Horse becoming grumpy of an evening only not like being brushed or saddle on.

[JCbruce]

Hello,

My young horse is becoming grumpy being brushed out side his stable of an evening and having his saddle on of an evening. Does not do it in the mornings and won’t do it of an evening if I give him a lick while I brush and tack up. Usually a very happy lovely horse. There has been several changes recently so it could be a combination just wondering what people have found to help in this situation.

-firstly up until a few months ago I wasn’t happy with his saddle fit (was fitter by a master saddle fitter) so I got him a new saddle by a different saddle fitter. With his only saddle he started putting his ears back and going to bite and was loads better with his new saddle.
-recent change in the yard all new horses have come and his best friend got sold
- only gets grumpy of an evening when he gets brushed and tacked up and everyone else is going out if I get him out and brush him before they go 90% of the time he’s fine.

Usually just moves away from you and puts his ears back. If you give him loads of scratches he chills out and wants a cuddle.

He’s been seen recently by a mctimmony and a vet physio and check up by the vet no concerns.

I was thinking maybe if I’m in a rush to get on and go out to give him his lick and on the days I have time spend loads of time doing ground work. And putting saddle on taking it off treat.

He only moves away when you put the saddle on doesn’t mind being girthed etc and like I said doesn’t mind anything in the mornings when I ride only if I ride of an evening.

Looking for advice to make him a happy chappy again. Please no nasty comments, thank you

 

[Bobthecob15]

Sounds like a daft question but what does he do during the day? Is he eating in the field? Has he got plenty of grass etc? A horse at my yard gets very grumpy in the evening and it turned out that she was hungry, hardly any grass in the field. Moved fields to one with loads of grass and she is now fine. Hunger can make them behave oddly!

Has he been checked for ulcers? Change in their routine, environment etc can cause stress and they can develop x

 

[blitznbobs]

Are all the horses going out at night and you are keeping him in to ride? Cos if so - he probably is just p’d off he isn’t going out

 

[JCbruce]

Sounds like a daft question but what does he do during the day? Is he eating in the field? Has he got plenty of grass etc? A horse at my yard gets very grumpy in the evening and it turned out that she was hungry, hardly any grass in the field. Moved fields to one with loads of grass and she is now fine. Hunger can make them behave oddly!

Has he been checked for ulcers? Change in their routine, environment etc can cause stress and they can develop x

In during the day out at night loads of hay and grass. Haven’t checked for ulcers but always cautions of them since I backed him. On a gut balancer.

Doesn’t show any other typical ulcer signs calm as a cucumber happy chappy to ride etc. not sure if it’s worth going through the stress of that and having it on my insurance.

 

[JCbruce]

Are all the horses going out at night and you are keeping him in to ride? Cos if so - he probably is just p’d off he isn’t going out

Yeah i am. I think so too and he’s young so perhaps he’ll just learn that he’s a working boy now and this is life

 

[blitznbobs]

So basically he is waiting to go out and his friends go out and you keep him in to do work and wonder why he is not overly happy about it?

 

[JCbruce]

So basically he is waiting to go out and his friends go out and you keep him in to do work and wonder why he is not overly happy about it?

But he did the same last year and it wasn’t an issue. I’m not really sure there is anyway around it he must be ridden and I can only do after work

 

[Miss_Millie]

But he did the same last year and it wasn’t an issue. I’m not really sure there is anyway around it he must be ridden and I can only do after work

Can you not leave him out 24/7 and just bring him in to ride?

 

[ycbm]

I think you probably have the answer above but is he fed anything different in the morning from what he is fed at night?

I have seen this behaviour in reverse, getting grumpy in the morning, in a horse feed something that didn't agree with him the night before. It wore off during the day and by evening he was a lot happier.
.

 

[JCbruce]

Can you not leave him out 24/7 and just bring him in to ride?

No unfortunately not he wouldn’t have any friends to go out with I follow the rest of the liveries and he is my only horse

 

[JCbruce]

I think you probably have the answer above but is he fed anything different in the morning from what he is fed at night?

I have seen this behaviour in reverse, getting grumpy in the morning, in a horse feed something that didn't agree with him the night before. It wore off during the day and by evening he was a lot happier.
.

Same morning and evening bit of chaff and balancer. He has to wait for his dinner untill he’s ridden but I usually give him a handful of chaff before

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

If the saddle fit wasn't great it could be a bit of a learned pain response when he sees the saddle, it can sometimes take a while to realise something doesn't hurt anymore.

 

[Orangina]

No unfortunately not he wouldn’t have any friends to go out with I follow the rest of the liveries and he is my only horse

If your livery yard allows 24/7 turnout I would ask if anyone else is interested in joining you (only if it suits your horse's health needs of course if he doesn't need limited grazing etc that would make this difficult).

 

[Caol Ila]

Are other horses kept in (until their owners show up) as well or is he by himself?

My youngster got fidgety about the saddle when it didn't fit. Got saddle fitter, new saddle, yadda, yadda, then used clicker training to (re)train standing still while I put it on. She'd got into the habit of anticipating discomfort. Horse was already clicker trained, so the tools were there. It didn't take long to sort out.