She is a good horse,but the other day she refused to enter the barn because of the llama. I want to get her out of this habit because she is an amazing horse but she gets so jumpy around him that no one can go near her. I would really like for people to comment or give me any tips on what i can do to help her. Anything helps
Muleman
Favorite Answer
Sometimes people that answer these question make it seem all to easy, but it's hard for us the visualize not just what you think spooks the horse, but also what else may be going on around you at the time. De sensitizing I guess any animal is pretty much the same. let them see the object or animal from a distance without pressure to get up close to it! Remember these things must be done in the animals time, not yours, or the owners! As the Horse, Mule or Donkey becomes familiar, and more confident it will begin to relax. I have a friend that trail rides with horses, mules, llamas and a Camel! It all took time and a great deal of patience for these animals to feel like a herd together. But they do now! Just don't put your time scale on this animal. The horse will need patience and so will you! Good Luck!
Cassie
I guess if you didn't know what it was a llama would be scary, with their long necks and curly hair. Anyway, is the llama yours? Can you move it where she doesn't have to see it? Do llamas live in stalls? If they do, you can move it into the stall next to your horse's. She can't stay scared of it for long when it is right next door all the time. Walk the llama down the isle of the barn where your horse can see it close up, but also where she is at a distance. Do this a few times until she quits doing whatever she does when she is scared. Maybe have a person stand next to her and give her treats and pats when she doesn't spook at the evil llama. When she gets comfortable with this, walk her down the isle. Be sure to talk to her so she is focused on you and not the llama.
Best of luck
Just keep working with her, eventually she will trust you enough to know that when you tell her the llama won't eat her, it really won't
Greg B
I've been going through something similar with my horse who is terrified of goats. He used to be afraid of donkeys, but I managed to desensitize him to the donkeys.
What you want to do is take her to see the llama every day that you can. Get her as close to the llama as you can and just have her stand there and look. Give her lots of time to look and relax. As soon as she relaxes some, ask her to move another step toward the llama, and let her stop again. Then another step forward, then another. Giving her some treats would not be a bad idea. That would make going to see the llama a pleasant thing for her. When she relaxes at the closer distance, you can stop for the day. The next day when you come back, you do it all again, but your starting point will be closer than it was the day before. As she has time to get used to the llama, she will realize that its not the horse eating kind of llama. Before you know it, she will be used to the llama and not scared anymore. My horse acutally likes the donkey now!
vrooomvroooom
Haha llama. The only thing you can do is just get her used to them(it) get off her and have her stay near the llama, let her check it out. this may take a few weeks, but soon she will learn that llamas dont eat horses, and that they are just funny looking horses. And while she is looking at the llama praise her and give her treats, so now llama means, treats and love. Hope this helps. Hapy training.
Anonymous
My horse spooks at the silliest little things.. but doesn't spook at big things.. it's weird.. lol The other day at a horse show, my horse spooked when my friend opened her can of pop lol, and he spooked again later because someone coughed.. (that one was just HILARIOUS) Sometimes he spooks when I'm riding him, and I can't figure out what he spooked at.. I'm actually starting to wonder if he's slightly blind in an eye.. He's perfectly fine if I wave tarps around him.. but he'll spook at a blade of grass blowing in the wind.. lol