cob turned spooky

[ApacheWarrior1]

My normally calm unflappable cob has become flinchy yesterday as I was grooming him, then when I rode him out he spooked at every blade of grass and every leaf then spun round at one particular leaf - at which point i got off and walked him home in hand and he was fine.... he is 8 and ive had him 2 years and hes never been like this before?

 

[Snicklefritz]

Is he sore somewhere? If a horse is ouchy, they can become more reactive to things in their environment.
Has anything else changed recently?

 

[ApacheWarrior1]

Is he sore somewhere? If a horse is ouchy, they can become more reactive to things in their environment.
Has anything else changed recently?

 

[ApacheWarrior1]

No Snicklefritz - he has been in the same paddock and same horses and routine for a while now - he is a happy chap and always runs to the gate to greet me but thats as energetic as he gets !! we have been having nice ploddy walks out where he really couldnt get any slower... in fact I think he fell asleep last walk we had as he went past the exit without realising it!! but for some reason yesterday he was a bit spooky right from grooming him... we had had heavy rain the night before and all the grass and plants along our route we flopped a bit from all the rain and he was spooked by each and every one of them.

 

[Snicklefritz]

Horses can have off days just like people do. My advice would be to keep the same routine and take notes. If it doesn’t happen again then he likely only had a bad day. If it keeps happening then maybe he’s sore somewhere.

 

[Havital]

My mare has days like this. Good and bad.... just like me! You also don’t know if something happened in the field that may have set him off. I would see how he is but would suggest getting him checked to make sure his not in any pain.

 

[paddy555]

but for some reason yesterday he was a bit spooky right from grooming him... we had had heavy rain the night before and all the grass and plants along our route we flopped a bit from all the rain and he was spooked by each and every one of them.

was he out in the rain, was he rugged or stabled. If out in the rain that is where I would start looking at some form of discomfort from it ie muscle pain, soreness. Try rugging him, get him nice and warm even if over rugged and see if he is happier. Keep a diary especially of the weather.

 

[ApacheWarrior1]

was he out in the rain, was he rugged or stabled. If out in the rain that is where I would start looking at some form of discomfort from it ie muscle pain, soreness. Try rugging him, get him nice and warm even if over rugged and see if he is happier. Keep a diary especially of the weather.

 

[ApacheWarrior1]

thank you - today he was back to his chilled self again! it may have been related to the thunder and lightening the previous night

 

[ApacheWarrior1]

thank you - he was back to his normal self today - maybe it was because of the thunder and lightening the previous night?

 

[ApacheWarrior1]

My mare has days like this. Good and bad.... just like me! You also don’t know if something happened in the field that may have set him off. I would see how he is but would suggest getting him checked to make sure his not in any pain.

 

[ApacheWarrior1]

thank you