Change in ponies behaviour

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Rachaelconnolly

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Hi all ... new here ..

Just interested to hear some views on my issues.
Bought my boy back in summer (feels like about 10 years ago summer time doesn’t it ) lovely little 10yo welshie.
No issues in the summer, little bit of a wimp but nothjng stand out - the winter hit, I had him clipped an bam - he’s like a different fella.
Very sharp, spooky - and I mean at literally everything - and very unpredictable with it ,un cooperative, overly head strong -you name it - brakes seem to of left with the sunshine too - ‘don’t even think I can remember what it’s like to have breaks anymore.
Every ride atm jusy feels like a battleground and lacks composure - it is getting increasingly unenjoyable 🙁, not sure what else to try , lunging, soundproof ear covers, quarter sheets, calmers.. and is ridden about 5 times a week.
Has any one else had this problem ? As this is my first winter with him I’m thinking crikey is this what he is going to be like every winter 🤦🏻‍♀️ Can’t even take him on road hacks atm because he’s being so naughty -
He’s 10 going on 4 it feels like ,
Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance xx
 
Is he getting regular turnout? What you feeding him?

Clipping can send them silly in the cold, a fleece rug would help when riding, my 2 are loopy when first clipped.
 
Yeh he is on every other day turnout (winter yard rules ) And just has a pint of frickers forumla tiny tots . I bought magnesium and camomile flowers to see if it can calm him but no difference 😌
He wAs clipped few months back now and - I won’t be doing it again 🤦🏻‍♀️😂
 
Rachaelconnolly said:
Yeh he is on every other day turnout (winter yard rules ) And just has a pint of frickers forumla tiny tots . I bought magnesium and camomile flowers to see if it can calm him but no difference 😌
He wAs clipped few months back now and - I won’t be doing it again 🤦🏻‍♀️😂
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I suspect the lack of turnout is your issue. I’d cat out hard feed which he probably doesn’t need in case it’s contributing to his excess energy.
 
Some horses do just get silly in winter. My friends TB was like that, had plenty of turnout etc no feed but just because sharp as anything over winter. Yours may benefit from 24/7 turnout if you can find it anywhere, or may just need much more work. How much is he being challenged mentally?
 
Rachaelconnolly said:
They have only just gone to every other he was still being a sod on every day turnout - I’ll cut the feed though, thank you x
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It can just be winter I have Arabs and they can be just plain wild some days and they practically live out most of the time, I would cut feed and maybe lunge a few times a week or just before you ride for 10 minutes can sometimes help, both of mine are better if they are lunged once a week, roll on spring;)
 
Pinkvboots said:
It can just be winter I have Arabs and they can be just plain wild some days and they practically live out most of the time, I would cut feed and maybe lunge a few times a week or just before you ride for 10 minutes can sometimes help, both of mine are better if they are lunged once a week, roll on spring;)
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Roll on spring indeed - don’t you just love horses why do they do it to us - I shall try lunging him first thanks xx
 
Michen said:
Some horses do just get silly in winter. My friends TB was like that, had plenty of turnout etc no feed but just because sharp as anything over winter. Yours may benefit from 24/7 turnout if you can find it anywhere, or may just need much more work. How much is he being challenged mentally?
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Yeh he benefit from all 24/7 turnout , he is happy enough to come in ,in fact he actually waits at the gate for me to come in - home comforts hey - he has a lot to think about id like to think - I ride minimum 5 times a week including an hour long lesson weekly - we was hacking a lot too until he got unmanageable and just got plain stupid and dangerous on the road .. every ride I try to make different for him School wise atm, although he’s petrified of /poles jumps 🙄.. we are building things up slowly with trotting poles which is proving a slow process -
Very strange COs he used to be an angel in the ménage never have a bad ride and can now just decide one day or another he’s not doing something - yesterday he didn’t want to go on the left rein 😳😤. And was bucking and creating COs I was obv persistent with it .. very frustrating COs he’s not a bad boy he’s very sweet and non malicious but just a bit unrecognisable atm 🤦🏻‍♀️😂 x
 
Mine are wild at the moment, no reason other than its winter. However out of interest I looked up your feed as I had never heard of it. Even though it's marketed as conditioning whilst remaining 'calm' looking at the ingredients of molasses and cereal derivatives I would be stopping that straight away.

As others have said the more turnout the better although obviously you have yard restrictions and also I make sure mine have ablib hay to keep them occupied and reduce likelyhood of ulcers whilst they are in more in winter.

Other than that I just sit it out. Couple of months and it will be spring ....
 
My 6yo connie is a dope on a rope in the summer when he is turned out 24/7, my 7yo son can ride him no bother at all.

Once they come in at night for the winter he is a different pony, spooky, and has a right wee buck in him.

My suggestions - cut the hard feed altogether apart from some chaff and grass nuts, try to feed hay rather than haylage, and keep your fingers crossed for an early spring....

FIona
 
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Rachaelconnolly said:
Roll on spring indeed - don’t you just love horses why do they do it to us - I shall try lunging him first thanks xx
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I know they can drive you mad! In regards to schooling I make it really hard for mine so they really have to focus then they are less likely to spook and be silly, I do quite a bit of lateral work in all 3 paces and I also do some collection and extension as this uses up so much more energy than just ambling round, I do t jump mine either not got the bottle for it and one just spooks at them anyway.
 
Fiona said:
My suggestions - cut the hard feed altogether apart from some chaff and grass nuts, try to feed haylage rather than hay, and keep your fingers crossed for an early spring....

FIona
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Sorry to hijack the thread but can I ask why you would feed haylage rather than hay? I've always thought that hay was better in general, and especially for ulcers (less acidic, lower sugars etc) and therefore less reactive for grumpy horses. Happy to be told otherwise... Thanks
 
My supposed 13yo schoolmaster is such a pain to hack in the winter that I don't bother - hes spooky and spinny & its generally no pleasure for either of us.
I only give him a half clip (just his neck and belly) as he would be worse if it was all over.
If he is still getting out, and lunging before you ride makes little difference, I would be looking at feed content and / or a physical or saddle fitting issue.
If you lunge him fairly hard until hes tired, he shouldn't really still be messing about much when you get on if he has been a reasonably quiet horse in the past.
Do you have an instructor? What do they say?
 
HeyMich said:
Sorry to hijack the thread but can I ask why you would feed haylage rather than hay? I've always thought that hay was better in general, and especially for ulcers (less acidic, lower sugars etc) and therefore less reactive for grumpy horses. Happy to be told otherwise... Thanks
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Typing in a hurry, sorry.....

Other way.

Hay instead of haylage.

Will try and edit.

FIona
 
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