Equine psychological trauma - any solutions

Leg_end

Leg_end

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Not wanting to sound all fluffy here but am getting more and more concerned about my poor boy
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He was stabbed in November last year and since then his behaviour has got progressively worse. He is extremely spooky, nervous of people/noises and has now taken to rearing which he has never done before. As horse owners do I have been analysing every single thing that may have changed, checked his saddle, back, teeth - all fine. The only thing that I can think of that has sparked this change is the attack
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Question is, what on earth can I do about it?! He already trusts me implicitly and will follow me wherever - under saddle he is much more nervy though
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This time last year he was much fitter (so I cant put it down to feeling good) and he was my perfect horse and he still is at times
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I would just love to take it all away from him and make it all better but I have no idea how...

Any suggestions?!
 
A bit of a soft and fluffy reply too but have you thought of a healer? Someone like Margrit Coates? Long shot but could help. So sorry for what you must have both been through since the attack. Hope you can sort.x
 
To be honest I'm at the point where I will consider anything - I did have a communicator 'speak' to him after it all happened and he was devastated that someone could have done that to him
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I just want to help him.
 
Hi,

I am so sorry for what has happened to your horse, it must be very difficult for you both.

These are just a couple of thoughts and I am no expert on this.

The first thought would be if you know the circumstances of how things happened you change things around. for example if it happened in the field, make that a good experience by feeding him there. If he had his saddle on at the time, feed him in it (or a roller) with the girth loose etc.

The second thing that springs to mind is that sometimes when something bad happens to our horse, we naturally feel sorry for them. We then treat them softer and allow them to get away with more than we would normally. This then leads to them getting away with bad behaviour which escalates.

These are just thoughts and I wish you all the luck in the world and hope you manage to turn the corner to get back where you were.

X
 
I did wonder if I had let him get away with things but he has never been the type of horse you get into an argument with - he is so stubborn!! I have tried everything I can think of - at the moment just sitting quietly and letting him throw a paddy is working the best.. but it cant carry on. He is physically shaking and sweating when he is getting worked up and his ears move rapidly all over the place - its almost like his senses have been heightened about a million times more than they should be!!

I can understand why he feels like that - I would too if I'd been stabbed - but I have no idea how to help. It may be that no one can help and I'll just have to write him off but I really dont want to do that as he has so much potential and is an amazing boy under all this fear
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For what its worth I feel that YOU (not shouting just making a point honest) need to try and come to terms with what has happened.
I feel that your horse senses how devestated and worried you are. Please try to heal yourself and them you will be able to help your horse.
I am so sorry this happened to you.

May I suggest you try to get hold of an Equine touch practitioner to come see your horse ( if you can find on local to you. I think it would really help you and your horse
 
Hi,

Me again - I have just had another thought. If the incident happened at the yard you are at now, then it might be worth taking him away for a while, if this is possible.

I took on a horse a while ago that had behavioural problems. It was suggested to me that he associated the yard with his bad experiences. Once I moved him he became a different horse and I never had the same problems again..
 
We have actually just moved yards - he had expressed a desire to move when I had the communication done but have been very picky about where we go!! We have finally found somewhere lovely and moved at the weekend - if that is all it takes then great but he seems to be more on edge than ever
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which is understandable after the move..
 
Leg_end I am so sorry for you and your poor horse, what a horrible thing to happen!

I am afraid I don't really believe in horse psychics, so would not recommend that, but two things spring to mind:

- magnesium based calmers seem to work with some horses and although I entirely appreciate your horse never needed them, it may be that the problems he has had have made him more sensitive, so perhaps worth a go. They are worth trying because if they are going to work you see it within the first few days, although for the full effect you may need the loading period (many products have detailed instructions on what to expect and what kind of improvement you will see. Personally I use Cool, Calm and Collected from Equifeast and love it).

- he may have associated certain things with the attack, which is perfectly understandable given what happened to him and now needs to be desensitised. One bad experience will make a horse associate all sorts of environmental stimuli with the experience, thus creating an aversion to them. Is there a common trigger to his bad behaviour? Is there anything he is reacting to? If yes, then it might help to re-condition him to the stimulus with something positive, e.g. as Wjgfred said if he is scared of the field then feed him there.

I do hope you find a solution, such a sad story, but I am sure you'll both get through it!
 
A calmer was something I was going to get today actually!! Its definately worth a try
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His main worry is people - he visbly flinches when new people are around, particularly if they touch him... I have tried my best to desensitise him to new people but unfortunately they pop up everywhere!! He is also concerned if he cant see things but can hear them (ie behind a wall/hedge) which was never an issue before
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[ QUOTE ]
His main worry is people - he visbly flinches when new people are around, particularly if they touch him... I have tried my best to desensitise him to new people but unfortunately they pop up everywhere!! He is also concerned if he cant see things but can hear them (ie behind a wall/hedge) which was never an issue before
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[/ QUOTE ]

That is very interesting as it gives you clues about how the attack was carried out, i.e. that someone came out from behind cover, things which have now been associated with the attack. Basically the horse has conditioned itself to associate all sorts of 'irrelevant' things with the attack. You can definately try re-conditioning him by associating the scary thing with something positive. PM if you want more details, I have a long explanation I have PMed to a few other people with similar problems, but don't want to bore the entire forum!
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