Help! My horse has no energy! :o(

warmbloodcrazy

warmbloodcrazy

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Hi every one,

I have a 13 year old 17hh black warmblood which i have had for 8 years now and i am at a bit of a loss as to what to do with him.

He seems to have no get up and go in him...this only seems to have happened this season...he is fed on oats, barley rings and alfa alfa oil currently. He is a good doer and is currently living out pretty much 24 7 and has a good covering. He is ridden at least 4 times a week and brought in hayed and fed each day.

I took him to a show jumping competition in June and i felt like he was a thellwell pony is my only description...he would not go forward and had no ooomph in him although i did manage to get him round it was so much hard work and i have now found this to be the case at home. Some days out hacking hes his lively self and others u would think you were riding a 30 year old...i have tried feeding him various things but am at a loss as to what to do now. I don't think the constant muggy heat has helped...(he hates doing anything in the heat) nor the hard ground which i don't like to run him on. He hasn;t done alot of competeing over the last 18 months as i have had no transport and now i can get him out and about he has no get up and go!

Hes very capable and can jump like a stag when hes on form, but he just doesn't seem to make any effort at the moment. We are meant to be jumping for our riding club team at Hickstead on Sunday but i am all for pulling out as i can't imagine tackling a 3ft course there with him the way he is at the moment. Any help and ideas would be much appreciated...has any one else had this??

I just want him to have a bit of spark back!! At the moment i am just not enjoying riding him so much and pep talks with him are just not working! Hehe. Its so hard to ride a horse thats being so backwards..has anyone else had this??

Thanks everyone.
 
How much water does he drink? is he drinking any less than usual or perhaps not enough during the warmer days, perhaps he's little dehydrated? Is there any difference in how much sweat he produces?
 
It may be worthwhile getting him blood tested to see if he is carrying a low grade infection or if blood count is low first before constantly juggling feed
If he hates the heat may be worthwhile clipping him
 
hey.. I have a 5 year old 17hh warmblood and he can be the same in this horrible muggy weather. A couple of the warmbloods at our yard can be like this.. they are so laid back sometimes and its so difficult to actualy ride them when you're just kicking like hell.

I find it happens when things get into a bit of rutt. He got like this a while ago and i took a look at how i was riding him and I'd become really naggy with my aids and he was ignoring them. Perhaps ask someone to help you and either look at your riding or video you so you can have a look.

I find my aids are much sharper and clearer and he much more forward going. I keep him in a routine and he is doing lots and lots of hacking to get his fitness levels up. Hes off to camp at Pachesham in a week or so so needs to be fit. I find hacking him around 7pm means its cooler and its much more productive. That or first thing in the mornings at the weekend. Hes useless during the hot afternoons though.

Also.. perhaps stabling him inside out of the heat would help?
 
agree the weather can get them down this time of year. Electrolytes and salt have help my lazy horse in the past, and also red cell was like rocket fuel after a few weeks. I give him this just a few times a week now when competing.
 
keep him in 24/7 with limited turnout adlib haylage! When you want a horse to perform it needs energy which you will not have if they've been walking round the field all day and been try to regulate body temp. My competition horse is in 24/7 and he thrives on it. Also get bloods done to check for any issues and redcell is fab really perks them up! And clip this will deffo help with the heat. Im sure your horse will soon be a joy to ride.
 
A view suggestions: Use as little (leg)aids as possible when riding, so he will listen for your next aid. Keep him cool. Change his work to something he likes even better. Get a vet to check him, you wouldn't want to miss an illness! Does he miss someone (has he lost a friend)??
 
try a change of activity and try to only ride when its cool (evenings/mornings)
try naf EnerG /blood liquid
use electrolytes

have a lesson or two or get someone experienced to watch you and help decide if he's actually in front of your leg or not - sounds to me like hes just dropping behind your leg making it hard for you to push him forwards.
 
Sounds EXACTLY like my lazy pony is at the moment.

If he's living out, maybe give him a night in and see if a sleep perks him up?

I'm currently trying propell plus because I can't up my pony's feed portion anymore or he'll put on weight - started him on it on Saturday, so far, so good, he has perked up a little.

Make sure he's getting all his vits and mins (D&H Equibites are a good way to get a full ration of vits and mins into a good doer).

You have my sympathy, I know exactly how frustrating it is, especially when you know what they are capable of. I think you know with your own horse when they're simply taking the pee and ignoring your leg, and the times when it just feels like they've got nothing in the tank...I know at the moment with my pony it's the latter, and it sounds like yours is the same?
 
Yeh definitely Bex, i have had him for almost 8 years so i know him inside out. I appreciate people putting forward ideas about my riding but i have had him a long time and this is only a recent problem. I have regular lessons and did a clinic on him back in May with an instructor i had never used before where he was fab and i was told what a lovely horse he was and that we are a good partnership and i ride him well.

I know what hes capable of and hes just not got his usual ooomph. I am off to get some Propell Plus today and im having a jiggle around with his feed again aswell. So fingers crossed it helps him!

It is really frustrating and disheartening when u try and give them everything they need. If this fails he is due his jabs soon so i will go down the blood test route.

Thank u all so much for your suggestions, they have really helped! I will let u know how he goes!

Cass x
 
That's what my boy was getting like, I went on holiday (so he spent 2 weeks in the field) and now he's back to his old self. Also, it's not as hot now so that probably helps.

Maybe a little holiday in the field may help?
 
OP I have had this problem two summers in a row now and still haven't managed to find anything that really works. I have a Welsh D who is quite lively in the winter but feels like a slug in the summer. Last year I tried lots of different feeds, had her blood tested and nothing showed up, tried her on blood liquid and Propel Plus (the latter just made her really neurotic for some reason so be warned!).

This year she is in a field with more grass, she comes in for the day if I want to ride in the evening, shes on Winergy medium energy feed and I give her salt in the evening depending on how much work she has done. She is marginally better this year but still not the sparky cob I love in the winter.

I'm going XC schooling on Saturday and really hope she has enough fuel in the tank as at the moment she doesn't really want to even canter out hacking. I know I haven't been much help, but someone has said to me that a lot of horse just chill out in the summer and it is part of their personality so there is not a lot you can do to change that.
 
Yeh alot of people have said to me their horses have been like it this summer...its just been so muggy for sucha long time and hardly any rain so the grass hasnt been too great...their paddock isnt too great this year. I think its alot of factors with him, i am going to try the propel as havent before. It may help him i hope!

But yes i think maybe when it cools down and rains a bit it will help him...reassuring to know other people are in the same boat! He is out 24 7 at the mo aswell unless its really hot and then he is in out of the sun so i am going to bring him in for a few nights and se if that perks him up.

Thanks everyone
 
Oscarsmum

I totally disagree about horses that are out 24/7 do not have the energy to perform.

My endurance horses live out 24/7 365 days a year and they compete up to 160k (100 miles) in a day. One of mine has just completed 100k (60miles) at an average speed of 14.86kph. She did not run out of energy in fact she galloped over the line.

warmbloodcrazy

I would have a blood test done. There has been a number of viruses around. I would also talk to a chap called Roger Hatch on 01243551766 I am sure he will be able to help you.

Also just go out and have a fun ride no training or schooling etc, horses do get bored with doing the same thing day in day out.Box up and ride somewhere different.

Where in Surrey are you
 
In your case maybe, but definitely in my case and with most competition horses that compete to top levels are in all the time! Go to any showjumping yard you will see it, also warmbloods naturally don't have the stamina hence why you don't see many round badminton.
 
I thought competition horse were kept in because its easier for the owners and less risk of injury?

I totally disagree there too, the more they are out the fitter they become, the fitter they become the more energy they have............!

Its just the weather, or you have a very laid back horse like I do, I'm just gratefull that when others are bombing and messing about he is his usual ploddy self!
 
I don't agree that being out 24 7 drains their energy to a huge degree. I have always had my horses out 24 7 through summer and they always do well. I seriously believe its this pro longed muggy weather that hasnt helped...hes not good in the heat, nor am i!!

The grass has no goodness in it as its partched. My boy is a big old boy and he doesnt do well stuck in the stable through winter and loves being out in summer. Hes in his stable when its really warm so he has a break and i only ride him early before work or after 6 after work. I went out and got him some Propell Plus yesterday and some slow release energy cubes to feed along side his oats and alfa now. I am going to bring him in for a couple of nights over the weekend so fingers crossed he will perk up. He wasn't so bad last night when we went out for a nice hack.

Fingers crossed.
 
Bless, hope he perks up! Mine's in during the day and flat out for the whole time-had a major sulk when got up to be ridden yesterday and went terribly. I think he must party all night in the field and is knackered every morning!
 
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