How to stop Noah hooning?! Lengthy, sorry!

[HollyWoozle]

I know this is asking the impossible but I need some advice on what to do with Noah. He had bone spavin surgery on hock in April followed by 1 month of box rest then 1 month turned out in small paddock coming in at night. After that he was turned out in the main field (about 3 or a bit more acres and shaped a bit like a C around a small lake) with horse and 2 ponies.

He hated being locked in and found it all quite stressful and dropped weight. We did our best for him, always making sure he had company in the next stable at night and ad lib hay, but he was very miserable as they usually live out 24/7. When he was turned out in the smaller paddock, he eventually just paced the fence for hours. We could shut a pony in with him but he just wants to be with Belle in the main field.

95% of the time he is fine turned out, very relaxed, but every now and then he is prone to mad hooning about. He did this once when a hot air balloon came over and got up on 3 legs (the operated leg held up!). He did no permanent damage and vets were not worried, he was weight-bearing again pretty quickly, but obviously this is not good! The other day it rained and he galloped about madly... I ran out to stop him but same thing again as he just slid around. Vet came yesterday and say he can't really undo the operation or anything but we should obviously try to stop him charging around. He has a lump on the joint now too from generally being a pillock.

My question is - what would you do? It can take 6 - 9 months to come sound (if successful) after the operation so he still has a good way to go and this madness isn't helping. We can lock him in constantly, lock him in overnight (which could potentially make him even livelier when out), shut him in smaller paddock (where he just paces and paces and calls for the others) or just leave him and hope for the best. We could maybe try some sort of calmer?

I am really in a panic over it as I just don't know what to do! It makes me feel sick if he starts to charge around so I just keep giving him hay to keep him quiet.

Any thoughts much appreciated!

 

[AmyMay]

Apart from locking him up - which obviously you can't do - I don't think there is much you can do.

Not much help, sorry

 

[ThePony]

I would be inclined to leave him tbh. He is where he wants to be, with the company he wants, so I think that if you were to restrict either of these things he would just be more wound up when he went back to her! Has he been back out in the larger field with belle for long? If not then it is prob just 'whoo I feel well' high jinks! If he isn't settling and the vet is concerned that a hoon about could damage him, then can you put both of them together in a smaller field? At least as a short term measure? If the vet isn't overly worried then I would try and brave it out, horses will always do things that make us cringe (it's practically a full time job with our pair of geniuses!!), but they are tough things and although it looks scary, a horse won't put themselves in danger or cause themselves pain. If he is a bit bored, are you able to lead him inhand? Maybe some ground work exercises and in-hand hacks might give him a bit of mental stimulation to take the edge off?

 

[Dizzydancer]

My boy is currently on restricted turnout as he is lame but he also goes hooning about at any opportunity. He has to go in 6acre field as he just gallops up and down smaller paddock fence. He is now on a calmer everyday to try and settle him which it does seem to be doing, and he is coming in at night to stop that being an issue. He is an ex racer loves to be out but he is now much more settled in this routine (day 4) and has been on calmer for 3weeks now (equiform liquid). He actually comes up to come in and aslong as when he goes in field i walk him to the nearest horse he doesnt tank off down the field.
So my suggestion is try a calmer get a good one though and it maybe trial and error or ask vets for sedalin for him.

 

[orionstar]

Afyy had her op on both back legs and after the nightmare of enforced stable rest before, this time I tried her on Horse First relax me magnesium calmer and we havent got anymore hoof shaped ventilation holes in the stable walls! She even manages to contain herself out on walks so I'd give it a try.

 

[HollyWoozle]

Thanks for the advice and suggestions. I think I will just have to try and get over stressing myself out about it and perhaps look at calmers (like the one suggested) to try and take the edge of him (maybe I should have some too!).

Silly horses.