permanently, but it would be nice if she could quietly stall for 2-3 days as that is how long the longest shows are that I participate in. I( have attempted quietex paste, and it didn\'t help. I have about 120 days before the first overnight show. Please help!!
Short of that, you have to make being in a stall a good deal for her, and that may be difficult. Horses are a herd species, and they require other horses for security and contentment. Your horse does not accept solitary confinement, as is her nature at her previously uninhibited age. Regards, Sid Gustafson DVM |
Dr Gustafson is a practicing veterinarian, equine behavior educator, and novelist. The application of behavior science enhances optimum health, performance, soundness, contentment, and longevity in animal athletes. Behavioral and nutritional strategies enrich the lives of stabled horses. Training and husbandry from the horse's perspective result in content, cooperative horses who are willing to learn and perform.
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