all of sudden so spooky?

[iberianfr]

has anyone experienced their horses freaking out recently with the sudden change of weather or am I being delusional to think that is the cause?
I have been riding a stallion for around 6 months now and while he never loved schooling (he’s a carriage horse and he loves to hack) and could throw an occasional frustration buck, he was never acting like he is now. In the past couple of weeks he is acting extremely rude when led into the arena (nipping, throwing his head, dancing at the mounting block)
He has been occasionally spooking as I ride him after dark and there are 2 lights not working the arena plus we have a chicken enclosure and an occasional fox running around. So I thought, nothing out of the ordinary. But today his spooks got very frequent and I have a reason to believe that they were part pretend because instead of just running away from the scary thing he was bronking on the spot or throwing mini rears, almost as if he was trying to fight back the thing that spooked him. It felt quite nasty to me - but at the same time I am always inclined to believe that a horse has an actual problem and doesn't do something just to mess with me?
I don’t think I started treating him or riding him any different to what I have been doing in the past 6 months. Is it possible that he’s just fresh? His owner claims that he’s just testing me as a stallion does - but he never used to do this before so I'm not clear what I might have been doing wrong to suddenly trigger this behaviour.
For context he does not ever breed, there are no mares in vicinity currently and he never used to have problems with being ridden in the dark (although I guess we had more lights working before). He's not mine though so I am not sure about any changes to his diet, from what I know there have not been any.
Hope I can count in everyone’s kindness in replies as tonight’s ride was discouraging enough

 

[Burnttoast]

A change in behaviour when nothing else has changed often means pain. That he's occasionally bucked in the past makes it possible that a physical issue that's been bubbling away under the surface has got worse. Might also be worth having his eyesight checked, if his behaviour's much worse after dark.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

If also be considering pain and is chat with the owner re teeth, saddle, and feed. Just start with those basics.

Is he also this way with his owner or other riders?

 

[iberianfr]

If also be considering pain and is chat with the owner re teeth, saddle, and feed. Just start with those basics.

Is he also this way with his owner or other riders?

Not 100 % clear on that one as his owner does not ride and other riders mainly hack him out which he prefers, and during the day of course.

But I don't think he is difficult to lead into the arena for anyone else but me. Yesterday I had to have words with him and after a couple of tries he did stand at the block and I mounted with no problem. Then I had around 20 minutes of warm up in walk completely fine. And then he started his little antics which was the very first time I got this from him.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

has anyone experienced their horses freaking out recently with the sudden change of weather or am I being delusional to think that is the cause?
I have been riding a stallion for around 6 months now and while he never loved schooling (he’s a carriage horse and he loves to hack) and could throw an occasional frustration buck, he was never acting like he is now. In the past couple of weeks he is acting extremely rude when led into the arena (nipping, throwing his head, dancing at the mounting block)
He has been occasionally spooking as I ride him after dark and there are 2 lights not working the arena plus we have a chicken enclosure and an occasional fox running around. So I thought, nothing out of the ordinary. But today his spooks got very frequent and I have a reason to believe that they were part pretend because instead of just running away from the scary thing he was bronking on the spot or throwing mini rears, almost as if he was trying to fight back the thing that spooked him. It felt quite nasty to me - but at the same time I am always inclined to believe that a horse has an actual problem and doesn't do something just to mess with me?
I don’t think I started treating him or riding him any different to what I have been doing in the past 6 months. Is it possible that he’s just fresh? His owner claims that he’s just testing me as a stallion does - but he never used to do this before so I'm not clear what I might have been doing wrong to suddenly trigger this behaviour.
For context he does not ever breed, there are no mares in vicinity currently and he never used to have problems with being ridden in the dark (although I guess we had more lights working before). He's not mine though so I am not sure about any changes to his diet, from what I know there have not been any.
Hope I can count in everyone’s kindness in replies as tonight’s ride was discouraging enough

yes mine does, but she is mag sensitive, depends on the phosphorus in the grass as well. Also dietary can cause spooking