Horse grumpy when it’s cold

[blackponies02]

My horse is an absolute delight when it’s sunny or just a mild temperature but the minute it’s cold, he turns into an absolute beast! I was wondering if this could be arthritis - he’s older and doesn’t get particularly stiff as such but can be reluctant which comes across as laziness although I’m not convinced he is just lazy! This gets worse when it’s cold - does anybody have an arthritic horse and has noticed this change? Planning on getting the vet out anyway for a chat and check up but wanted some other people’s thoughts. TIA xx

 

[Dexter]

Sounds like it could also be PSSM which sadly vets know very little about. It depends if he has always been that way or not though

 

[paddi22]

yeah my older arthritic one is like this. cold damp weather. really triggers it. I do massage on him and I can feel how much sorer and stiffer his body is. I found the back on track rugs really helped to warm up his back before I ride, and im really careful to warm him up slowly.

 

[sjdress]

Yes my arthritic horse gets grumpy and also a bit wild in the cold! I now slightly overrug her which keeps her much happier

 

[catembi]

How do you mean, a beast? My PSSM horse (n/p1, n/p3, px/px) really really hates being cold & especially hates cold & wet. His face looks really miserable & he moves stiffly & does lots of strange stretching with odd sighing noises. He would be very spooky & explosive under saddle (normally v v laid back) and would collapse under saddle. Retired at 7.

 

[blackponies02]

He’s difficult from the minute I take him in, just bargey and not happy at all doing anything, ridden he will rear and buck and have an absolute tantrum - I’m confident dealing with all these things but wondering if it could be put down to pain. The only variant in the days is the weather - his routine is exactly the same, his tack is fitted to him etc.

 

[catembi]

Hair DNA test? Then at least you'll know. Type 1 - send hair to Cornwall. It's £30. Type 2 - send hair to Equisec in Germany (I think). It's towards £300 as they have recently added more variants to the test. Then you'll know one way or the other.

 

[blackponies02]

Hair DNA test? Then at least you'll know. Type 1 - send hair to Cornwall. It's £30. Type 2 - send hair to Equisec in Germany (I think). It's towards £300 as they have recently added more variants to the test. Then you'll know one way or the other.

thank you, I’ll look into it and see if I can get some answers! x

 

[meleeka]

My welsh mare is evil if it’s cold. I’m she’s a bit arthritic and she does feel the cold more as she’s ages, so is well rugged when needed.

 

[littleshetland]

one of mines a PRE and only been here in the UK for 8 months. He's survived the winter well as I rugged him well and he was a happy chappy, but Ive been caught out a bit this spring as he's gone out without a rug and got a proper cold soaking......he was furious and extremely unhappy. As soon as he was back in his warm stable he was his usual lovely self. He's all fit and well, certainly not arthritic, works like a trooper in the coldest of weather, because he's working. He just doesn't like rain and cold....and who can blame him!

 

[ThreeWBs]

My old arthritic guy isn't grumpy in the cold, but he's certainly miserable! He soon cheers up with his rug back on.
I try my best to rug to the situation, but I can't be there 24/7, as much as I'd like to be!

 

[littleshetland]

He’s difficult from the minute I take him in, just bargey and not happy at all doing anything, ridden he will rear and buck and have an absolute tantrum - I’m confident dealing with all these things but wondering if it could be put down to pain. The only variant in the days is the weather - his routine is exactly the same, his tack is fitted to him etc.

I had a beautiful Gelderlander from age 3. He was pretty much anyones ride - always tried his best, was kind and consistent and always a good boy. As Ive gotten older, Ive found myself to be a fair-weather rider and definitely avoid the rain, and very rarely rode in it, only getting wet when I got caught out in a shower, so the big gelderlander was fairly secure in the knowledge that if it was raining, work was off - happy days! One day my teenage daughter wanted to ride him (bit of showing off to the latest boyfriend I think..) and it was raining pretty hard. Got him to the arena, got on him and he bucked her off straight away then strolled to the arena gate and waited to be put back in! He'd never done it before, and never did it again afterwards. I can only assume he really didn't want to work in the rain. He was an absolute gent, and if you got caught out in the rain, that was fine, he'd carry on. If he was out in the field - that was ok too....but if he could avoid the weather, he would. I had him til age 23 - I do miss him.

 

[rabatsa]

Mine with SI and hock issues is really grumpy in cold winds. So much so that the other equines will not go near him.

 

[AUB]

This rider is also grumpy when it’s cold...