Whats he doing?

[Stable_Mate]

My parents keep two of their horses at a yard which has a mystery case.

There is a young bay who has developed a habit. Whenever someone comes to the stable door he sticks his head over the door.

Then he stretchs his head out and vigarously shakes it from side to side. Sometimes slobbering. then he box walks for a bit.

Then he does the same thing again and again until you leave. Once you have gone he continues to box walk until he is settled.

The trainer has put it down to the way he was broken in. But I was wondering if anyone could say anything else as to why he does this??

I'm not sure what he is like to ride.

If you do know anything will you please write.
The trainer see potential in him and doesn't mind this headshaking. Just so you know!

[ros]

Well, since no-one else seems to have any ideas...!

I would normally associate that kind of headshaking with "get out of my space" language. Could be through nerves, or could be a bossy "laddy" streak. What's the young chap like generally? Is he nervous, or dominant, or cheeky? His overall attitude to life should probably give you a clue. The box-walking would seem to indicate some sort of agitation. Again, what type is he - restless, or impatient? Is he stabled for long periods? What breed is he?

As for the slobbering, not sure at all what to make of that.

[Piaffe]

Does he stick his tongue out while he shakes his head? My horse, if stressed/worried about something or pleased with himself will shake his head up and down or in a weaving motion with his tongue hanging out - he also moves his bottom jaw about at the same time!! Apparently his dad used to do the same thing as he crossed the winning line of a race!!

It took me about a year to work out why he did this! Most horse behaviour means something - I would agree with Ros that he is probably impatient to be let out. You will probably find that this horse is not a bad ride once out of his stable. A lot of horses just do not like being stabled - lets face it, it's not natural!

I doubt there is much you can do to stop this behaviour, except to allow him as much freedom as you can and keep him occupied while in the stable - ie, plenty of hay. I keep my horse out for as long as possible during the day and he is in at night in the winter. In summer, he lives out. I've had him five years now and the behaviour he displayed when I first got him has become less noticeable.

Hope this helps!

[ros]

I'm not so sure that it's impatience to be let out in this case, as much as intolerance of others in his personal space. I suspect (and it is only a suspicion, I have to say) that he feels uncomfortable at people approaching his stable because, confined, he can't move away and keep them at what he deems a reasonable distance. But this is where his general attitude needs to be considered, because if he's the friendly, confident sort, I'm probably completely wrong!

[Wally]

This is a horse under stress, he needs more turn out, it's not unusual for horses to develope silly behaviour in the stable to try and keep himself sane.

You will have seen polar bears and lions in zoos, who are kept in small spaces, doing similar box walking behaviour.

This is a horse in need of open spaces and no humans to cramp his style.

Horses NEED to be OUTSIDE. We think of stables as warm safe places because we are nest builders. Horses are plain dwellers, they need to see the horizon, they need to feel they can run if they need to. Too many people confuse their comforts with that of the horse's.

This por animal is suffering, he needs OUT.

[Meg]

Amen, Wally! I know a lot of horse people that need to learn that lesson.