Hysterical horse

siennamum

siennamum

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I am not really expecting any solutions to my problem, am venting, and wondering on the offchance if anyone has any insight.

My 6 year old gelding can get himself hysterical about things.

I wondered if he is riggy and if he gets hormonal and it drives him to bouts of irrationality, and shall get him blood tested.

He has a complete melt down if you try and 'make' him do certain things. There is a small drainage ditch on one of our hacks, he will not go near it, and will throw himself around if you try and make him for instance.

Technically at the moment he is on box rest for a mild tweak on one front leg, started box rest Saturday. I had to give this up yesterday as he was threatening to jump out of his stable. He had to be turned out. He was ok in the field but played constantly - while I waited for him to completely break down. He came in last night, hysterical. It's like when your old hunter heard the hounds after a break, he was shaking, pooing, sweating, refusing to stand or eat, snorting, hysterical if I walked away from him and refusing to stay in his stable. It took a an hour of me sitting in my car watching him till he gave up on me coming back before he settled & started eating. There was no event we can discern which set him off - field mates are perfectly fine.

This morning he has been turned out & is threatening to go exploring, he is up and down the fence line and refusing to settle in his field. Normally he is the most placid and happy person.

I've the vet coming later today to see if he needs box rest or if in fact I can start working him (he hasn't been ridden for a couple of weeks, which is probs the issue). I shall get some ACP and drug him for a few days in all probability.

Anyone have any suggestions about what it could be or do you think he is just a nutter. He gets no food, is on hay & lots of turnout - although I gave him Superflex and Devil's Claw Thursday and Friday to aid his recovery.
 
Haha, you have cheered me up. I suspect you are right, he does have temper tantrums at regular intervals.

Rescue Remedy is a good idea - thanks.
 
Yes my mare is exactly the same and then the next day not a peep!

I also use a natural version of superflex as she goes nuts on other stuff, you could also try agnus castus if he continues to be riggy :D
 
KierelyMiss said:
Yes my mare is exactly the same and then the next day not a peep!

I also use a natural version of superflex as she goes nuts on other stuff, you could also try agnus castus if he continues to be riggy :D
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That is VERY interesting. I really thought I might be imagining things thinking it was the Superflex, but maybe not. tbh, the only reason I gave him it is because I worried he has tweaked himself & I have some to use up, I thought I am nothing lost - shan't make that mistake again.
 
siennamum said:
That is VERY interesting. I really thought I might be imagining things thinking it was the Superflex, but maybe not. tbh, the only reason I gave him it is because I worried he has tweaked himself & I have some to use up, I thought I am nothing lost - shan't make that mistake again.
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Yep did the exact same with with cortaflex and gelatin! NEVER again :D

pm if you want details of a natural supplies website!
 
I have been trying to find out the specifics recently as her passport only says ISH x tb, with no breed info! I know her mum and dad were both at writtle college... not very helpful :rolleyes:
 
Does he do it when he has very calm company? Like an older, been there done that type who he respects, that will just stay relaxed while he's stressing?
 
He has a range of field companions, from a 4 year old to a 17 year old. he is generally really calm and content. He just gets these moods on him. When he is stressed the only thing that calms him down is me, last night he would have liked me to sleep in his box with him, he was quite snappy with old chum in the next box as he wanted to keep him away from me. I had to hide in the car so he stopped playing up for attention.
 
I have to say that's not what I'd call a tantrum and it can surely only be made worse by someone standing and watching him when he's sure they should be bringing him his grub.

btw when you say chaff, do you mean just chopped straw wth nothing in it or is it molassed or alfalfa or a branded product?
 
To be fair, he's very very good at being 6!!!!

I'd start some firm and clear groundwork to underline exacty who is in charge so that - hopefully - it would give him reassurance that someone else is in charge of tiger-spotting!
 
Ok I would try ignoring him just the minimum imput for care no cuddles treats time spent fussing just trt reat him like a busy groom would in a busy yard some horses do do this I have one I have to be very careful how much attention I give him or he becomes a pain.
You must ignore the behaviour completly he must not get attention from acting up.
However I would wish if your horse where mine to discount him having stomach ulcers which can cause this type of behaviour.
 
Dee O'Dorant said:
I have to say that's not what I'd call a tantrum and it can surely only be made worse by someone standing and watching him when he's sure they should be bringing him his grub.

btw when you say chaff, do you mean just chopped straw wth nothing in it or is it molassed or alfalfa or a branded product?
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I must have boring horses normally then, I think that's a lot of fuss when his food is being made. I was sitting watching while my son made up the feeds. I think the behaviour is pretty poor tbh.
 
Goldenstar said:
Ok I would try ignoring him just the minimum imput for care no cuddles treats time spent fussing just trt reat him like a busy groom would in a busy yard some horses do do this I have one I have to be very careful how much attention I give him or he becomes a pain.
You must ignore the behaviour completly he must not get attention from acting up.
However I would wish if your horse where mine to discount him having stomach ulcers which can cause this type of behaviour.
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You could be right. He playacts and gets titbits and fuss from various people on the yard. I really think he's just too bright and gets bored. Less might be more.
He had a yawning session yesterday after I had left him, while I was spying on him. I immediately thought ulcers, though possibly just a release of tension. I shall speak to the vet later.
I may try to enforce an ignore Coco regime on the yard.
 
Box_Of_Frogs said:
To be fair, he's very very good at being 6!!!!

I'd start some firm and clear groundwork to underline exacty who is in charge so that - hopefully - it would give him reassurance that someone else is in charge of tiger-spotting!
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He was pretty good at being 4 and 5 as well!!!

He behaves impeccably most of the time, aside from attention seeking & is very respectful on the ground generally I have to say, he does have an ego the size of a planet & needs reminding who is in charge on a regular basis.
 
Behaves just like my 2.5yo at tea time, except we get back end acrobatics aswell as front!

I stopped making his feeds where he could see me. That helped at tea time as he'd started to bash his head on the top of the stable with his rearing.

He's really quite gorgeous btw
 
Toast said:
Behaves just like my 2.5yo at tea time, except we get back end acrobatics aswell as front!

I stopped making his feeds where he could see me. That helped at tea time as he'd started to bash his head on the top of the stable with his rearing.

He's really quite gorgeous btw
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Thank you, he knows he is handsome, probably that's the problem. He gets excited if anyone walks towards the feedroom. I think in future he will have his food made up before he comes into his stable. I hate the rearing at the door, he has been stuck on it in the past & it nearly killed him, so dread a repeat of that.
 
Very similar to Lacey, not surprising considering they're full siblings!
However, she doesn't rear at feed times though her stock in trade is that head swipe.

TBH, I certainly wouldn't be giving any treats at all by hand other than possibly something at the end of a ride but never at any other time; the behaviour of my youngsters since they stopped getting a mint at bedtime is so much better, they don't look for or expect anything now by hand, so much better for all of us.

If it were me, I'd either have feeds made up before he comes in so there's no time for messing about or put a top door on and shut it while making feeds so he has nothing to get his feet hooked on.

Agree totally with Goldenstar with the deal with but don't fuss him, he's just another horse attitude but be sure to be the same with your others too; it's amazing how stroppy horses can get by too much attention I think and they need putting back in their place so that they know the boundaries.

Hope his leg isn't too serious.
 
Maesfen said:
Very similar to Lacey, not surprising considering they're full siblings!
However, she doesn't rear at feed times though her stock in trade is that head swipe.

TBH, I certainly wouldn't be giving any treats at all by hand other than possibly something at the end of a ride but never at any other time; the behaviour of my youngsters since they stopped getting a mint at bedtime is so much better, they don't look for or expect anything now by hand, so much better for all of us.

If it were me, I'd either have feeds made up before he comes in so there's no time for messing about or put a top door on and shut it while making feeds so he has nothing to get his feet hooked on.

Agree totally with Goldenstar with the deal with but don't fuss him, he's just another horse attitude but be sure to be the same with your others too; it's amazing how stroppy horses can get by too much attention I think and they need putting back in their place so that they know the boundaries.

Hope his leg isn't too serious.
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It doesn't really occur to me that too much attention isn't always a good thing, but GS & your comments do make sense. I am a shocker for kisses & cuddles and mine are always really fussy.

Yesterday when I attempted box rest I gave him a snack ball & when I brought him back in the barn it was outside his stable & he lunged for it like a terrier after a rat - think the oncept of an object you can beat up & force food from is too much for his small brain tbh. Think it may have been a tantrum because I took his new toy away.
 
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