There are two new donkeys now boarded at my barn. My horse is terrified of them. He was turned out by them for about half an hour yesterday, today we just stood outside their stall and looked at them and so far no change. He’s the only horse in the barn that I know of with this problem.
I need for him to get over it since we have to walk right next to them to get to the trail.
Any suggestions or experience with this issue would be appreciated!
What happened when he was turned out by them? I’d be tempted to toss some alfalfa close to the fence line, feed meals out there, etc if logistically possible and he isn’t at risk of harming himself.
If the donkeys are well mannered, having them “go for a walk” and following at whatever distance needed to keep his cool could also be confidence building.
He wouldn’t go near them. They were in a turn out corral and my horse was turned out in the ring. There’s no way to turn them out so my horse can look at them for hours.
This clip will give you an idea.
IMG_5831
I have a couple of thoughts that may or may not work for you.
Have your horse on a lead and approach and retreat , hopefully making incremental improvements until he figures it out?
Rub the donkeys with a towel and put it in his stall so he gets used to their smell?
Can you interact with the donkeys where he can see you? Petting them, letting your horse know they aren’t dangerous monsters? One of my ponies was terrified by a tree branch, of all things (one of the only two times he spooked in all the years I drove him), and my friend, who lived nearby, came out and picked it up, didn’t go anywhere, just stood there. Seems like the pony thought “I know her, she gives me treats, and she made friends with the monster, so it must be OK.” Or maybe I have it all wrong, but he calmed right down and walked past her when she was holding the branch.
My other pony was completely undone by a couple of cows that a neighbor got. He just got himself over it in about a week of seeing them all the time.
Rebecca
Time. How long ago did they come?
They arrived yesterday,
The donkeys are in a stall with wire gate so no, I can’t pet them in front of him.
Maybe if I just set my timer and spend longer and longer time where he can see them, he’ll start to relax.
If not, I’ll move him, but board will be more elsewhere.
Treats are the way. Everytime he looks and then relaxes, treat. You might need some serious distance at first, then gradually get closer.
Otherwise work him away from donkeys and let being close to them be the place of rest.
Oh they’re brand new! Honestly, I’d do nothing for the first week to 5 days. Give him positive reinforcement when he sees them (pets and cookies) but I wouldn’t force anything just yet. You risk pushing him over his threshold and he may just decide on his own that they are ok.
I would approach it the same was as having a horse investigate a tarp, a giant horse ball toy, or a cow or herd of cattle, or a flock of geese, a horse pulling a cart, etc. I would absolutely not have the horse facing the animal.
I would allow him to follow the donkey, and push it away. I would do this on horseback, in an arena, but you might feel more comfortable on foot, leading the horse. The donkey would be led around while your horse moves the donkey, never the opposite. Much as working cattle the first time with a scared horse - never let it face the cow. The horse will gain confidence knowing that he can move the donkey, never the opposite. Just my experience and two cents.
One of the difficulties is that he’s neurological and can’t be ridden, although I hop on him bareback and walk him around once in a while. So it’s me on the ground holding the lead rope, and he can make himself quite large.
I’ll have to ask the owner about her leading one of the donkeys around. I am not familiar with her schedule and I’m only there during the day.
What you say makes sense about pushing the donkeys, though. I hope I get the chance to do that.
Good luck. For now just stay ho-hum and matter of fact. You know how they can read our anxieties!
He’ll get over it. I promise! Just give it time.
I’m a proud donkey owner, but most of my horses have been scared of donkeys at one point or another. They all get over it.
our horses will react to Anything that is a change in their environment. Just adding goat shelters to the north paddock because a neighbor needed a temporary place for some of their goats was a Space Ship Has Landed event
Back years ago when our neighbor brought in some Angus cattle our horses who had worked cattle but never seen a black cow thought their world had ended.
as mentioned, they will get over it once they understand they will not be eaten by the donkeys
What @Texarkana and @Demerara_Stables said!!
Give it time! This isn’t a big deal.
When my 1st donkey arrived on the farm, one of the horses was so terrified he literally was in his field trembling. Shaking with fear. Fast forward a few weeks and he and the donkey were inseperable.
I would be hesitant to ask the BO to lead the donkeys around, just as I’d be hesitant to ask the BO to do anything that was time consuming and that she doesn’t think is necessary.
Btw in your video your horse doesn’t look that terrified. Just give it time!
Could he be turned out with a horse who is not afraid of donkeys?
Oh I’d just give it time. I’d have him on a lead, standing right where he is in that video (and I’ve said it before, but what a NEAT backdrop for an arena!) and let him settle. Do some of your regular day to day work over there, call it good for the day.
Next day, 5 feet closer (or whatever he will tolerate without blowing). etc etc.
Honestly I think he will get over them on his own.
The first time he saw them, my Old Man was mortified of sheep. I left him out in a pasture with them, and within 3 hours I had to go retrieve him because he was having the time of his life running them around the pasture.
I’m afraid not. There’s one horse he can be turned out with, but she’s leaving today.
The big deal for me is not being able to walk him out on the trail. Hand walking is a big part of his routine. I just wish I could speed up the process.
Yes, but worst case, you will be able to within a couple of days. And also, going by the video clip – if it accurately shows how your horse is – you can’t manage that level of “spook”? Would the BO walk your horse past the donkeys for you a couple of times?
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