Shoei
Well-Known Member
I'm looking for any advice or experience really.
My horses behaviour has gradually deteriorated since the end of October last year.
It started with napping when leaving home, which escalated to full blown panic rearing and spinning at the same time. He remained fine in the arena both at home and away.
He then started to get very stressed about three months ago, so I put him on Hack Up Calmer, which seems to help some days and others I'm not so sure. I have also used the instant calmer with him again, works some days and not others.
He is very stressed, short shallow breathing and completely on edge. He will either work beautifully and relaxed or feel like you are riding a bomb! Quite often in the same session.
He has had a month of due to an outbreak of dermatitis from a fly allergy. The vet, dentist and physio have checked him over and all feel it is behavioural.
To try and build his confidence, whilst he has been off work, I have done lots of ground work with him, taking him for walks, clicker training and other games to desensitise him.
He has been back in work for a week. Nothing strenuous, lunging, ridden, walks and groundwork.
The behaviour is not getting any better, he has started to be mildly nappy in the arena. He is the same in the field and around the yard. Yesterday he paniced when the dog sneezed and today he took off across the yard for no apparent reason.
I'm really at my whits end. He has always been a nervous horse but he seems to have completely regressesed and undone all our work.
He is a 12 year old Gelderlander, kept at home (so fairly quiet environment).
Any help gratefully received as I sob into me tea!
My horses behaviour has gradually deteriorated since the end of October last year.
It started with napping when leaving home, which escalated to full blown panic rearing and spinning at the same time. He remained fine in the arena both at home and away.
He then started to get very stressed about three months ago, so I put him on Hack Up Calmer, which seems to help some days and others I'm not so sure. I have also used the instant calmer with him again, works some days and not others.
He is very stressed, short shallow breathing and completely on edge. He will either work beautifully and relaxed or feel like you are riding a bomb! Quite often in the same session.
He has had a month of due to an outbreak of dermatitis from a fly allergy. The vet, dentist and physio have checked him over and all feel it is behavioural.
To try and build his confidence, whilst he has been off work, I have done lots of ground work with him, taking him for walks, clicker training and other games to desensitise him.
He has been back in work for a week. Nothing strenuous, lunging, ridden, walks and groundwork.
The behaviour is not getting any better, he has started to be mildly nappy in the arena. He is the same in the field and around the yard. Yesterday he paniced when the dog sneezed and today he took off across the yard for no apparent reason.
I'm really at my whits end. He has always been a nervous horse but he seems to have completely regressesed and undone all our work.
He is a 12 year old Gelderlander, kept at home (so fairly quiet environment).
Any help gratefully received as I sob into me tea!