Help - horse gone fizzy

[Carolina24]

I really need some advice peeps - my 8 year old Arab x has recently started acting up a bit, we've brought them in for night time stabling now it's so cold and I am only feeding him on 2 slices of hay on a night and fast fibre with a bit of chaff and a couple of carrots on a morning ( when turned out 24/7 he just get a bit of hay when brought in for a ride )

I haven't had my horse long just 7 weeks and he is really well schooled and well behaved normally but have noticed that he's become much stronger and also more fizzy since stabling him on a night.

To give you an idea this is what I have done this week with him ...

Monday - first night stabled - went on short hack during the day went fine.
Tuesday - stabled at night - lunged for 15 minutes - went fine
Wednesday - stabled at night - hacked out for half an hour but very strong and forward going on the way back as wanted to get back to his hay.
Thursday - stabled at night - schooled in sand arena and when I asked for canter tried to gallop and kicked out a bit, scared me by doing this and then started napping near the gate to leave the arena.

I'm not the best of riders but this has frigthened me a bit and this is my first winter owning a horse so could do with some advice and input from all you lovely people on what you think I should do !

I work full time so can't ride during weekdays only have half an hour before the light goes on a night at the moment after work so when I say short hacks I mean half an hour.

 

[forestfantasy]

For starters 2 slices of hay is nowhere near enough, mine would eat that in a hour or less, so the rest of the time he will have had nothing to eat, is he rugged at night?
It sounds like he's hungry & cold to me.

 

[Carolina24]

For starters 2 slices of hay is nowhere near enough, mine would eat that in a hour or less, so the rest of the time he will have had nothing to eat, is he rugged at night?
It sounds like he's hungry & cold to me.

He's put on loads of weight since I got him - he is rugged at night and in 200g turn out rug during the day. I'm trying all I can here theres no manual so not sure what to do, when he has turn out during the day he has grass still and has gone from just having grass and hay when brought in for a ride to 2 slices of hay on a night and feed in the morning.

 

[forestfantasy]

Basically as long as he's not overweight i would give him as much hay as he wants at night, probably about half a bale depending.
Horses are designed to eat 23 hours a day, 2 slices of hay won't last an hour with most horses

 

[Apercrumbie]

Standing for so long without anything to eat has huge health and behavioural repercussions on horses so this needs to change NOW. You risk your horse becoming ruder, getting ulcers, stable vices and colicking. If he's a fatty, soak a FULL haynet for 24 hours so it won't put any weight on him. Horses are trickle feeders, they need something in their stomachs pretty much 24/7 and are not designed to go for hours without food. This may completely solve your behavioural issues. If not, I suggest you get a good instructor to help you work through it and regain your confidence.

 

[Rouletterose]

I would definately feed more hay, you're not feeding enough, but also most horses change at this time of year, there's a nip in the air and it's lovely autumn! they feel fresher and livelier it's normal, totally normal.

 

[BorgRae]

Agree with what others have said. You need to feed more hay. Play it bu ear for a while and start off with 5 slices... If there is a touch left, you nailed it. If there's too much left, give 4 slices, if nothing left, give 6 slices and so on

You'll get there and I'm sure he'll settle!!

ETA - It also sounds like he needs more work, can you exercise in a school for 30-40 mins after work where there are floodlights? This may help calm him down, especially if he's been used to being out all day stretching his legs and having a run around.

 

[[59668]]

My horse has also suddenly gone weird. Hope it's the cold! He always has more energy when it's cold!

 

[Ali27]

The grass is definitely having an autumn flush at the moment! My mare doesn't have carrots as they make her really spooky!

 

[Winklepoker]

^^ This, he's an Arab... how fat can he be My boy is much naughtier than normal and out 24/7...

 

[TGM]

First of all, does he actually have to come in at nights yet? If he is well rugged up then he will probably be fine staying out in the field 24/7.

If you have to bring him in at nights (perhaps due to yard policy), then do make sure he has plenty of hay overnight, as standing for many hours without anything to chew can lead to gastric ulcers, which can, in turn, lead to behavioural problems under saddle. If possible, try and let him have some hay before riding, because if he is hungry before being ridden it will make him much keener to cart you home or to the school gate because he thinks he will get his hay quicker that way!

I'd also recommend getting an instructor to come and give you a few lessons on him, if you are not doing this already.

 

[Flying_Filly]

I feel for you. These first few weeks of owning a new horse are tough.

I agree with everyone else about the hay. Make sure he has enough to get him through the night. There should be a bit left over in the morning.

I would remove his feed. It might only be fast fibre, chaff and carrots, but it is extra calories, starch and sugar. My boy can't cope with chaff or carrots! If he starts to drop weight and he is on Ad lib (as much as he can eat) hay, think about re introducing feeds.

The cooler weather, and the autumn flush of grass might be adding to his energy levels. My boy goes insane in autumn and winter. He is a totally different horse to the donkey I have in the summer. I make sure he gets lots of good quality work. The hacks are shorter, but we work hard in them. Mainly trotting at a good working pace during the week where light is an issue.

He might also be testing you. He has settled in nicely and is now trying to establish his relationship and boundaries with you. I would invest in an instructor ASAP to help you gain your confidence and the help you get the right start.

Try to relax and enjoy it all. You are on a journey of discovery with your new pony. Don't fear asking questions. We have all been there at some point.

 

[rose bud]

Hi,
I have just read your post with interest because you sound exactly like me!
I bought a new pony about 4 weeks ago who was an angel for the first 2 weeks but has suddenly become a bit spooky and silly out on hacks.
I read your last post about your concerns of not being able to ride enough over winter and mind are the same! I work full time and will soon be too dark in the evenings so it will be just weekends for me and i have been worrying how he will be with that (im not the most confident rider!)
I have decided to ask a girl who is up at the yard in the daytime if she would ride him for me a couple of times in the week which should keep him ticking over, and we will see how we get on. Would that be an option for you?
Also, i am hoping that it is the time of year / change in the weather that is affecting him. Hes out 24/7 and i have just started giving him 2 sections of hay at night but after reading the previous posts on this thread im wondering if that is enough now?
It is our first winter too so everything will be a bit trial and error, try not to panic though, and i will also be interested to see what people suggest.

 

[Firewell]

More hay, more work.
He's only 8 and he's a hot blood breed (Arab).
15-30 mins lunge or hack is nothing. I ride my horse for at least an hr. If hes fresh I work him until he's calm. Sounds like your boy could do with a decent hours hack with a good amount of trotting or a good canter round the school for a while .

 

[splashgirl45]

agree with other posters, more hay, no feed especially not carrots as they can send some horses looney(mine included) i would just give hay in the morn ing instead of a feed. im riding my 20 year old 6 days a week for at least an hours hack with lots of trotting and she is still loony somedays, you may find he calms down if on more hay and maybe spend extra time at the weekends getting to know him better with extra grooming etc. also maybe lunge him for 20mins or so to get the spookiness out of him before you get on, this will help with your confidence. winter can be a testing time with a new horse but it will be worth all the work in the end. good luck with him and can we have some piccies pretty please!!!!!

 

[MrsMozart]

Ditto the others, including ditch the carrots - they're high in sugar.

Just hay at night, ad lib, and the grass during the day.

The weather has driven the grass sugars high, so a lot of horses are being a bit hyper at the moment (mine is and she's normally pretty chilled these days - hacked out a few days ago and it was like she was on speed!).

 

[Archiepoo]

Hi totally agree with everyone else on ad lib hay- but sorry i do have a question ,if your a nervous novice who recommended an arab to you? its a bit like learning to drive in a ferrari! they are hot blooded horses and your best bet is lots of lessons -but please dont forget arabs do endurance races of many miles so what your doing wont even take the edge off him! arabs are great fun so dont give up-just get a recommended trainer and youll soon feel like you can take him anywhere. also arabs dont like change-hes just testing you to see whos in charge,-make sure its you and he will reward you with many years of loyalty.x

 

[flower08]

i agree that if hes not over weight then maybe a bit more hay over night, i was also wondering if when you've worked him it's been straight from the stable in the morning? or after he's been out in the field all day? as that makes a massive difference to my mare.

 

[Marydoll]

Dump the feed, just feed ad lib hay, on what youre doing he doesnt sound like he needs a feed, if you still want to feed, use lite chaff.
Let him munch a handful of lite chaff before riding him, it sounds also like his workload needs to go up, dont you have lights to ride in your arena at night? At the weekends get out for a good hour or so hacking, trot work with a couple of good canters and a blast of gallop.
You might also try a calmer, i personally like relax me or mag ox heavy
Ive had good results with them

 

[Tilda]

I agree with the others about increasing the hay and cutting out the carrots. Also does he need a 200g turnout rug on during the day my TB x has been wearing that at night when it's been down to 2 degrees! You may find that a lighter or no rug helps the weight loss a little bit as he will be using calories keeping warm.

 

[peaceandquiet1]

We have a pony who is wonderful and calm in summertime, and totally safe, and a nightmare in winter-nappy and horrible! I think its the cold and the wind and hunger definately will make it worse.

 

[Carolina24]

wow lots of response to my thread. OK a few things thanks for the advice, he will be on haylage as of this week anyway with 6kg a day as that's what the yard have brought in so will have that instead.
I have cut out the carrots entirely I think everyone is right they are sugar and we're probably not helping.
I lunged him and rode on Saturday and he was much calmer and also rode out for an hour on Sunday a different route to normal. - I never ride him straight from his stable I would always lunge first or ride after he's been in the field for a bit. ..
I have also enlisted help I'm sure you all appreciate that to keep a horse you need money and to earn money you need to work full time ( at least in my case anyway ) so I have enlisted help from an experienced young girl who has owned an Arab x before she will ride once a week for me then he'll have exercise for half an hour to 1 hour at the weekend too. I do appreciate that he's an arab x but he's not your typical arab he's very laid back and I would love to go on all these long 2hour hacks you mention but time just isn't available I'm only 28 and need to work full time !

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I can remember not being sure how much hay to feed when we got our 1st horse - and it's a very long time ago. There are so many things to find out, it's all a bit nerve-wracking. TBH I wouldn't give any bucket feed but would give as much hay/lage as he will eat, unless he is too fat. If he is too fat, then I would give as much soaked hay as he will eat. ideally he should have a small amount of hay left each morning, so that you are sure that he hasn't been standing in, feeling hungry. I wouldn't give any chaff, most are molassed, so that wouldn't help. As others have said carrots are notorious for making some horses downright silly.

 

[MrsMozart]

Sorry, not re-read all the thread, but just caught sight of the haylage bit. If he's not poor or a bad do-er, he would be better with hay if you can get it.

 

[cider loving mare]

Agree with what others have said regarding feed and hay. Also don't forget Arabs are designed to live in the desert where it is freezing at night. The shape of their noses helps them to cool down/warm up air as they breath it in. Be careful not to over rug to soon because when it gets colder again that will be even more rugs needed to keep them warm. Different if its a horse which is older or is obvious that they don't like being cold.

 

[Carolina24]

Sorry, not re-read all the thread, but just caught sight of the haylage bit. If he's not poor or a bad do-er, he would be better with hay if you can get it.

everyone else at the livery is on haylage or prefers it so I've kind of had to follow them ; (

 

[Carolina24]

I can remember not being sure how much hay to feed when we got our 1st horse - and it's a very long time ago. There are so many things to find out, it's all a bit nerve-wracking. TBH I wouldn't give any bucket feed but would give as much hay/lage as he will eat, unless he is too fat. If he is too fat, then I would give as much soaked hay as he will eat. ideally he should have a small amount of hay left each morning, so that you are sure that he hasn't been standing in, feeling hungry. I wouldn't give any chaff, most are molassed, so that wouldn't help. As others have said carrots are notorious for making some horses downright silly.

thanks - yes thinking of dropping the feed and chaff for now, I gave him 3 slices of hay instead of 2 in last nights net and he had some left so think that may be more suitable for him.