Anybody else not like turning out???

[Trewsers]

Hi all, how do you all go on turning your horses out? I'm new to it as we bought ours during the winter and there is no turnout on our yard then. Sometimes I find it quite difficult like this morning when there were other horses already in the field - they get sooo excited !!! Is it just practice that makes it easer? I've been doing it for about a month now and its not really getting much better :( I'm still scared of the leccy fence which doesn't help....

[Stella2]

I remember what all that worry was like. Unless you have a particularly nasty horse in the field to deal with, after a while it just feels pretty straightforward :)

[eventerbabe]

practise and confidence. my mum used to hate turning out my horse on a morning as he can be very, very naughty and strong, but when she was forced to do it 5 days a week when i was away at uni she soon got used to it.

[Peace]

And pretend to be her! ;) For example, there will be *no* pulling on the human, and if there is, the equine miscreant will halt and back up a few steps and halt again before being allowed to walk forward. :) Oh, and horses already in the field will *not* bunch up at the gate. I raise my arm to shoo them back a few yards and let them wait for their friends from a little distance.

Then walk through the gate and be sure to turn the horse to face you before you release him! That way, if he kicks out playfully he'll be less likely to catch you with a hoof in the process.

Oh, and turn off the electric fence while turning out if it makes you feel better at first - just don't forget to plug it back in! ;) I still do this, after accidentally shocking Quanah once when turning him out! :eek:

[Trewsers]

Thanks guys - hopefully by the time next summer comes around I'll be all confident and easy with this! :D My horses aren't particularly naughty, Storm can be a bit eager first thing in a morning :D but its the others that scare me, I shooed them away this morning - I guess I'll get the hang of it.... Good idea about turning the fence off whilst I do it though.

[Horsey_Nina]

Can you not persuade someone to come with you when turning out? That way you can lead the horse and the helper can open/close gates, shoo away other horses etc - might make you feel a bit more confident?

If the horses do get a bit strong or silly to lead - leading in a bridle over a headcollar (obviously with noseband/browband etc taken off to leave just the headpiece) can give you more control, or if you're really stuck putting the leadrop over the nose will give a bit more control until you get to the field.

But practising lots of in hand leading work will work wonders too - getting you and your horse used to leading, stopping, turning around and waiting for you to remove the headcollar etc will all help improve your confidence, as it will be far, far easier with a cooperative horse!

[StephA]

I know what you mean. Where I am the field is shared with a lady who has 5 MASSIVE horses. I dont mean to be a cow but they are all so naughty and rude...the horses I mean.

When I take Harry in as i open the gate they all rush towards it and it scares my poor baby. I somehow manage to get him in whilst keeping them out (they are all well about the 16hh mark, the biggest being aroung 18hh :eek: ) and holding the gate coz it swings open. Then have to try and get his head collar off with him jumping about.

Then its the same bringing him in...thel all shove me and try and barge through the gate to get out and I swear one day they will get past me. Its quite scary really :(

S x

[Trewsers]

StephA, I know what you mean about them being rude! There is one that shares the field with my girl who is loopy, I mean - it has no concept of the leccy fence, the other day it just kept pressing itself against it (yes it was on too :eek: ) - its a right pain too - nobody likes turning it out or bringing it in. Lucky me having my girl share with it...... oh and its a big chunky thing too!!!