ARGH! About to have a fall out!

S14Tobin

S14Tobin

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Im about at the end of my (very long) tether. I adore my gelding (huge chunky friesian x shire for those who don't know), but his behaviour sometimes leaves alot to be desired. Before anyone thinks otherwise, my approach to him is if he does something I don't like, I look at myself first. He's a horse. He knows how to be a horse, and acts as such. Anyway. He's now in at night, since moving to the yard 7 months ago, he's walked through one stable door (first day), since moved to another stable on the main yard where he can see everything going on etc. Routinely, Im one of the last there at night, in the morning one of the first, but the girl who is first gives him his breakfast to stop him getting stressy. not everyone has the same routine, but any little change, and he's off! Ive been in bed all week with flu, the two who've been looking after him love him to bits, and I'm really grateful, anyway, today was my first day I was fit and able to be up in the morning to turn out - there by 7am - get there to find one of my friends has already got him out and standing with him while he ate as he was having a mega strop - he has 2 solid metal bars behind his door to stop him breaking the door again - he;d bent these, and broken the restraining brackets off the wall, was steaming with sweat, but eating like nothing was wrong. I cooled him off, eventually rugged him up and off we toddled to the field, no problem. Tonight, brought him in, did everything, brought his friend in too, and everything was fine. Got a call about 90min later from his friends owner, she'd just been up to sort hers, and mine was doing his nut, his bed all up the wall, bit hot, 'he's got his wild look on' she said (we know that look!!) and he'd hurled his headcollar, broom and anything else he could, across the yard (these are outside his door) - she gave him a carrot to divert him and it took him 5, 10min to eat it and calm down. The problem? (we think) usually we bring in him and her boy together (like tonight) but they're both tied up while we get everything ready and then put in. Tonight he was as normal, ut as she was up later, her's was brought out and tied up whilst she did everything then put back in. Any suggestions? its a fab yard, he could stay out overnight, but would be on his own, and the field he's in isnt within the 'ringfence' of the main security ie electric gates etc so I really dont want to do this. Any ideas? I can't and wouldn't expect everyone else to have exactly the same routine, but this is all I can think of which could be upsetting him, and he's no shetland to deal with...

Sorry its so long, carrot cake and Baileys if you get this far... :-(
 
What is he fed? Can you consider switching to a low-energy bulky feed, or even no hard feed at all, to reduce meal-time excitement/stress and give him more to do inside? (Assuming you can't get companion and/or move him to closer field at night.)

Think you're very brave by the way I feel bad enough with 15.1hh of trouble...
 
Try Mickey Gavin, see if he can help
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. His number is 07974 214990. Tell him Carolyn suggested him
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. We and friends have used him for all sorts of issues!
 
Does he get worse if you shut the top stable door? Sometimes it helps, sometimes it doesn't. Sorry I can't suggest anything else (although I have had good results from a calmer before).
 
I have a mare who can be just as challenging if her routine is upset.

1) use a calmer every day - experiment until you find which one works

2) assess what and how much you are feeding

3) look at stable options, my girl is much better in a small barn with a group of horses she knows where she can't see too much activity - in a loose box overlooking a yard her head just goes.

4) up the workload considerably and give that horse something to think about
 
Mine doesnt have a routine as such but he freaks out if anything is slighlty different ie tying in different spot,putting in different stable or different field he is just a wierdo really. Sorry cant help
 
If your friend sometimes feeds your horse could he be getting excited because he thinks she is going to feed him his hard food and then when she does not do so get very stressed - even though he has already had his tea if he associated being tied up either him or his friend as a precussor to a meal could that make him excited.

Does he only have a problem around meal times or when he thinks he is going to be fed or does he randomly stress out even if he is not expecting or anticipating food or being turned out?

If also he has been cared for by your friends whilst ill does he now think random people might feed/turn him out and when they do not he gets angry and is having a tantrum.
 
Hi all, thanks for all your replies - Ive bought a calmer today, will see how he goes on that. I think he would possibly remove a wall if I took shut the top door, unfortunately all the other horses are in ow, although he's ok out on his own, I don't want him out in his current field alone at night due to logistics. Workload is currently 0, so if anyone local wants to ride :-) !! He's currently fed (over a day, split into 2 feeds) half a scoop of pasture mix, garlic and a scoop of chaff, he has a net of hayledge at night, but only usually eats half a 'slice' max! It seems to only be when something this changed that he kicks off, so he's a weirdo too I guess! - person who chucks his feed in in the morning isn't the same person as the friend who own's his 'friend' so that won't afect him... I'm hoping the calmer helps tonight! I think he needs therapy!
 
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