Feeding vs Exercise

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thehorsediva

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Hi there. I have a 16h heavy piebald cob with the brain of a thoroughbred! He's always been very forward going and quite strong so I am well used to that but at the moment I am struggling to control his energy. He is a healthy weight and shape. At the moment he lives out and just has a section ish of hay at night time (no hard feed). I have been riding him every other day but he is just so full of energy and he never seems to calm down a bit! I tend to work 8am-7pm 5 days a week so I don't really have the time to ride him daily, although I am trying. Do you think its just the spring grass? Would it be worth bringing him in off the grass for a few hours a day? And advice would be most welcome. He really is a lovely horse and is obviously just feeling really well but I feel like he's bouncing off the walls every time I get on him!
 
I'll state the obvious but is his saddle, teeth, etc ok?

Spring grass is deficient in magnesium, which is needed for a healthy nervous system. So it may be something to do with that.

Confinement may help if it is too much grass but it may make things worse if its not! Worth trying a few hours in each day if you can.
 
Thanks. Yes saddle, teeth all okay.
Magnesium deficiency- I don't really know anything about this I'm afraid. Could this be causing his hyperness? Would a magnesium supplement maybe be worth a try? I don't know if it is relevant but each summer he really suffers with the pollen and head shakes often when out riding. He doesn't head shake at all in any other seasons. I use one of the nets to try and help it but not sure how effective it is. I've had him nearly 8 years and he has always been healthy apart from one case of azotoria nearly 3 years ago.
 
Yes, it could well be just the spring grass. A friend's daughter has had exactly the same problem with her native pony - he's become terribly spooky and uncharacteristically "naughty" out hacking. She started bringing him in at night and these issues diappeared straight away - he was basically just on a sugar high!
 
You could bring him in during the day? out at night when the sugar levels are lower; feeding magnesium oxide ( ebay!) should help and its very good for their feet
 
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