Frightened Of His Rug??

[rusk]

My daft horse has decided that he is scared of his rug!!:rolleyes:
He hasn't had one on for a year or two but this year he has had a virus and I was a bit worried about him so don't want to take any chances. Every time he gets it on or off he spooks at it and snorts as if it's going to attack him. I thought it would wear off after TWO weeks but he's still at it!!

[Jay.o]

Baeu os affraid of rugs aswell but we found out why !

Is you rug waterproof so it makes that 'swishy' noise ?

If it is that is maybe what hes affraid of - we had to buy a new one and but a seperate waterproof on top that didnt make a noise !

[virtuallyhorses]

Is he wearing his rug all the time? If so just ignore him, swishing noise or not he'll eventually learn to ignore it. He can't spook at it 24hrs a day, he'd wear himself out.

If not, and he's just wearing it during a limited turnout period and causing a real ruckus when you put it on:

Try putting his feed in\on it. It never ceases to amaze me how much my spooky TB will ignore if there's food involved! :D

Start with it folded and just stick the bucket on top - then leave him to it, he can choose the food or not. Try new positions and folds, over doorways etc etc each time he's fed. He'll eventually get over it. The important thing is not to make a big deal about it -

[ggabby]

My little mare ,use to hate her rug been put on, when i first bought her. I allways had to tie her up, to put her rugs on ,she would try and kick you if you didnt. I first got her use to one of those anti rub vests. which are easy to get on and off. rewarding her all the time she was good, after puting it on and off ,about six times every time i went into her stable she got board of making a fuss,i then carried on with her stable rug, she is very good now ,and will stand in her stable untied whilst i change her rugs. i am sure her fear was caused by ill fitting rugs ,in her past.

[Waikato Valuta]

My horse was scared of rugs in the past but is a lot better now. He has always been a spooky sort of horse and will not let you put the rug on unless he is tied up. I think some of the problem is that he is being naughty and i just ignore it.

[Karenr]

My mare Cassie (see posting in General "look at me in my first rug") was terrified of rugs 3 weeks ago. If you took a rug into the stable she flew round throwing her legs in all directions. In the end I went in the next day put on her head collar, clipped the rope on the nearside which is where I was going to stand, brought in a fleece folded nice and small. When I tried to put it onto her shoulder she started flying round, but because I had the rope on the side of her head collar I could control her pulling her around me, also this meant I didn't get hurt. So she quickly realised she couldn't get away from me or the rug - I didn't hurt her and I spoke to her the whole time, and you eed to remain really calm and quiet. When she stood still she was praised, then after about 5 mins I got the fleece on her, we practised this for a few days until I could go into the stable and just put the fleece on.

Of course as soon as you bring in another rug it is soooo different it is frightening! Anyway she will now stand still with a head collar on but not tied up and have her rug put on. I did have problems taking it off too, so I used the same method - they soon realise that they are using an awful lot of energy for no reason and that you are not really going to hurt them - and ultimately horses can be very lazy! With Cass I made took off the leg straps initially, but even now I make sure when the rug goes on or off they are done up so there is no chance of them being caught round her legs and frightening her.

Just think positively and be patient with your horse, you'll get there.

[Cathy Reynolds]

Just a thought - we noticed Henry was backing off his rug the other day, just thought he had the grumps. Looked closer last night (we have power back!) and felt skin carefully and you can see/feel a load of lumps that clearly hurt. Vet coming tomorrow (and apologies to Henry, who is trying his best to get me to understand how he feels). So, just check all over Rusk, that there are no bumps or sores anywhere.