Hi,
I have a 2 year old tb/conn mare that won’t stop stall walking back and forth at the front of the stall. Other than that she is so sweet. I’ve tried tying her to the back wall with hay and she stands there fine but as soon as I take her off she starts again. I work her on the lung, take out on trails (hand walking), we bridle, saddle. Loves to stand on the crossties to see everything. Loves attention. Goes out during the day but as soon as she comes in she starts stall walking. I take her out several times to work her and as soon as she goes in she does it. I feel like I can’t take a day off at the barn because I know she’s doing it. I do board her. She can’t go out with anyone. we don’t have that accommodation and she can’t go out 24/7. And I can’t move to another barn because I have another horse there. I want to send her out for backing but not until she’s older. Im just at a loss right now and any advise is appreciated. Please no hate. Thanks 
Describe her stall, please. Window looking outside? View into adjacent stalls or not? Size? What is her view from the door side, etc. ?
She has a window looking outside. Stall is 12x12. Its solid wood on the sides, so she can’t see horses next to her. Its a 15 stall barn but only 11 horses fill it. She can see the horses across from her. Isle is larger than normal. Making it feel pretty open. I even tried a stall gaurd so she can out her head out but she still stall walks.
2 questions:
How long has she been at this barn?
What was her stabling/turnout like before this?
If she’s new to the barn, it might just take her time to discover she’s not alone.
Even w/o seeing them, she knows horses are next to her by scent & sound.
I’m a jerk about this stuff, maybe… but I’d put something in her way to make the walking super difficult. Jump block, cavaletti, barrel on its side, etc.
Cured a few horses of weird stall patterns by doing this.
She has been here for about 6 months. She started this like a little over 2 months ago. She was in a run in at her old barn. She definitely knows other horses are there. She calls out to me when I open my other horses stall even when she can’t see me. She knows. Lol. She’s a smart cookie, just seems like she can’t get out of her own head.
I have put a tarp in there to block that area. It worked for like 10 min then realized she can step on it. But even when I put the tarp down she still found a way around it to walk the stall in some way. I do have barrels I could try. But I think she will try and walk just behind them. But might be worth a shot. Shes not built like a stocky Connie. Shes more like a Ferrari.
She’s cute as a button.
Very cute horse!
I’ll say the obvious thing which is she’s bored in the stall, or being stalled is making her anxious.
Stall-walking is a classic “stereotypy,” a repetitive behavior that an animal performs as a kind of self-soothing. Zoo animals (particularly those kept in small spaces) often develop them.
Preventing her from doing it (by putting obstacles in the way, etc.) probably won’t “fix” it–the behavior will emerge in some other way (weaving in place, cribbing, etc.).
It can be caused by boredom, in which case she might do better in a barn that has longer turn-out available to her. Or it can be caused by stress, like the barn is too busy for her (amps her up), or she’s getting into it with one of the horses stalled near her, or she’s developed ulcers that are bothering her and the movement soothes her, etc.
So you have another horse? Which of the two horses came first? Asking because my mare considered herself my only child for a couple of years (she did not know about my other horses boarded elsewhere). Well, when I brought a new gelding to her barn, her behavior went from relaxed and sweet to what I describe as intense jealousy. And she started to pace.
The other horse is actually her mother. I bred her. Her mom is my ottb event horse. Her mom now hates her or would let them go out together. I turn her out with anyone else and I dont have access to a run in or move her to a barn with one.
Unfortunately I can’t put her in a run in situation. They don’t have that option. Not many places do near me. So I’m at a loss and can’t move and cost is a factor as well.
I wish I had ideas … just sympathy here.
Hmm is there any way you could switch her and your other horse’s stalls? It looks like the chestnut has bars on the sides of her stall - the extra visibility might help. It would be an easy and cheap trial if it’s possible.
Also try some ulcer meds or something to see if it makes a difference. SOMETHING is bothering her about the stall, it’s just trial and error to figure out what it might be.
Could you try switching stalls between mom and daughter? I see mom’s stall has bars on the side so then daughter could actually see and touch noses with a next door neighbor. Just a random thought.
I actually messaged the barn owner to see if that was an option this morning. Just waiting for her to get back to me on that. Moms stall has moved to were she doesnt have another horse next to her. She was getting to attached to the other horse. But she is still in that area where it is more open.
Send her somewhere she can live out with other youngsters. It’s a pain and an expense in the short run but she will be sounder of mind and body in the long run.
Unfortunately, not an option near where I live. It would be nice though.
If not your mare’s current stall, maybe one of the middle stalls with bars and a friend on each side? Seeing the other horses standing there eating hay might turn a light bulb on for her.
Make sure she has enough hay, maybe consider some stall toys as well. I’ve never had luck with them but some people tie stuffies to the stall door and the horses seem to like them.
We are going to switch them tonight and will have a bar window for her to see another horse. Unfortunately I can do horse on either side because we use them for hay. I think all give her a stuffy. She has a ball and cookie ball in her stall now and she doesn’t care. She honestly reminds me of her mother. Lol I wish she was more like her father. Hahaha. Im just kidding. Shes so smart and I love her to peices.
