horse suddenly showing stress

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sharonmaskell

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I really would like some advice. My horse was bought for me about 18 months ago as a racehorse. He had been point to pointed before that. I had him for one race when he damaged his tendon. He was fired on both front legs, box rested and then turned away for a year. I was visiting him every week (hour drive each way), so when the time came for him to go back into training I decided I did not want to risk losing him on the racecourse. He has been in full livery about 10 mins from my home for the last two months. He is out during the day and in at night. He has also been reschooled by a local eventer, and has behaved like an angel. I have been leading him in from his field every night. Then about two weeks ago he really played up when I was leading him - jumping about and threatening to go up. I am 4ft 11 and he is 17.1! I have since left it to ym to deal with him. fast forward to yesterday. Brought him in mid morning as I now have a lovely girl who is going to ride him for me. Getting him tacked up was a nightmare. He was barging, sweating and acting like we were trying to kill him! To her credit the girl rode him out for a hack, but whilst out his saddle slipped back, he reared twice and she fell off. She was fine and wants to continue to ride him. This morning however he has been weaving like mad, sweating and not eatinghis breakfast (very unlike him). My question is should I use a calmer (if so which one), or do you think I should get the vet out. I should mention he is 8 and a thoroughbred. Thanks.
 
What is he being fed? How much turnout is he having? How busy is the yard? What is his daily routine? How fit is he and how much exercise has he been getting? In order to shed some light on his behaviour, it would be useful to know these things. It may be that he was made quite fit by the event rider and now has nowhere to direct his energy.
 
Wagtail said:
What is he being fed? How much turnout is he having? How busy is the yard? What is his daily routine? How fit is he and how much exercise has he been getting? In order to shed some light on his behaviour, it would be useful to know these things. It may be that he was made quite fit by the event rider and now has nowhere to direct his energy.
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He is out from about 8.00 am and in at 4.00 pm. He is in field with one other horse and they get along great. He has hay and hard feed in stable (chaff and mix). He has been exercised for about an hour three days a week, and, as I stated in my post he has only just began to get back into work. He is on a very small and quiet stable yard. Perhaps I am worrying over nothing. Perhaps he is just being a normal thoroughbred who is starting to get fit?
 
sharonmaskell said:
He is out from about 8.00 am and in at 4.00 pm. He is in field with one other horse and they get along great. He has hay and hard feed in stable (chaff and mix). He has been exercised for about an hour three days a week, and, as I stated in my post he has only just began to get back into work. He is on a very small and quiet stable yard. Perhaps I am worrying over nothing. Perhaps he is just being a normal thoroughbred who is starting to get fit?
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I think you are right. I would probably cut out all his mix and just feed him a balancer in some chaff. Either that, or put him onto a low energy feed such as Pure Easy. I would also lunge him for twenty minutes before riding him. Sounds like he is just full of himself. Regarding the saddle, often saddles can slip back on thoroughbreds. Get him a breastplate to prevent this. I expect the rearing would have been in response to the discomfort of the saddle slipping.
 
Wagtail said:
I think you are right. I would probably cut out all his mix and just feed him a balancer in some chaff. Either that, or put him onto a low energy feed such as Pure Easy. I would also lunge him for twenty minutes before riding him. Sounds like he is just full of himself. Regarding the saddle, often saddles can slip back on thoroughbreds. Get him a breastplate to prevent this. I expect the rearing would have been in response to the discomfort of the saddle slipping.
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The girl riding him said that the saddle slipping did upset him and did not blame him at all. I will be getting him a breastplate tomorrow. Many thanks for advice.
 
If behaviour changes, it's the result of something else changing, and it's a case of working out what :)

Re the calmer, no harm putting him on some magnesium - if he's deficient, he'll be calmer as a result. If it has no effect, he's not deficient in it.
 
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