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Changing Boarding Stables

Hello! 2014 Cyberhunt winner 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed

Hi! I was wondering if there were a set, or organized list of things Monty would do once he moved his horses to a new boarding stable.(theoretical I know). I have moved my two to a place with pasture. Upon arrival I stalled them, brushed them, and next day tried to to normal things like that again. I introduced them to the indoor, and walked them out of barn a bit to see pasture in distance. I put them in a dirt paddock to run off excess energy and maybe meet horses over the fence. The next two days I turned them out with other mares. Now I would like to train them to come to the gate as the people there will not go into the field to get my horse to bring it back to feed it and release it again. If she does not come to gate she will not be brought in. Thanks, Irishwabbit

Kicki -- Sweden
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

Practice calling her to you in small spaces first. Like the stable for instance. Call her name and if she doesn't respond; step away and do something else, then try again until she is curious enough to come and investigate what you are up to. Praise her and back out, and begin the game again. The goal is to make her come when you call her name. When that works indoors, you can start practicing in small spaces outdoors. (The dirt paddock should work well!) Move towards and back away.
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If this takes time, an alternative is to start feeding them by the gate. (Carrots or a bit of oats).
It's a pretty fool proof way to make them come when called or rattle a bucket ;)Also, once the routine of being brought inside to eat is established, it should work pretty well.
Be advised though, that in this instance they don't come because you call their name, to be with you - they come to get food, so if they aren't interested in eating, it may not work every time.

Irishwabbit
Hello! 2014 Cyberhunt winner 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed

Thanks, in the interim of writing this question they have been chased away initially from the herd in the pasture by three horses. Removing those horses temporarily from the pasture has helped. My horse Molly tried then to take over the herd and the owner then released her horse whom she calls "the Terminator" because she is larger and more dominant not necessarily a thing I think to brag about but she seems very proud of it. When we came up to see them last they were with the herd and even my small palomino was ordering one of the trouble horses out of her way. The "Terminator" is now in the barn with show shoes on so who knows whether Molly and she would get along now. I am happy to see them eating and being part of a herd dynamic. However I am seeing my small palomino getting head shy which tells me maybe the turn out person is being gruff with her she sweet and has been raised with Montys principles. So I need to work on head shyness also the barn seems very high schoolish in clicques and anti Montyism so we try to go when no one else typically is there and stay to ourselves. I had hoped to make friends, maybe when people notice I get results non-violently they will ask me about it. Right now it seems any questions are just used as ammuniton and I am not interested in wasting my time fighting someone who already thinks they have their mind made up and is not open to even what they see with their own eyes. Thanks for the help guys. Irish

Irishwabbit
Hello! 2014 Cyberhunt winner 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed

My two horses are now being turned out and brought in successfully to my knowledge. I go up during the early afternoon as they are out at night and in stalls where it is cooler, out of sun in daytime. That allows them to get some sleep but still be not at full on energy. I am trying to use the outdoor paddock as a join up area. The first time my older mare wanted to skip right to follow up. It is much bigger then a roundpen but I am going to try to adapt with Monty's ideas. Both have grown,the older one now being five is growing! The smaller 2 yr old has grown in just the two months we have been where they can have pasture. I did notice though that being in the herd has made the younger more attached to my other horse as the older has protected the younger from the other horses in the herd initially. Being bonded to me only has changed for her, I suppose thats the way it should be from a horses point of view. I just ask that when she is with me that she partner up with me.

Kicki -- Sweden
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed

I'm very happy to hear things have worked out so well!