Grumpy and crazy horse.(long ish sorry)

[Flight]

Hi,
My mare is usually very friendly and although excitable out hacking and strong is also controllable and I always feel safe on her. For past few weeks she has been a bit grumpy and verging on uncontrollable out hacking. She has been kept in more than normal but has been out before I have ridden her past 3 times for at least 4 hours and is being just as crazy. She is fed ad lib haylage, feed balancer and 1 full scoop alpha oil split between 2 feeds. I have cut the alpha oil down to a couple of handfulls now to see if that makes a difference. She has had back, saddle, teeth checked recently and all fine. I am worried that it is the haylage which is causing the problem. I tried her on gastri aid a couple of months ago as she always has a slightly runny bum and is very messy in the stable but it didn't seem to make a difference. Any suggestions what could be making her so silly or what I can try?

 

[Erin]

Can you feed hay instead?

 

[Puppy]

My boy recently had a complete melt down due to feeding Alfa A in greater quantities than he'd had previously. He now has it cut out of his diet altogether but we are having to take a few steps back to rebuild his confidence and our relationship due to the damage caused. (he's only 4). It took some time (2 weeks-ish) for the Alfa A to leave his system.

 

[Andiamo]

Interesting thread, my young horse is on Allen & Page Calm & Condition, and Alfa Oil. He is a sensitive type and can't have grains or molasses etc. But he hasn't calmed down on this diet. He has put on condition, and looks great, I am a bit disappointed that he hasn't settled, and is still very sharp and hot. Does anyone else have experience of Alfa Oil?

 

[traceyann]

My cob cant take alfa oil or haylage at all hed kill I like the spillers cubes you soak their name is escaping me at the moment. someone will know what im talking about

 

[Ladyinred]

Some haylage gave one of ours a runny bum. He is ok on small amounts of the cheaper stuff, but better on hay.

I would tend to take away the alfa-oil and try a molasses and oil free alternative. Failing that then try an alfa free feed as this can also cause problems with some horses.

 

[whizzer]

Andiamo- I think c&c is fairly starchy which may be causing the prob? I had my poor doer on same food for years & he was hot on it & stressed any weight off that he did put on! I gave up on alfa oil & c&c about 3 or 4 years ago & horse looks better & is sane on the diet I changed to!

 

[Puppy]

Interesting thread, my young horse is on Allen & Page Calm & Condition, and Alfa Oil. He is a sensitive type and can't have grains or molasses etc. But he hasn't calmed down on this diet. He has put on condition, and looks great, I am a bit disappointed that he hasn't settled, and is still very sharp and hot. Does anyone else have experience of Alfa Oil?

When I speculated on fb that my boy's behaviour was down to the Alfa A then LOTS of my friends said that their horses couldn't handle it and had all gone a bit bonkers on the stuff. It will be the alfalfa rather than the oil that it causing it. You could cut out the chaff and just feed the oil to keep condition and see if he settles.

 

[Flight]

Thanks for your replies, I did wonder about the alpha but she had it last year and wasn't like this so I presumed it wasn't. Possibly the combination of less turnout and alpha is what's doing it. I will swap her onto something with no alpha and see if it makes a difference. She will be getting more turnout after today too so fingers crossed I won't feel like she going to chuck me off next time I ride.

 

[VoR]

Interesting thread, my young horse is on Allen & Page Calm & Condition, and Alfa Oil. He is a sensitive type and can't have grains or molasses etc. But he hasn't calmed down on this diet. He has put on condition, and looks great, I am a bit disappointed that he hasn't settled, and is still very sharp and hot. Does anyone else have experience of Alfa Oil?

Calm & Condition sent one of mine loopy, was uncontrollable hunting and smashed me in to a gate and gatepost!!!

 

[skydancer]

My horse is naturally excitable - she cant tolerate haylage or molasses or any alfa it all sends her nuts! Now, she has ad lib hay fast fibre twice a day and thats it - if i were you i would change the haylage to hay and take out the alfa totally. With my mare she only needs a tiny amount of alfa and there is a huge difference in her attitude!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

We have a mare that can't tolerate even the tiniest amount of alfalfa, it sends her completely loopy.

 

[Tinsel Trouble]

when I read the first line I thought- she's on hayledge... take her off that and put her onto hay. It is far too rich for some horses and no amount of balancer will help!!

 

[Tammytoo]

when I read the first line I thought- she's on hayledge... take her off that and put her onto hay. It is far too rich for some horses and no amount of balancer will help!!

this!

also cut out the Alpha oil .

 

[Flight]

She has been on haylage for past 5 years and has never been like this so can't see that all of a sudden it has caused this behaviour, used same farmer for past 3 years and it is very consistent quality. I would rather give her hay but unfortunately can't get any at a reasonable price and I don't have enough space to store it.