At wit's end need advice!!!

[tms]

My horse is rising 5 and in full work/competing regularly. The problem I have is that he doesn't seem to settle well when turned out in the field. He doesn't just run around he goes absolutely interballistic as a result of which he is pulling a shoe at least once a week (even with overreach boots on) and some mornings his legs are really really puffy. What do I do for the best? He has companions in the field which he gets on well with and the field is in a quiet countryside setting. I am so worried that he is going to do himself a serious injury, my old horse broke his leg in his stable overnight and had to be pts a few years ago which makes me worry even more that something bad is bound to happen to this one with him careering (sp?) round like a looney. Am I going to have to resort to him having a life of being stabled? I just think it would be such a shame if this was the case but I really can't risk him injuring himself! HELP!!!

 

[G3mma]

I'm not proclaiming to be an expert but how much grass is out there for him? Could he be hungry? How long does he spend out there a day? I know it sounds silly but could he be panicking in the open space if its a huge field? Is he a confident lad the rest of the time or is he nervy? Have you tried putting him out with just one sane other maybe in a smaller (safe) paddock? Good luck its so frustrating when you just don't know what to do for the best!

 

[hadfos]

What are you feeding him???If you are competeing regularly i should imagine a fair bit???Cut his feed right back and make a temporary small paddock if you can with either a quiet friend or on his own were others are next door!!I should imagine it is hi jinx due to the weather and feed!Once he settles(burns off excess energy start to increase feed again)!!Is a problem with youngsters,they need the feed for work,but it blows their brains sometimes,can you not work him before turnout??

 

[Luce1504]

I agree with what the others are saying, but also how much turnout does he get? and is it regular? coz I know if my 2 have been kept in at all for any reason (even just a few hours more than usual) then when they do go out they go ballistic for a good while, whereas if they are out as normal 7 days a week for 8 hours a day then they calmly go out and start to eat. So maybe he just needs to be out for a bit longer?

 

[Daisy11]

i don think you should cut back but i would look at what you are feeding him as it could be making him fizzy and also cut his field smaller if its big

 

[CBFan]

My Mates horse wouldn't turnout sensibly / nicely for a while. she went through a phase of keeping him in and then gradually re-introduced turn out on his own and he's now out all day most days...still on his own though..