Have anyone elses horses lost the plot this last week?

I usually have a sane and fairly sensible 9 yr old. The last couple of weeks have seen him having hoolies round the field and being rather spicey to bring in, resulting in lots of stopping and backing up to restore some discipine. The nipping is coming back as well, which is very difficult to ignore ( i dont react as it makes him do it all the more - i swear its a game to him). Cant wait for normality to resume.
 
Okay I feel a little bit better now! Thanks all - (hope you're alright @leflynn ). I have zero doubt I would have hit the deck had I not got off yesterday when he started the rearing, thankfully fairly small as I could feel it building under me rather than he was getting it out by going up.

I do think it has something to do with coat change, as he's been clipped all winter but I have noticed that when I put my leg lightly on he's doing a skin twitch like they do when a fly lands, so I thing being itchy, and the warmer weather, and not doing a whole lot is getting on top of him. Have ordered some Valerian, can't cut his feed as he doesn't really get anything of note as it is in any quantity that will make a difference.
 
AShetlandBitMeOnce said:
I'm calling out for a sanity check! I've not done much with Dex this whole winter as our hacking is all boggy and I lost motivation, so 1 schooling session per week really and he's been brilliant!!
This last week I have tried to get back on it now its 10 degrees warmer and I've not managed to get any sense out of two schooling sessions, and a round the block walk today I was sat on an unexploded bomb, if I put my leg on I could feel his back come up, then he went up twice and someone was cantering up the hedge line the other side and I knew that would be a step too far, so I hopped off and be bounced and piaffed the whole way home.

Is anyone elses horse like this with the change of weather and maybe a bit of grass coming through? Or had my 4yo finally realised he's nearly 5 and I have a really rough two years of the Kevins coming??
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Yes! Most of the horses on my yard went a bit wild last week! Even my normally chilled big heavy weight cob did some naughty things when walking in hand.
 
Its bizarely comforting to know that you're not the only one isnt it - my soon to be 6 new forest has been terrible past 3 months hacking out like a coiled spring spooking at twigs, leaves, & logs!
I put him on magnesium but think it made him worse so have stopped that!!
His been ridden 5 days a week so cant put it down to lack of exercise & he's really good to school in an open windy field its just the hacking out.
Plus he's learnt to plant when loading - used to load like a dog into a car - nope not now.
Ive started doing some Steve Young horsemanship with him.
We took him to the gallops yesterday & then did some coloured polework - daughter rode him - fine with plain poles at home but coloured are the devil.
Who said New Forests are easy?!?!
If he doesnt sort his s..t out he will be looking for a new home - I just cant be dealing with it now.
 
Went for a hack with 3 friends on Saturday. Got to a normal canter spot & someone said 'shall we have a ca..' That was as far as she got, all 4 horses took off, flat out, much childish giggling was heard, the youngest of our horses is 14 & built for comfort not speed 😳
 
bubsqueaks said:
Its bizarely comforting to know that you're not the only one isnt it - my soon to be 6 new forest has been terrible past 3 months hacking out like a coiled spring spooking at twigs, leaves, & logs!
I put him on magnesium but think it made him worse so have stopped that!!
His been ridden 5 days a week so cant put it down to lack of exercise & he's really good to school in an open windy field its just the hacking out.
Plus he's learnt to plant when loading - used to load like a dog into a car - nope not now.
Ive started doing some Steve Young horsemanship with him.
We took him to the gallops yesterday & then did some coloured polework - daughter rode him - fine with plain poles at home but coloured are the devil.
Who said New Forests are easy?!?!
If he doesnt sort his s..t out he will be looking for a new home - I just cant be dealing with it now.
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It is bizarrely reassuring - I think it helps you to know that this isn't the new normal and its likely to be an environmental thing rather than the horse choosing to be an ass and this is their new normal.
I would recommend some Valerian if the magnesium doesn't work, it's FEI banned for a reason and that is that it does actually do something!
Dex decided at the end of last autumn that he would start to refuse to load, I think part of it was attitude, part was that he was a little mentally tired (albeit I don't think 5 short trips in 3-4 months is a lot). I have put in a full length breast bar and did some loading practise at home but haven't ventured out yet due to the weather - I am hoping that new behaviour has therefore subsided over winter!
 
AShetlandBitMeOnce said:
It is bizarrely reassuring - I think it helps you to know that this isn't the new normal and its likely to be an environmental thing rather than the horse choosing to be an ass and this is their new normal.
I would recommend some Valerian if the magnesium doesn't work, it's FEI banned for a reason and that is that it does actually do something!
Dex decided at the end of last autumn that he would start to refuse to load, I think part of it was attitude, part was that he was a little mentally tired (albeit I don't think 5 short trips in 3-4 months is a lot). I have put in a full length breast bar and did some loading practise at home but haven't ventured out yet due to the weather - I am hoping that new behaviour has therefore subsided over winter!
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I hope it is environmental rather than him as you never know with a youngster but I just cant be dealing with it as spoils all the supposed nice bits.
I stopped the magnesium as did read it can make some worse but will try valerian if he doesnt settle when the weather does!!
Loading is soooo frustrating - he's not scared he's just learnt now to plant, cheeky devil knows if front ramp is down he's practicing!!!! So after 40 minutes yesterday opened up front ramp & he popped straight on! On the way back opened up front ramp but he didnt fool for that a 2nd time! Im going to up the groundwork training as its all linked to the feet isnt it - bah horses.....................
 
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