Part 3 of our training, being inside with the stable gate shut.
It is time to get 'Mr F' used to being inside with the stable gate shut. At first he was not happy about it at all and panicked quite a bit, pacing up and down, with much snorting and puffing. At some point he even slipped a little and that right away made alarm bells ring in my head!! Oh no, not that again. It's when he gets to the front of the stable, where he knows the gate opens. He paces left and right throwing his neck in frustration. That is when he slipped, just a little. It's no good.
I had to get some rubber mats to put down at the front and so spent all evening looking online for mats. However, due to the weight of these mats, postage costs understandably where very steep, making it all too much for my budget. The next day I asked some of the local agricultural and pet stores but they all were expensive too. Then I remembered a place near where I used to live some years ago, only about half an hours drive. I rang and yes they said they had rubber mats and it was the best price by far, even cheaper than any of the online shops (excluding postage). Off I went to look at the mats. They where prefect. And heavy! Two guys had to lift the mats one by one into my car. The weight was very noticable when I drove back. Unloading was a little tricky as they were quite cumbersome. 'Mandy' came to give me a hand.
I was very pleased with the quality of the mats. Now I had removed any possible danger from the stable, non-slip mats, thick layer of straw, boarded gates. The only way now that 'Mr F' could hurt himself is if he tries to jump out! While he sure has the physic and agility to do so, even he, with what little self preservation he has, will know that it is NOT a good move. For some things he has to take responsibility.
Newly added rubber mats, which had to be very carefully examined by 'Mr F'
I went to fetch him and as it was late I took him straight into the stable. 'WHAT is that on the floor\!?' Much snorting and most careful examination. I think if those mats would have moved at any moment, he would have leapt into my arms in fright! 'Mr F' continued to walk around on the mats, in a kind of 'silly walk' way, lifting his feet up high as though he was walking on hot coal. I can only guess the many small 'bobble's on the surface must feel a little weird under his frogs. Then he saw another horse being lead to one of the other stable buildings and he began pacing around again.
The key lesson here for me is to NOT react to whatever he is doing. I used to get furious when he was acting up because I couldn't get through to him. I didn't understand his language in the past, nor did I understand or realise that he actually was training me because he had learnt that I would react to his tantrums, usually in a way that favoured him.
It's no good landing up with two angry beings, one 10 times the weight of the other, it's not going to end well and it never going to provide a solid solution to a tricky situation. Furthermore, when in anger I don't see what IS and miss important details.
Over the nearly 5 years with 'Mr F' I learnt that the most effective answer to his tantrums is to do the opposite of what he expects. One of the most irritating habits he had and still a little bit displays at times is to push into me. To nudge me with his head, to push me like he does with his pasture mates when he wants them to move.
As he approaches me again trying to nudge me I turn right at him and start rubbing his nose. 'WHAT?! You can't do that ... now hang on ... hmmm ... quite nice ...' Puzzled by this unexpected move of mine he froze in his step and looked at me perplexed. Of course he isn't one for giving in so I had to repeat this several times until he got tired of it and stopped fidgeting. Bare in mind I do trust him implicitly and have learnt to read his body language like a book. For me this was a perfectly safe thing to do. He was now acceptably calm, at least enough to end today's session on a positive note. Don't push it too far even if things go well at first. I have done this in the past and learnt the hard way. (see the posts 'communication breakdown' some years back).
The back of the stable, I am in progress of spreading out more straw to make the layer thicker, just in case 'Mr F' is ready to stay in.
Also note the board mounted to the gate to stop him getting his legs stuck.
Well it seems that the stable visits weren't that positive in 'Mr F's opinion. He is now pulling his trump card: the 'catch me if you can' game!
The following evening I enter the field as usual, holding out the head collar with attached rope to signal 'Mr F' that I wish for him to join me. While he usually would leisurely make his way towards me, today he takes one look at me, then shakes his head in anger at 'Dolly'. 'Mr F' wants her to move because he doesn't want to escape on his own. I have witnessed this behaviour many times in the past and only now do I realise why he shoos the others first. He will do that to all if there are more in one field with him.
They both race to the hill top, 'Mr F' pushing 'Dolly' ahead making sure she doesn't turn around. I have no other choice than to walk all the way up to fetch him. 'Great! You fool! I am in a good mind to leave you out here all bloody freezing winter!' I mutter under my breath
'Dolly' is trying to make her way back downhill but 'Mr F' isn't letting her past; he is keeping her trapped up on the top! Once I get to the both of them, 'Mr F' looks pretty smug: 'Oh hello, you look a little angry. What's the matter?' - 'I tell you whats the matter in a minute! (Never mind, keep calm!)'.
But I have a few tricks up my sleeve too: rather than walking towards him, which is what he expects me to do, I walk away from him over to the side and busy myself with something on the floor near the stone wall. I can almost hear him think ... 'What is she up to now?' And so he can't help but come and check out what I am up to, forgetting all about that I am here to fetch him. As he is right next to me, I get up, stroke his neck and put his head collar on. At that moment he realises what's going to happen. I calmly talk to him (not that he understands the words but the sound of the voice matters). As I step out he follows willingly but with a sigh, all on loose lead rope. Secretly I hope that 'Dolly' doesn't make a dash past us down the hill now that she knows 'Mr F' can't stop her. I didn't fancy a dancing 'Mr F' at the end of the rope. 'Dolly' didn't dash past us, instead she followed a few steps behind at the same pace as us.
We make our way all the way back down the field and continue with our stable training.
The two youngsters are now also inside when I and 'Mr F' turn up. The little ones are comfortable by now in their compartments. It's time to see what 'Mr F' does when he sees them. I lead him into his compartment and 'Rookie', who is in the compartment next to 'Mr F', comes straight up to greet 'Mr F'. 'Rookie' does what I have seen another foal do before when it met 'Mr F'; it does a kind of open mouth chewing. It is as though it is asking 'Mr F' to not be aggressive. I don't see it as submissive, rather as a 'who are you and please be nice'. They touch noses a few times and after a few seconds 'Mr F' stretches his neck and passes on a 'warning' bite. It looks mean but it's just what he does with all horses he meets first. He doesn't draw blood, its just a somewhat gentle nip. In response 'Rookie' immediately presents his rear end to 'Mr F' and 'Mr F' proceeds to have a good sniff all over, including the young foals genitals; 'Mr F's long neck just about allows him to stretch this far over the stable dividers. 'Rookie' very willingly stands still while this takes part. This happens a few times over the next couple of days.
The other scenario that repeats itself is his rather annoying 'catch me if you can' game. 'Mr F' proceeds to run off me entering with the head collar. If I entered the field without it, he as usual comes to say hello. He very clearly was letting me know he wasn't going to partake in any further stable training at free will. 'Well, tough, you ARE coming. You will be glad once the weather turns harsh.'
Towards the end of the week we have been able to extend our staying time in the stable to nearly an hour, with 'Mr F' being now calm and enjoying some of his favourite treat: a meadow blend grass block - simply compressed forage, without added sugar or additives.
Info: https://justfeeds.co.uk/products/just-fi-block/
These blocks where his best friends during his recovery time after his injury. You can see it in the above pictures; it's the 'thing' hanging next to the haylage net in one of the above photographs. It's basically a boredom breaker, something interesting in the stable. His face has such a satisfied expression when he chews his way through one of these. I have attached it with a string at the bottom so it stays on his side of the stable. Young 'Rookie' only too keenly hoovers up the crumbs that make it to his side of the stable floor and he had figured out how to get hold of it before I double tied it.
'Mr F' is still not very accommodating with 'Rookie' but every now and then looks at him rather kindly. My guess is that he is just telling a youngster 'Look, I am the boss here.' 'Rookie' also does the open mouth chewing when I turn up. He didn't do that back when he arrived here though. It must have something to do with being in here with 'Mr F'.
And today was the best result so far: 'Mr F' stood calm and didn't make things awkward when I went about with attending to his hooves / frogs for the first time inside his stable. I was most relieved! For a moment I considered leaving him in over night but a gut feeling told me to just continue with this training a little longer to make sure.
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