42many
05-31-2009, 08:44 AM
So - I went out to feed the horses this morning and the 3 in the clearspan (open with no stalls) barn have decided that it is "absolutely terrifying".
I have no idea why - last night I fed them in there and they were perfectly normal - this morning they won't touch it with a 40 foot pole. I actually led one in there just to see what was going on, and he snorted and blew and as soon as I took my hand off him (I didn't have a halter on or anything), he shot right back out.
I've searched for animals, stuff on the walls, stuff in the hay, stuff that may smell funny, etc. The only thing I found is that there is a stack of wood behind one of the panels against the wall and it is possible some of the wood fell over, as there are a few that are against the wall instead of on the stack (but I don't know when this happened). These are NOT in the barn area where the horses are, just behind the panel wall of the barn.
I took a horse from a stall in another area and brought him in to see if it was terrifying to him as well - and he had no problem being in there. I gave him a bunch of grain, which lured 2 of the 3 scaredy-horses in. They stayed in there a little while to eat grain, but when another horse neighed loudly they shot out like crazy!
Currently, the 2 scaredy-horses are back in eating and the 1 indifferent horse is also in eating.
The last of the scaredy-horses, however (the one I tried to lead in earlier), is almost as far away from the barn as he can get, way out in the arena staring at everyone else looking sad. Poor boy - I hope he gets past it soon! If not, I suppose I'll go out and stand with him to eat as close as I can get him to the barn. He generally eats out of the feeder that is near where that wood is stacked, so maybe it fell while he was eating and scared him with the noise?? It certainly wouldn't have actually HIT him at all.
I hate it when bizarre things happen! Here's hoping all will be well tonight.
I have no idea why - last night I fed them in there and they were perfectly normal - this morning they won't touch it with a 40 foot pole. I actually led one in there just to see what was going on, and he snorted and blew and as soon as I took my hand off him (I didn't have a halter on or anything), he shot right back out.
I've searched for animals, stuff on the walls, stuff in the hay, stuff that may smell funny, etc. The only thing I found is that there is a stack of wood behind one of the panels against the wall and it is possible some of the wood fell over, as there are a few that are against the wall instead of on the stack (but I don't know when this happened). These are NOT in the barn area where the horses are, just behind the panel wall of the barn.
I took a horse from a stall in another area and brought him in to see if it was terrifying to him as well - and he had no problem being in there. I gave him a bunch of grain, which lured 2 of the 3 scaredy-horses in. They stayed in there a little while to eat grain, but when another horse neighed loudly they shot out like crazy!
Currently, the 2 scaredy-horses are back in eating and the 1 indifferent horse is also in eating.
The last of the scaredy-horses, however (the one I tried to lead in earlier), is almost as far away from the barn as he can get, way out in the arena staring at everyone else looking sad. Poor boy - I hope he gets past it soon! If not, I suppose I'll go out and stand with him to eat as close as I can get him to the barn. He generally eats out of the feeder that is near where that wood is stacked, so maybe it fell while he was eating and scared him with the noise?? It certainly wouldn't have actually HIT him at all.
I hate it when bizarre things happen! Here's hoping all will be well tonight.