Bargy when hungry?

debsey1

debsey1

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When my cob came to me 19 months ago (Feb) he was terribly bargy when bringing in or turning out but with a lot of ground work his manners improved tremendously however, I do find in the winter months when grass available is virtually non existant he gets really grouchy (I don't blame him) and tries to barge out the field gate as he can't wait to get in to his stable where he knows he has a full haynet. Figure wise, he is looking really good and he is a lot more responsive in the school as he has lost some weight and can move quicker :)

He gets a full well stuffed small holed haynet (haylege) at night from 4.30 - 5 o/c and it is all gone when I get down in the morning, every last morsal for 8 o/c.

His attitude is down to being hungry I know, but it's trying to get the right balance. This morning I gave him a small haynet to eat before turning him out for the day as I mucked out around him this did quell his hunger and stops him trying to eat the grass verges on the way up to his paddock.

Spring/Summer time he's no problem at all, like a lamb as he has a belly full :rolleyes: Do any of you find this?
 
Yes! My tb filly is getting very bargy on the way in from the field, leads like a dream on the way out. I am putting it down to hunger as field pretty bare (though they do have hay out there) and she knows tea is in her stable!

I have no miracle cure, but am being firm and consistent, and I think she is improving - she's stopped fly-bucking and justhead tosses and pulls a little now, but will stop as soon as I tell her to...
 
Yes, when my horse was on restricted grazing during October he became very difficult to bring in from the field. Barged through the gate, jogged all the way in. Completely different horse.

I would put hay in the field for him.
 
If he's anything like my horses, he probably would have finished that net by 7pm! Could he have another one later in the evening? Or try a trickle net or double net if you're worried about him having too much?
 
I never bring them in to a stable with a net in it. Always always make them stand and be brushed/ rugs changed before hay net or feed is given.
They have feed, hay net and a treat ball which has a couple of handfuls of nuts in it which makes their hay last longer. I bring in earlier to help prevent the hunger stomps and insist on impeccible manners at ALL times. If they want to barge then I'll make them stand and wait for ME to go first. If they misbehave too much then they're lead in a bridle - I won't have them dragging me to grass verges or pushing me around.

But yes, cold weather usually brings on the bargy and moody behaviour. ETA: I also triple haylage net for the fatties.
 
amymay said:
What is the weight of the hay you are giving him?
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I don't know the weight exactly, I tend to go by eye.

Irishbabygirl said:
If he's anything like my horses, he probably would have finished that net by 7pm! Could he have another one later in the evening? Or try a trickle net or double net if you're worried about him having too much?
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Unfortunately I can't give another one later in the evening as I live too far away that's why I give a large small hole haynet and we are not allowed to put hay in the field :( The only thing I can do is hang up another haynet maybe a smaller one.
 
You need to start weighing it - and also think about how you're feeding it. If you think the horse is going to finish the net somewhere in the middle of the night then you need to give him hay before turning out.

It's really not fair to expect them to go for 12-14 hours without eating - not wonder he's being bargy.

If you're concerned about his weight, then think about feeding more hay soaked alongside barley straw.
 
Sounds like my hairy pony.

They can't talk, so have to express an opinion some how is the way I look at it. Actually it's taken me years to understand some of his ways but it does all make sense and when he acts up something is normally up.
 
amymay said:
You need to start weighing it - and also think about how you're feeding it. If you think the horse is going to finish the net somewhere in the middle of the night then you need to give him hay before turning out.

It's really not fair to expect them to go for 12-14 hours without eating - not wonder he's being bargy.

If you're concerned about his weight, then think about feeding more hay soaked alongside barley straw.
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I weigh taped him last weekend, he is 548kg, 15.1hh, and has 10.5 of bone so as you can imagine he is a big boned boy. How much in your opinion should he have in hay? This morning was the time I gave him hay before turning him out.

All through the summer I was seeing to his needs am and pm and he is as good as gold but due YO rules they have to be in by 4.30 and I pay her/him to bring in. I think due to him being hungry and maybe taking advantage of YO he plays up ie; bargy on his toes and very keen to go in.
 
I suspect around 15lbs of hay.

However, why not have a small net in the stable for when he comes in - and then give him his final net much later when you go up and have finished riding/chores etc.
 
I personally don't think it's good management to have an empty hay net in the stable with horse.

I'd always like a little left each morning, whether done by feeding more or making it harder to get at (double haylage net). As AM says, soak if needed or straw, but regardless of weight, starving is not an appropriate way of keeping it down
 
PandorasJar said:
I personally don't think it's good management to have an empty hay net in the stable with horse.

I'd always like a little left each morning, whether done by feeding more or making it harder to get at (double haylage net). As AM says, soak if needed or straw, but regardless of weight, starving is not an appropriate way of keeping it down
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I don't intentionally starve to keep his weight down it is a natural occurance anyway to lose weight over winter and I would be worrie if he didn't lose any weight! To be honest, I think even if I hung up 2 haynets they'd be gone in the morning because he is greedy and that way inclined. But the idea of double netting and/or straw is a good idea.
 
My boy is on restricted grazing and weighed hay due to being a fatty and having laminitis. I give a small soaked haynet when he comes in at about 4pm then whoever is at the yard the latest (7 ish) puts in a soaked Tricklenet. If no one is around late, the Tricklenet goes in as I'm leaving the yard. it lasts a good couple of hours. Then he doesnt get another until 6am the following morning.
He's on pellets so cant eat his bed either! He tried to be bargy and would mug you at every opportunity so I always make him back up before entering the stable and make him wait until the net is up before letting him at it. Ive got a dodgy shoulder so have to be firm with him otherwise he would grab at the net yanking me all over the place!
 
I think the best thing you can do OP is to increase his hay - and give his full ration later in the evening.

And then ensure that you can give him at least an hour of hay eating in the morning prior to turnout.

That way you're not giving adlib, but equally you are ensuring that he does not go for hours on end without anything.
 
I have similar but opposite issues - my boy is a bit over keen to go out in the morning and will tank off (sometimes with a kick and a buck) when the headcollar comes off. It is worse when I am moving the fence lines.

He gets two large nets with small holes, barely any hard feed (just enough to carry the all-round supplement). I got up to four nets and still there was none left in the morning so I am just about to try one of the those brick things from Simple Systems. It really condensed and hard for them to break it down so it is supposed to keep them nibbling for hour and hours.
 
amymay makes sense to me and that is what I would have said. If you cannot get down later then give him an additional net for the night.
Could you have a haynet ready when you arrive in the evening and hang it in the field for him to munch on before you bring him in? You could do some chores and leave him with it to eat for 10 mins before bringing him in?
 
amymay said:
I think the best thing you can do OP is to increase his hay - and give his full ration later in the evening.

And then ensure that you can give him at least an hour of hay eating in the morning prior to turnout.

That way you're not giving adlib, but equally you are ensuring that he does not go for hours on end without anything.
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It's funny, but I have often thought, that when I have taken him hunting we are gone from 8 or 9 in the morning until 4 or 5 in the afternoon without nothing to eat and he is working hard, a good 7 hours without a morsal of food how does that work?
 
My horse is very bargy around food! Perfect manners otherwise, but I have to get his feed ready in the stable then let him put himself to bed to prevent me getting crushed! He's a tb that doesn't hold his weight well, so glad he loves his food, just wish he was more patient! But hopefully he'll be better in the summer like yours :)
 
debsey1 said:
It's funny, but I have often thought, that when I have taken him hunting we are gone from 8 or 9 in the morning until 4 or 5 in the afternoon without nothing to eat and he is working hard, a good 7 hours without a morsal of food how does that work?
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Do you hunt him every day, or just once in a while?

At the moment your management of him would appear to be routine daily starvation (without the intention of starving him I recognise) - hence your problems.

You can either choose to address it - or not.
 
I do sympathise Debsey, as I have a fat cob who has to be brought in at 4.30. I left her with the largest sized Elimanet stuffed hard and she finished the lot in 90mins. So I leave her with two like that now and I bet she's scoffed it all well before midnight. The nets are always empty in the morning and she has plenty of grass in the field she's turned out in during the day.

It's hard to know what to do, because I know she shouldn't be left for hours without something to eat, so that her digestive system keeps going, but she is getting fatter and fatter. I suppose the answer is for me to slap the waterproofs on more and get her working that fat off!!
 
Cobcuddler said:
It's hard to know what to do, because I know she shouldn't be left for hours without something to eat, so that her digestive system keeps going, but she is getting fatter and fatter. I suppose the answer is for me to slap the waterproofs on more and get her working that fat off!!
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You have grass in the field - so I see no problem in limiting. Again, you can soak your hay - and also give it later.

The OP's horse has no grass in the field, which is what my comments have been based on.
 
Obviously I would give it to her later if I could, but I can't like Debsey can't, which is what my comment was based on and I didn't think you could soak haylage, stroppy knickers. :p
 
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