Horses charactor changing, physical or behavioural??

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482739

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Hello there,
(Also posted in new lounge, you guys might be able to help too! )

I have owned my horse since July, (8year old tb) i brought her as a safe, fun allrounder & my potential 'fun' dressage horse. For first few months, she was the best ride ive ever had, hacked out wonderfully, cantereing etc, no spooking.....

We changed yards after 3 weeks at the first yard due to wanting an arena, since being at this yard her behaviour has changed...shes been gradually getting worse, ie, to start with she would start to spook, but be fine in the arena, then she was getting worse out hacking, i put this down to her testing me, we worked through it etc, all while ive been putting more pressure on her int he arena to work properaly.

The last two weeks, she has been getting gradualy worse, broncing in the arena, being grumpy in the stabke, being on & off her food, the barn shes in is under going major construction works (stress?? shes the type to get stressed easily) i always put it down to her testing me & trying not to work, intill today out hacking, she was loving it, intill we came home (shes usually happily plodding along) she sat on her hinds & reared & reared. could not make her go forward, (i had changed her bit for a different one as she hasnt been out for a while). Had to get off her as she was being down right scary, then led her back where she turnedd & faced me with the saddest face .

My point is, with all the extra 'dressage' schooling & the building works etc etc that she may have devolped ulcers or something worse, she is not the same horse i brought, completly out of charactor, only today has made me sit up & think maybe she has pain thats been niggling at her for ages ?& now it hurts!. Shes only recently had her saddle done (the other day) teeth etc, will be having the physio out again very soon & a spirtual lady thing who ive herd brill thigns about telling you if a horse is in pain etc, & getting a full medical by the vet.....

Would you say that she is testing me or in pain??

I want my nice confidence giving horse back

Tomorrow im going to lunge her & then do lots of fun things in the arena....take the pressure off incase all this pressure has blew her mind abit...then will a break be benificial??


Thanks guys, massive essay, but ive been in tears most of the day, i want my gorgeous horse back
 
What a nightmare! I've got total sympathy for you, I've been in tis position too. Has her food changed at all? Is she on much hard feed? That's the first thing i would do - cut her hard feed right down. No sugar beet, no mix, just some chaff and water and plenty of hay (not haylage). Is the construction in the barn going on while she's in? Or just while she's in the field? If it's going to go on for a while I'd try and do something about it i.e. move her or do something to make it less stressful.

I'd also get an instructor to come out and help me - sometimes having someone else there really gives you confidence and you find the horse goes a lot better for it. Sounds like you're having everything checked which is good.

Good luck - I hope she starts behaving again soon!
 
Hi, thanks, i have an instructor shes coming on weds to see me, the fed she is on is topchop light, naff magic 5star, oil & a tiny bit of speedi beet. So nothing really!

The building goes on till 11/12 at night, they all have to be in at night...she seems perfectly happy in the stable chilled etc, i dont know if its cause she cant relax because of the noise! I just hope somethings found out as i cant go on like this :(. I hacked her out a few weeks ago just down the road & she was fine!. Something just not quite right with her :(.
 
Ulcers are definitely something to consider. In the meantime what sort of diet is she on? It may be worth ensuring (if not already) she has free choice hay/halage and low sugar feed. Magnesium oxide and yea sacc may well be worth giving. Magnesium deficiency can lead to spookyness etc. as well as gut imbalances.
I'm sure the building works wont be helping but I'd also let up on the work too. It's a stressful time for her and asking more may be contributing...
 
Hi, thanks for the replies, your all helping so much, she will be having a trial week off next week, to see if shes any better, im going to see if she will be happy out 24/7, shes alwys waiting to come in!. Shes on topchop light, magic 5 star calmer, abit of sugar beet, will get a handful of high fibre cubes if shes worked hard..and topspec general purpose vits & minerals!.

Yeah her work will be cut down to, she only gets riden 3 times a week! And only 45minutes at that tbh, i jsut dont know what to do :(
 
She's not testing you hun. Only humans think along devious lines like that, not horses. She's trying to tell you something and its something BIG in her view of the world. You need to go right through every single aspect of her care and work and question everything as it would appear from a horse's point of view. You will need to be a regular Sherlock Holmes to track down what the problem is and it might help to keep a diary. I'd be very concerned if she's off-and-on not eating. You also need to challenge yourself and how you ride her. You talk of putting pressure on her to do more/better. Why? You bought her as a fun all rounder so why try to turn her into something she maybe can't cope with? Her conformation may not be right for advanced/intensive dressage. Back off a bit and start taking her out on easy, happy hacks. It sounds to me as if she is hating something and I'd get out the magnifying glass. Save your money on spiritualists poppet - your horse is already talking to you but you aren't listening. Don't get me wrong, it's not easy but you have to help your mare - she sounds adorable x
 
Totally agree with box of frogs.
Some thing is either hurting or stressing her out. It may mean moving yards but better that than a horse you cant have fun with. Which is the whole point as to why so many of us have horses :-)
 
Hi there, yes i do believe that something is hurting her...i lunged her today, & asking for trot she looked sore, eards back etc, so put her away for the night with lots of hay, and warm rugs....and getting the vet out. I think its somethign small sh4es been trying to tell me for a while, & now it hurts alot more, shes reacting more violently to get my attention
 
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