Cracker by name, crackers by nature?

[Foxy girl]

Any help and advice much appreciated thanks!

My friend bought a sec D Arab x 3 months ago - he's 10 but was gelded late and has been passed from pillar to post because of behavioural problems. She wanted a project so took him on with help from a few of our other horsey friends. However 3 months in and regular lunge/handling/parelli type work and today she tried to lead him round the field (fully tacked but no rider) and he just exploded, threw himself on the floor, crashed through an electric fence into a pony that was tied up on the hard standing, climbed over the pony and it then took 2 people half an hour to catch him, lunge line trailing.

I think the problem is neurological because there is no reasoning for his random behaviour (this is not the first time, he has bolted through the village as my friend put her foot in the stirrup etc etc) and it's as if something just 'pops' in his head and he freaks out. Whatever progress they've been making seems to be forgotten instantly and they're back to square one again. He's had teeth, back etc checked thoroughly and is fine in that regard but he has huge sensitivity at his poll which makes me think he's suffered some kind of blow to the head at some point (either accidentally or purposefully) which may have resulted in a head injury.

Can horses have head/brain injuries? Can this kind of thing be diagnosed and at what cost? Or could it be something else that can be worked on?

Any thoughts gratefully received, my friend is such a 'glass half full' person and she's really at the end of her tether at the moment.

Thank you and big glass of wine to everyone who read this far!!

 

[tigerlily12345]

this sounds a lot like a pony i knew.. he was great on the ground, lovely and sweet but the second you tried to mount he was off bucking and bolting.. although i think he was turned sour at a young age rather than being a rig as he was jumped to much and too high..

although not a particularly promising ending as no-one managed to get on him and he was given to the local stud i think but not sure if they got on him in the end..

so sorry not much advise

 

[Allie5]

In regards to can horses have brain injuries? Yes they most definitely can. I knew a horse who reared in the stable door and smacked his head on the frame. He had swelling on his brain from the blow, went to the vet school in Glasgow having seizures etc. He lasted about a year after the accident but essentially had a learning disability and was put down as he was becoming dangerous and frightening himself. I would want to rule out completely ANY physical reason for the behaviour. It would probably be an expensive investigation but ask your friend how much her own safety is worth to her?

 

[L&M]

I could be wrong, but think that brain tumours can result in bizzarre behaviour.....