Stable Mirrors to help with aggresssive horse behaviours & anxiety in foals

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Stable Buddy

Calm Horse Most horse will not ignore the mirror, you will get a response! He will show some interest in his reflection and although some may ignore it, most do not.

In trials, the initial response of horses faced with the mirror varied enormously - some approached it and immediately nose-greeted their reflection, while others made a threat towards it at first.

Trials found:

Many horses are cautious when they first see the reflection, and for some it can take a couple of weeks to completely accept and benefit from the reflection
While many owners report an immediate calming influence on their horse, others say the effect is more gradual, taking a month or more to work
A small minority of horses respond more aggressively to the image, they probably will accept the reflection eventually, but if they do not, remove the mirror. In rare cases horses that are naturally unsociable or domineering will continue to attack their reflection, and may cause injury to themselves or others.

It is important the mirror is positioned in the correct place, so the horse can choose whether to look at its reflection or not. The horse must be able to avoid his reflection if he chooses. Similarly, the mirror should not be placed so that the horse sees its reflection close up when feeding - especially on hard feed - as this could encourage aggression and protectiveness around the bucket. The best location for the mirror is just inside the stable door, away from any feeding stations.

You will be surprised how much brighter the stable becomes, a more natural & pleasant environment for your horse.