Help! Could February grass send my cob crazy???

[Princess P]

Advice needed please!

My cob has been on 'box rest' for the past 7 weeks to keep his legs clean and dry because he had bad mud fever. For the past 7 weeks he has been ridden every night in the outdoor school with the lights on.

On Saturday I decided that his legs were better enough to have a few hours turnout, and the same on Sunday. He was out all day today. He is strip grazed in a small area of the field because he is a very good doer.

Last night (Sunday) he was very spooky at one end of the school which is unusual for him and he threw in a few side steps / spooks / spins and went all fast and choppy along the short side.

Tonight he was even worse, he reared 4 times, one time he went right up and I thought he was going to go over backwards.

He is never normally spooky, or if he is then voice and a strong leg sorts it out and he forgets about it.

I'm not really sure how to cope with this sudden change of behaviour - he was working nicely in the other end of the school but I didn't want to just avoid the spooky bit because a) it hasn't been spooky for the last 7 weeks and b) what if the next thing he spooks at is at a show / on the road etc.

The only thing that has changed is turnout - could that cause this kind of behaviour?

I have regular lessons but next one not until next weekend and I have a one day event this Sunday so I don't want to abandon schooling for the week!

Tea and snickers for anyone who has read all this and thank you for any replies!
x

 

[Honey08]

Don't worry. I think that a lot of horses get spooky/full of themselves at the back end of winter. Partly boredom from beinging in a lot, and partly because the weather has been quite mild recently, so the spring grass has started to push through. They will get used to it in a few weeks, honest!

Try to not worry or react, just push him forward into your hand and keep asking him to continue what you are asking. Keep him busy - don't go aimlessly round the school - give him lots of school movements to do - don't go down a long side without doing a 20m circle, serpentine, change of rein or transition - don't give him time to gawp around and spook.

 

[kateknights]

Hi i cant help with why your horse is behaving like this, but just to let you know That my cobs behaviour is currently diabolical! He is almost unhackable atm! Am hoping its just the time if year!
Hope this is a bit comforting for you
Kate x

 

[MochaDun]

We've had all sorts from various horses at the yard I'm at across the last few weeks, lots of strong horses out hacking and being lively in the school. So yes think a combination of boredom, good haylage (in our case), restricted turnout and there's definitely a tiny tinge of bright green out in the field. Our horses are usually all gathering at the gate to come in from about 2pm as no grass in the field but I noticed on Saturday they were all happily up the field til gone 3.30pm which suggests to me they were finding something nice to eat. And the mares seems to be getting hormonal so don't know if they're coming into season already. Even a gelding nearing 30 years of age who went out hacking at the weekend apparently pulled like a tank!

 

[Munchkin]

Mine's a complete loon at the moment and has had no hard feed all winter. Our hacks currently involve random leaps through the air, bucking fits and squealing like a pig for no apparent reason. Loads of fun.

 

[skewby]

I was pondering this today, anyone else think there has been a glut of "my horse bolted/did something awful" posts recently? I had 10 days off because I had my eyes lasered, first time I rode out I thought, good grief! Horse has had a change of haylage and I wondered if it was that. He's far too well mannered to do anything naughty but he was extremely UP for it, whatever it was! Have ridden him lots and he's calmed down, but even so, he put on a bit of weight when I was off which I was surprised at, he doesn't gain at all easily, it was only 10 days, so I did wonder about new grass??

 

[skewby]

Try to not worry or react, just push him forward into your hand and keep asking him to continue what you are asking. Keep him busy - don't go aimlessly round the school - give him lots of school movements to do - don't go down a long side without doing a 20m circle, serpentine, change of rein or transition - don't give him time to gawp around and spook.

Think this is great advice - ride every stride. Don't give his tiny horse brain chance to ponder! Make him realise that by far the biggest demon around is the one on his back! Works for me

 

[PIP17]

Hello, my lad has completely changed since I clipped him last week, bucking fits, jogging and bouncing up and down when out hacking - complete nightmare really. He even seems unsettled when I bring him in at night
I am begining to think hes getting bored and fed up with the winter - the same as me really. Wish it would start getting a bit warmer

 

[Regan]

So glad to hear I'm not the only one!

I'm sure my cob thinks he's a tb at the mo! Granted he is strong and forward anyways, but will usually work in a nice outline - but recently he's been setting his neck and leaning like a pig! I think it's just his way of saying 'spring is round the corner - let's go!!'

 

[Princess P]

Thanks for all your replies, I'm glad I'm not the only one!

I have a very good RI who puts up with multiple texts between my monthly lessons, so I sent her a text last night and she suggested 'sneaking' him closer to the spooky end by gradually shifting my circles over.

I was doing that a bit last night and it did work, but I felt like I was 'quitting' and letting him get away with it!

Normally if he spooks at something I'll get my leg on and do a circle and go straight past the scary thing again and with a bit of vocal encouragement he will be fine and won't bother again. To me this means I have 'won' and not allowed his bad behaviour.

Trouble is after the big rear yesterday I was really shaking as I thought he was going over backwards, and it knocked my confidence :-(