Horse scared after cross tie incident

[saitou_amaya]

I’m looking for some advice or help after an incident my horse had this week in the cross ties that seems to have shaken him up. I was out of town when the incident happened and heard about it secondhand.

The barn owner was using him for a lesson and he was in the cross ties in the aisle. A younger horse was also in the cross ties in the aisle a ways down from my horse. Someone was bringing something by the young horse in a wheelbarrow, the wheelbarrow fell over and spooked the young horse. The young horse broke through the cross ties, went running and bucking down the aisle to where my horse was, plowed through him, breaking the cross tie where my horse was and his halter. Once the young horse got past my horse, he fell down. Physically, my horse seems fine.

I didn’t ride yesterday but my horse did get his feet done. The farrier said he was nervous and jumpy anytime a horse passed him down the aisle, which is totally out of character. I got him out later that day and had him cross tied and he also seems nervous to me. My horse is 24 years old, very calm, very chill, not much phases or spooks him. Really, the definition of steady eddy type. When I got to the barn yesterday, the barn owner let me know about the incident and said my horse may be a bit traumatized by what happened. I kind of laughed it off, because my horse is so chill, I’m like it would take a lot to traumatize him!

Well, I ride him today and he was acting totally out of character. The mounting block is just outside our indoor arena and as I was getting on, he was spooking and trying to run backwards anytime a horse passed the mounting area in the indoor. Once I got on, he was very tense, Anytime a horse walked past him on the rail, he balked. When a horse trotted or cantered past him, he would spook and try to spin and bolt. He’s never done this before. It seems that he was a bit shaken by the incident earlier this week. Is there anything I can do to help him get over this issue? I didn’t want to push him too much today because he seemed genuinely scared.

[clanter]

We had one of our horses who was run into while in the show ring, it really shook her as the runaway horse was at speed when it hit her. She was three at the time.

Afterwards she never liked having a horse come up on her from behind…never, so she wore a red ribbon in her tail thereafter

[quietann]

Same thing happened with my mare a few years back. She is usually good on the crossties, though she can get a bit wiggly. So anyway, a pony spooked and dumped his rider and came running down the barn aisle where my mare was tied, plowed past her, broke one of the ties holding her, and shoved her into the opposite wall.

I was not there, and no one told me (argh). So the next time I was out, I had her in the crossties and she was a little antsy. Then someone came down the aisle leading the same pony towards her, and she reared up and broke the ties (thank G-d.) She didn’t go far, luckily. We put her in a stall and gave her a little hay… but the pony was in the aisle, and she flew to the back of the stall and stood there shaking until he was gone. The pony in question was normally an inoffensive old guy.

It took a while for her to get over it. I started by using the wash stall so she wasn’t in the aisle. That helped. Then I got some Blocker tie rings for the aisle crossties, and that helped a lot, because if she pulled back, she wasn’t suddenly yanked hard. And the pressure was not so bad that she wouldn’t just give to it.

OP – you may want to try using Blocker tie rings for a bit. Just be sure to use long ropes that will slide all the way through and release the horse if things get really bad. (Mare + cows + rope that got stuck in the blocker tie on the outside of my trailer = eek!)

[erinmeri]

I have never had a crosstie incident translate to problems under saddle. We have had several who are stupid or scared in the crossties and we manage them appropriately… but that behavior doesn’t translate to vices or problems under saddle. We have had others who are stupid at the mounting block. Different issues.

I honestly can’t think of a reason that a previous steady eddy would become unhinged over one crosstie incident that didn’t really affect him, especially when the reactive behavior is seemingly unrelated (different place and circumstances).

Is there a chance your anxiety is upsetting the horse?

[erinmeri]

@quietann

the wash stall so she wasn’t in the aisle

@quietann is proving me wrong! But, yes, for the ones with crosstie issues, we always put them in the wash stall ir a crosstie that has a “back wall”.

[saitou_amaya]

I’m not really worried about the issue in the cross ties, I can always tack him up in his stall. I’m more worried about his behavior under saddle. This was a horse that you could previously ride past a horse being lunged and bucking every other stride and he wouldn’t bat an eye. But today he tried to spin and bolt when a horse trotted past him on the rail.

I don’t think it’s my own anxiety is causing the issue. I was not even on the horse when he started reacting to the horses in the arena passing him. And I was not really anticipating there even being a problem, because he is usually my steady eddy. And he isn’t really the kind of horse to “play the game” or take advantage of a nervous rider. I don’t even think his brain works in that way. He has never been one to think “oh, this makes my rider nervous, better keep doing it/get nervous/worry”. He’s the kind of horse you specifically put someone on if they have anxiety issues!

I agree it seems odd, but from what I have heard from the multiple people at the barn when it happened, it sounds like it was a very chaotic and scary situation and the bolting horse nearly knocked my horse over.

[pony_baloney]

OMG I’m going through this now with my perfect saint of a pony. He was tied near my trainer’s stallion’s stall. Someone went into the stall to feed him, he pushed his way past her and came out of the stall and went after my pony. Cross ties did NOT release and stallion was all over him, not hurting him but kicking out and shoving him around. Finally his halter broke and pony ran into a stall and stallion followed him. Somehow we got my pony out of the stall. He was fine until it happened again two weeks later. They both ended up in a stall and stallion was a bit more aggressive towards him. We managed to pull him to safety again. Pony was physically OK after both episodes. Me and the other person both hurt a finger the first time, I was kicked in the leg that time and other person was trampled the second time. I also reinjured the same finger the second time.

Long story short, now pony is super sensitive to anything going on in the aisle. He’s pasture boarded so only comes in for grooming/tacking up. He did fly back on the ties last week when someone was leading a black horse (stallion is black too) towards him to pass him going to his stall. So now I’m letting him stand untied with the lead rope over his neck; he seems more relaxed this way and it’s been less busy with the horses on nighttime turnout.

I’ve used clicker training to get him used to sheath cleaning so I’ve thought about click/treating when a stall door is opened (he reacts to that now). I also take him into an empty stall if someone needs to go past (doable now, but not when barn is filled). I’m afraid he’ll become a pest if I start rewarding him every time the doors are opened/closed. Not sure if he’ll react when under saddle since my back problems have prevented me from riding these past two months.

It’s so scary when they panic on the cross ties, for them and for us. Just thinking about what happened and what could have happened makes me feel sick to my stomach. Anything can happen so quickly. He’s always been so quiet and chill before. My barn has quite a few Friesians and black Lusitanos so we’re in trouble if it’s a “black horse only” reaction.

OP, I hope your horse settles down soon. It seems odd that he would react under saddle after that incident but it was a bad experience for him so it’s understandable that he would be worried about other horses. I haven’t even considered the idea that my guy might be like that now as well, since we’re usually riding alone. Maybe you could try clicker training him while leading him where other horses are being ridden nearby. Of course you’d eventually phase out the treats but it may help.

[atr]

All of these stories are why I hate aisleway cross ties. An accident waiting to happen.

[S1969]

I don’t think it matters what the problem was, some horses will need more than 24 hours to un-see something scary. When I boarded very briefly, there was an animal getting into the arena one winter (I can’t remember now…possum? rabbit?) and they had to trap it. Every horse looked into that corner for weeks after the trap was removed.

Something loud and traumatic like you describe? It might take a couple of days. I agree to make sure your own anxiety isn’t contributing - I would just go about working as usual and try to ignore and push on. If you have friends at the barn may be have them work with you deliberately - having them pass, but not too closely at first and then gradually get back to a normal distance. I definitely would not just try to work him alone - that might prolong it.

[endlessclimb]

I would think too if his halter was physically torn from his face, that he might be a little sore.

I’d do some hacking with him for a bit, let his body and mind unwind. Lots of positive reinforcement in the cross ties for being a good boy.

[Pico_Banana]

I also don’t love cross ties in the aisle. Everyone always acts like I’m a weirdo for not using them, but it’s not that much more work to get them ready in their stall.

[Libby2563]

Two suggestions:

1. Time. I don’t doubt that was a traumatizing experience for him even if he isn’t the one who fell down. IME crosstying and tying in general can be kind of fragile skills in that one bad experience can resonate for a while. I think as prey animals being held in place probably already stresses them out a bit, and then you add chaos or physical injury. Also, as he’s getting older he’s less physically able to protect himself and get away from threats, so he may have some enhanced concern there.

2. I would cut him some slack and hack for a while if possible, but also try some controlled desensitization. Find a quiet time in the arena when it’s just you and a friend (with/on your horses). Have the friend start from so far away that your horse isn’t concerned. Practice passing while gradually getting closer together and being careful not to overface him. Make it a positive experience. You could even try the CAT-H method where you stop at a sign of concern to acknowledge his anxiety and let him know how aware you are. (Look up Warwick Schiller on YouTube.) You’ll probably have to do this more than once and with different horses but I suspect time plus practice will help. Good luck!

[MorganMaresVT]

@Libby2563

but also try some controlled desensitization.

Was going to say the same thing. I’d do some low stakes in hand work in the aisle and in the arena with quiet horses walking around and passing each other from the side, the front, and behind. When he’s relaxed for that, then move to riding in the arena while calm horses are walked past the door/in and out of the arena, and finally do some leapfrogging in the arena under saddle. I bet it won’t take long for him to return to his normally chill self with some repeated calm experiences having other horses moving around him. Maybe BO would be willing to dedicate a little time to helping you with this since the accident happened when he was under their care.

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

This is why I hate snow sliding off the roof of an arena–when riding an admittedly spooky pony, all it took was one massive avalanche for her to be a wreck about one corner all winter.

I disagree slightly about going about “as usual,” and would try to make “as usual” as unstimulating as possible, since “as usual” when you weren’t aware of the impact of the incident didn’t work. Maybe just take him out to groom on the crossties and give him some treats, go for a ride in the arena when there aren’t other horses, and gradually introduce other stimuli. I agree with trail riding, if you feel comfortable, since he won’t feel trapped. If you don’t, hand-walking him on a trail.

Even if the farrier never bothered him before, having the farrier being the next interaction on the crossties after the incident may not have helped.

[LCDR]

It takes a lot of force to break out of cross ties and break a halter. My now steady mare used to launch herself forward and escape, usually snapping the crown piece of her breakaway halter. Even though the cross ties themselves were attached with a single loop of baling twine it was always the halter leather strap that broke.

He might just be sore, in addition to being worried. Maybe Equioxx for a few days, or have your vet check him, or get him a chiropractic appointment.

[NancyM]

It’s not something you can “make” better. Either the horse will get over it and relax, or he won’t. And it’s quite understandable if he does not “get over it”, but is always a bit concerned about being in that situation, tied in the aisle, or under saddle, with other horses around. Because memories do not simply disappear. Either he will again put his trust in YOU to keep him safe, or he won’t. Either way, this is something you will have to deal with, and accommodate to.
I have one who was similar. I raised her from weanling age, and she is always the boss mare in every situation. She was easy to break, and a very talented jumper. BUT, having horses around her, either going in the same direction, OR passing head to head, she was extremely nervous. As far as I know, she never had a similar experience to your horse, she was just imagining the worst happening. She would bolt. Either spin and bolt, or bolt forward, if another horse got close to us under saddle. “Warm up rings” were a “no go” for us at horse shows. Flat classes were not something that she would do. But warm up in a parking lot somewhere, alone, then go into the show ring without a warm up jump, and she was flawless. EVERY time. So we just adjusted to her issues, and appreciated what she did well. You can’t “force” such a horse to not be afraid of what he/she is afraid of. Your horse has a real memory, which is making him nervous. And it will continue to make him nervous for as long as it does. Or perhaps permanently. Either way, understand him. Soothe him. Let him walk on a trail ride with another horse, side by side when possible, in a relaxing manner. “Maybe” he will recover from his fear, in time, and with good experiences. Maybe he won’t.

Use a grooming stall with 3 solid walls around him for grooming, tacking and shoeing if possible, not crosstied in the aisle. Crossties in the aisle are unavoidable in some barns, unfortunately. They aren’t the greatest situation, some horses are not happy in that situation. Horses often feel safer and more protected with “structure” (walls) around them. Because if no walls, things might attack them from any direction (like what has happened to your horse). If your horse is being used as a school horse in your absence, either his handling will have to be guaranteed to be suitable for his current fears, or that may not be something that he should be used for any more.

[CBoylen]

If the other horse actually ran into him it may take a long time for him to get over horses coming at him. The horses that I have known who have gotten run into in a schooling area have never really gotten over it unfortunately.

[MunchingonHay]

You stated your horse was getting used to be in a lesson by the trainer, perhaps I missed it, but how did the lesson go?

I would keep cookies in my pocket and reward for good, non spooky behavior for the next couple of weeks.

[S1969]

@Impractical_Horsewoman

I disagree slightly about going about “as usual,” and would try to make “as usual” as unstimulating as possible

Fair enough - I don’t disagree.

I meant mainly that avoiding other horses entirely may just prolong the situation - so working with other riders who are cooperating to desensitize again would be best. It definitely wouldn’t hurt to do something other than arena work, but I wouldn’t try to only work alone entirely for very long.

[moonlitoaksranch]

There are some great desensitization ideas here. I don’t know how comfy you are retraining your horse. If this most recent ride made you anxious, try taking it down a notch. Desensitize your poor boy on the ground at first. Take him for daily walks to get him to relax and trust you again. Ask friends to ride up from behind and stop BEFORE your horse gets anxious. Then, have them proceed until your horse raises his head, then stop again. Reward your horse when he relaxes. Tell him how brave he is. Things behind a horse are exaggerated, so they naturally look scary. It’s completely okay if he takes a break from being a lesson pony for a bit while you work him through this. It’s also completely okay if you tie him up in his stall, or outside on a hitching post for tacking and grooming for awhile. When he resumes lessons, make absolutely sure they tie him up in your choice spot, where he’s relaxed. Using the wash rack sounds good, but most boarding barns have a limited number, so you’re likely to have conflict for using it when you aren’t bathing your horse. He might never be comfy inside on crossties at your current barn.