Horse gone nutty - help!

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melv1lle

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My horse has gone a bit "mental" recently (sorry can't think of a more technical term
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) ) and I wondered if anyone had any ideas or thoughts?? He is pretty sharp at the best of times but in the last week or so has been a liability to ride - throwing us around, taking off suddenty, LOTS of snorting, etc. I was away over Christmas and NY and so had him on full livery so I am wondering if this has anything to do with it or if it is the weather. My thoughts so far are:

1) He has decided he hates me and thinks I am a hopeless rider
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(am using my TFT to get over this one!)

2) He is feeling bouncy because he only had light work when I was away and went on walks round the track with other horses. Now I am back we are in the school in the evenings and he is on his tod.

3) The weather has blown his brains away and the wind is winding him up

What do people think??
 
definately the weather. try lunging him if its really windy instead. then he can gallop or do whatever and let of steam then you can settle him down and make him work properly once hes got it out of his system.
 
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try lunging him if its really windy instead

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Or be safe and don't ride if it's very windy. Why kill yourself.....
 
2 and 3 - can you cut out any hard feed and just give ad lib hay until he calms down. Is he getting turnout? Might be worth giving him a lunge before getting on if he is the sort that this works for.
 
What including the "he hates me" reason? Oh dear, I just thought that was me being hysterical
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I am glad to hear though that some think better off just to lunge if the horse is being too much. I spend so much of my time worrying that I am not a good enough rider for him and that lungeing is chickening out that I forget the whole thing is supposed to be enjoyable
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I am lucky in the fact that my mare is in at the moment and is perfect to ride in this weather, however I know that everyone else is struggling with their horses being wild
 
My TB is also a little nutty at the moment - combination of being kept in, wind, rain etc. having said that though, she never does anything naughty, just very on her toes and spooky.

Strangely I find her calmer when she is kept in than when she's on turn out.

It's frustrating when you're attempting a decent schooling session though...

Sorry this isn't very helpful. Sure he doesn't hate you!
 
I'd say lack of work and weather. In the summer they tend to be a bit more chilled in the heat and there really is truth in the expression 'wind up their tail'

Make sure you lunge/ride him every day. I don't have a choice but to lunge as my tack got nicked but alteast he's doing a good 15/20 a day - it's actually helping with his canter transitions too so hopefully can transfer to the saddle once I get it.

Up the work though xx
 
maybe he's in pain somehow so check his saddle, bridle and teeth,or just hyper cause of the wind. You could try lunging him before you ride to take a bit of excitement out of him or....uh... that's all I can think of really! Anyway hope he calms down again. Good luck!
P.S. Lovin da blog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <font color="purple"> </font>
 
First of all... don't worry! You're NOT alone! This wild horrid weather really seems to have unsettled lots of horses recently - Combine this with you having been off during christmas and the fact that you're probably feeling guilty for this (well... it's only natural isn't it? LOL!
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It's human nature to point blame at ourselves afterall!!!)
Definitely don't put yourself in danger - work him from the ground - lunge or long rein to help settle him - if he's feeling full of "whoopee" loose school him for 5 mins before you work him - let him have a buck and a fart to get it out of his system! I know H has grown horns recently and I'm just riding the storm at the moment - so I can sympathise with you!
Good luck
Kate x
 
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