LouiseG
Well-Known Member
Just looking for some advice on my 5 year olds behaviour over the past few days. He is usually a little sweetheart in the stable so this has all come on suddenly and Im very surprised about it (not to mention upset). Sorry this is so long, have tried to put in loads of information...
He felt a bit funny last Wednesday being ridden, I put it down to being full as on Wednesday he had finished his entire nights worth of haylage in 3 hours! He narked at me when I approached him when he was munching his haylage later on, I put it down to his tummy being full, he can sometimes be a little grumpy if hes eaten too much, he practically inhales his food, so greedy! Have now changed his routine slightly so the livery yard staff feed him half at 4pm and I feed him the other half before I leave at 8pm.
Thursday he had the dentist (routine check/rasp which actually went badly as he freaked out at a bucket filled with bubbles and the noise of them dissolving really upset him), anyway managed to get his teeth done without any sedation and he settled down and seemed totally fine when I left the yard.
Friday the temperature dropped massively and it snowed most of the day covering the ground. I can only assume that he didnt get his usual tummy full of grass because of this, and he didnt finish all his haylage the night before due to him getting his teeth done he was spitting quite a lot out. Anyway, he was really grumpy in his stable being groomed and handled on the Friday night, in fact I initially thought he was reacting to something sore around his chest area as he was trying to bite me (so out of character for him!) Having said that, if I was cold and hungry, I too would be grumpy. I gave him a turnip and went in to pick up some poos and he kicked out with one of his back legs and hit the boards in the stable! I was absolutely gobsmacked and really upset trying to figure out why he did that.
Saturday he was loads better with me, but yesterday apparently he spun around in his stable when the YO tried to put his rug on in the morning to turn him out, and then he tried to bite her when she put his overreach boots on in the morning so apparently he got a smack from her.
He was okay with me yesterday, although was much spookier than normal, but maybe thats because I wasnt myself and was looking for problems. He did however turn his bum on me when I came into the stable but was fine when I approached him and put his headcollar on and gave him a scratch. To add another problem into the mix, his best friend in the field moved to a new yard yesterday too so I suspect there will be a bit of a ruckus in the field today as his friend was top dog.
Its been a stressful few days for him to be fair, lots of change and things going on but he seems to be getting protective over his space and food. Most people are saying its just the terrible 5s and hes being a brat and pushing his luck (Ive only owned him 6 months and he is a cheeky little so and so to ride), the YO said last night hes behaving this way as hes annoyed that he is being ridden and associates me with being ridden and is unhappy as a result, hes not been ridden since Thursday so this I just cant believe as it has come on far too suddenly! I am too soft on him sometimes so it could be a case of him pushing his luck, but Id hate to put it down to behaviour if there could be another reason for it. I'm hoping I will go up tonight and he will be back to his usual self, it's so upsetting when they are not their usual selves, although apparently he's been good as gold today, so fingers crossed, I know 5 is the worst age!
Can anyone share any experiences or offer any advice? Would be very much appreciated!!
He felt a bit funny last Wednesday being ridden, I put it down to being full as on Wednesday he had finished his entire nights worth of haylage in 3 hours! He narked at me when I approached him when he was munching his haylage later on, I put it down to his tummy being full, he can sometimes be a little grumpy if hes eaten too much, he practically inhales his food, so greedy! Have now changed his routine slightly so the livery yard staff feed him half at 4pm and I feed him the other half before I leave at 8pm.
Thursday he had the dentist (routine check/rasp which actually went badly as he freaked out at a bucket filled with bubbles and the noise of them dissolving really upset him), anyway managed to get his teeth done without any sedation and he settled down and seemed totally fine when I left the yard.
Friday the temperature dropped massively and it snowed most of the day covering the ground. I can only assume that he didnt get his usual tummy full of grass because of this, and he didnt finish all his haylage the night before due to him getting his teeth done he was spitting quite a lot out. Anyway, he was really grumpy in his stable being groomed and handled on the Friday night, in fact I initially thought he was reacting to something sore around his chest area as he was trying to bite me (so out of character for him!) Having said that, if I was cold and hungry, I too would be grumpy. I gave him a turnip and went in to pick up some poos and he kicked out with one of his back legs and hit the boards in the stable! I was absolutely gobsmacked and really upset trying to figure out why he did that.
Saturday he was loads better with me, but yesterday apparently he spun around in his stable when the YO tried to put his rug on in the morning to turn him out, and then he tried to bite her when she put his overreach boots on in the morning so apparently he got a smack from her.
He was okay with me yesterday, although was much spookier than normal, but maybe thats because I wasnt myself and was looking for problems. He did however turn his bum on me when I came into the stable but was fine when I approached him and put his headcollar on and gave him a scratch. To add another problem into the mix, his best friend in the field moved to a new yard yesterday too so I suspect there will be a bit of a ruckus in the field today as his friend was top dog.
Its been a stressful few days for him to be fair, lots of change and things going on but he seems to be getting protective over his space and food. Most people are saying its just the terrible 5s and hes being a brat and pushing his luck (Ive only owned him 6 months and he is a cheeky little so and so to ride), the YO said last night hes behaving this way as hes annoyed that he is being ridden and associates me with being ridden and is unhappy as a result, hes not been ridden since Thursday so this I just cant believe as it has come on far too suddenly! I am too soft on him sometimes so it could be a case of him pushing his luck, but Id hate to put it down to behaviour if there could be another reason for it. I'm hoping I will go up tonight and he will be back to his usual self, it's so upsetting when they are not their usual selves, although apparently he's been good as gold today, so fingers crossed, I know 5 is the worst age!
Can anyone share any experiences or offer any advice? Would be very much appreciated!!
