Horse becoming a little too fiesty

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poiuytrewq

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Not mine (chance would be a fine thing!) but my daughters pony.
I know all the obvious but its unpreventable he's cooped up at night and she's unable to ride as much with the darker evenings. I make absolute certain he's out every single day rain or shine, hes fed a few handfuls of Happy Hoof and dry hay.
Hes a Connemara x and about 6 years old. Quite a nervous little chap but recently (probably due to the above) hes just getting too fresh.
We are very limited as to where we can ride currently as work is being done to drain the bridleway near us and its very wet so unpassable.
He's jogging everywhere, dancing round spooking quite violently and being quite strong and bolshy. Im starting to almost dread taking them out. He wont hack alone in traffic so I cant take him myself in the day as our area is very busy.
We try and do something most days with him but its literally half an hour and that's pushing it for light.
Any tried and tested calmer that actually works?
 
oh dear sounds an anxious time! Do you have an area where you can lunge him? Sounds like he is just being his age and type in winter without enough work, particularly so is he is clipped and fresh. I would stop feeding the happy hoof for now. And before I tried a calmer i would see if a freelance groom who will ride stronger than your daughter can hack out with you in daytime to take the edge off him. In my view calmers are good for exceptional stuff like bonfire night or a show etc but not a good everyday solution. Good luck.
 
Give him some Calmag or Magox - any magnesium supplement really. With all this rain most fields are deficient in magnesium and it can really make them spooky and unpleasant to ride.
 
Certainly is anxious!
Not really anywhere to lunge- although I am going to approach a guy down the road who has a tiny school (too small to ride but ok to lunge apparently)
I cant really afford to pay a groom, but I do already pay a girl £10 a week to give him a short hack, actually shes been away the past few weeks- maybe that's contributing?!
How about the Blue chip calmer stuff- its a liquid I cant recall the name but have heard its fairly good?
I think I have to feed something as he does drop off in winter and we have little grass?
Thanks for ideas so far :-)
 
If you have a horse maybe you could ride and lead, and the pony would get some extra exercise? My mum used to do that with my very naughty 12.2hh off her huge hunter!
 
Mariposa said:
If you have a horse maybe you could ride and lead, and the pony would get some extra exercise? My mum used to do that with my very naughty 12.2hh off her huge hunter!
Click to expand...

This would be my ideal however he naps on the way out and therefore needs either a rider or someone behind to get him to go forward
 
Advertise for a sharer, or someone needing one to ride. Then one of you ride yours & the other ride pony. And even with just half an hour, your daughter can make it intense work rather than long & slow. Or if you have transport find an arena to hire once or twice a week.
 
Been advertising locally and on preloved and equine adverts for a rider/sharer for either of our horses since this time last year. I would ride him if someone wanted to ride mine but the only interest I get is also school kids so same problem with daylight or novices which he very definitely isn't!
 
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