What would you think of this? Long, sorry.

[seeker]

Dd's pony is at working livery. She is an A~rab, a little highly strung, and is usually completely impossible in a box unless there are horses in all the other boxes she can see. She weaves, she box walks, she panics - but calms down instantly she is led out - you can see her calming down from the muzzle as she comes through the door. If she's tied up in the yard with a haynet she's fine. Last night dd turned up for Pony Club and pony was in her box, freaking out. Dd took her out and started to tack her up - and found that she was bleeding from a little cut near her ear. The yard manager (not the owner, she wasn't there last night) said "Oh yes, she bumped her head faffing about in the box and I couldn't get near her to put any wound powder on it. She's a real nuisance - she's got to get used to being boxed"

I am furious - IMHO she shouldn't have been left int he box if she was panicking enough to hurt herself, and she certainly should have been taken out after she hurt herself. And dd should have been told about the cut straight away not left to find it for herself. And it's no use expecting a 17 year old box phobic to get over it. I realize that tying her up outside may nto be particularly convenient, and may mean an extra biot of poo sweeping, but surely that's better than letting her work herself up so much?

I'm getting ready for stern words with the yard owner tomorrow - am I right to be as cross as I am?

I'd be upset too, why put her through it if there is an alternative? What is the difference between skipping out her poo from the stable and sweeping it off the yard?

I don't see how letting her hurt herself will get her over her phobia?!!

I would be fuming too.

There are other issues apart from bashing herself about, stress could make her lose condition or make her more prone to colic. As you say, she is 17, she doesn't need this, and your dd doesn't need to arrive at the yard wondering what state her pony is going to be in.

Sounds like this horse is a prime candidate for living out. It's much more dirty natural, and it sounds like she really detests being indoors. Stables really are an unnatural environment to a horse, being in an enclosed space goes against every natural instinct. She is highly strung and I wouldn't put her through the stress when it's not totally necessary.

Is working livery the best option for you? I wouldn't be too happy with this.
Having worked at a riding school, I can understand the 'they just have to get used to it' logic - because you can't treat all horses like they are individually owned in a riding school, there just isn't the time. Having said that, it sounds like you DD's horse was really distressed and should be living out. I would really think about finding a quieter yard where the horse can live out.

She does live out nearly all the time. The yard owner understands her and it's usually organized to that she doesn't have to go in a box - if she's goingto be used twice in an afternoon, for example, they make sure that there's only half an hour or so between lessons so it's OK for her to be tied up in the yard. Pony Club night is a bit different because there's someone who likes riding her who has a lesson in the afternoon, then there's 4 hours or so until dd comes up to ride her at ponly club. Ideally she's put out then got in again, but this particular person won't do this - even though the field is right next door to the yard and she's easy to catch.

In that case I would have words with the YO about this person, are they new? Sounds like the YO is very good about it, in which case the rest of the staff should be too.

I would have serious words with the YO about the manager, she is clearly putting her ease above the horses needs and that is not on.

There is no way she is going to "get over it" by continued exposure (which seems to be the managers strategy). It is code for CBA (can't be arsed) and the manager needs to be roped in.

However, how tight are the YO and manager? Do you feel the YO will back you up or side with the manager? Is it possible she will back you to your face then do nothing?

I would say that your expectation of the YO reaction is what needs to govern you here so you can get the best outcome for your mare. The manager sounds pretty awful though, poor mare

I agree with everyone else. It's about time some yard managers got themselves at least the basics in education in equine behaviour. Your horse has stable stress that manifests itself in stereotypical behaviours. She will not "get over it" by being subjected the stressful situation even more, she might get mentally flooded (which is even worse).
You need to set down some ground rules with the Yard Owner, and be prepared to move the mare if they aren't followed. If someone likes riding her then they should like your mare enough to be kind to her and put her back in the field. If they don't like her enough to do that, then they don't ride her again. You need a blanket rule that your mare is never stabled alone, never turned out last and never left in the box when she's getting seriously stressed.
She would be happier living out 24/7, but you'd need to bear in mind that the longer a horse like this lives out, it can often make them even more difficult to stable.

Just to add, the way to treat a stereotypical behaviour is to remove the cause.

Where is she stabled in the block? My Arabx used to have a stable in the middle of a large T shape of stables so lots of horses kept going past.

I didn't think anything of it until I moved him in the next aisle with 6 horse stables and no route past. He was much calmer.