Is my horse autistic?

Re the not holding his head straight, I have noticed this with Appys, my own mare included. She has none of his other symptoms, apart from spooking at shadows and shiney bits of road (sun on wet roads etc) Mine is a clever girl, but does sometimes make a mess of understanding, or believing other horses body language. Sisters IDx told her very clearly not to push her at the gate, told her three times infact, I understood what the IDx was saying, the Appy only got the message when the IDx booted her on the shoulder :eek: She then fell out with the IDx and they never were really friends after that.
Just read about the double whorl on his head, my girl has two too!, one going clockwise, one going anti-clockwise, in the middle of her forehead.
 
I was told that horses can't be autistic, having wondered about mine when I first got him and he'd stand alone at the fence just staring at me for ages. He's not like that now so I wonder if yours will improve?

I does sound like he is having petit mal seizures when he's not responding,or maybe even slightly narcoleptic? In which case, I'd be very wary of riding! He sounds like he's disorientated at times which is typical after a seizure/narcoleptic moment.
 
Izzwall said:
Ah, I just looked up neuro problems in horses, are you thinking of equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1)?

I'm not sure he has a neuro problem, would it affect his gait? Because he has the most stunning paces I have ever seen and when you get him to lengthen in trot he really stretches and flicks his heels.
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No, that's not it.

I knew a lady who got an Appy. She was a nice horse but she would suddenly flip and was always nervy etc. She managed to escape from the jockey door of a 3.5t horsebox whilst in transit during one of her 'episodes' - all 16hh of her :eek:.

Apparantly the sire had a reputation for throwing the odd 'weird one'.

I will say that I didn't know the horse in person (the lady moved to another yard and came back with a different horse a few years later) and couldn't say if the mare had any ongoing pain issues that would explain the behaviour. But the owner was a sensible sort - so she will have had investigations with the vet.
 
Not sure if anyone has mentioned it yet but if not, google Benny the autistic horse. They'll be able to advise you if he is autistic
 
I clicked on this as my mum has always called my lad autistic (not horsey so unaware horses can't have this,just calls it as she sees it!!),guess what my lad is also an appy x bodmin moor pony who came from a local sale down that way:p

Appy's are generally a bit 'special' from what I know of them,but maybe these cornish ones are particularly so lol

My lad is not dim,very sharp in fact.Is definitely spooky and over reacts though (hilarious to ride at times lol),and has always been a bit 'special'.
Also had issues with other horses in the past,and had to be kept alone.

For what it's worth,my lad is now 6 and a absolute diamond in many ways.Bombproof on the roads and when it counts,but can still act like a right twit over a sweet wrapper when the mood takes him:rolleyes:
It's taken 3 long years and a lot of patience to get him there,but like your lad he's the sweetest most affectionate little soul,and I am so glad i stuck with him:).

I would be a bit concerned about the problems with sight and reactions etc,that sounds possibly physical and needs investigating,but as for the behaviours I hate to say it but sounds like a typical appy to me,quirky and frustrating as hell,but also the most rewarding little horses when they finally get over themselves:D
 
I havent read everyone elses answers but deaf springs to mind immediately? Just wonder if he is unaware that any one else is about to kick or you telling him instructions etc and then you have to slap him and he responds???. He seems to sense things as horses should ie your arm/rib etc.Perhaps intelligent in the horsey way. Eyes/hearing? but more hearing?

From photo Whites of eyes,um isnt that supposed to be a bit wild or something(not sure if thats old wives tale)?

He could have a bit of brain damage I suppose ...is the eating the cuts a bit like a dog cleaning them??? But it could be as he was feral perhaps takes knocks a bit easier than some pampered pooch?

Looks a right sweetie. Who knows they all have their different ways just like us. Still early days for him. We had a fine pedigree horse and the other horses never liked him much so thats just the pecking order perhaps.

Good luck interesting to know how he progresses.
 
indie999 said:
From photo Whites of eyes,um isnt that supposed to be a bit wild or something(not sure if thats old wives tale)?
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White schelera around the eyes is a common trait in appaloosas,not wild just normal for them (although they can also be a bit wild of course lol).
 
Reading the OP's post, reminds me a lot of an Appaloosa gelding I bought some years ago.

I only owned him for a few weeks, selling him because he was too much for me.... he did some some 'interesting' things.

1 - he was a bolter. Fantastic on the road/in traffic. Ride in woods/across fields and he'd just take off. Not immediately, but eventually. No warning, no dancing, no fizziness. Just go and was unstoppable, couldn't steer either.

The last time I hacked him was in a wood. He ran straight into the trees where I got knocked off when there was a perfectly nice wide track he could've bolted along.

The other weird thing was the 'fence-running' he did just once. At the yard I had him at, the fence had struts at every other post diagonally into the ground holding the fence posts up (as they were falling over).

And one day 'spotty' just trotted up and down the fence line neighing at the other horses, and tripped up over every fence stake. Fell over, got up, continued on, tripped, fell over, got up..... We couldn't catch him as he just didn't seem to see us... he just kept going, up and down the fence line, falling over and carrying on - we had to dive out of the way.

Eventually my YO's son lassooed the horse!

And once caught he seemed 'to come round' and not understand what was going on.

When the horse was checked by the vet, he couldn't find anything wrong with him and thought maybe the horse had been stung by a bee or something as the 'fence running' had never happened before.

Also, the horse was in a field on his own and seemingly fine with that (I was a temporary livery). Apart from twice, when he jumped in with his neighbours. The YO was stunned at the horses' reaction as they were normally fine with other horses, but they attacked him both times.... and 'spotty' didn't seem to be able to work out how to jump back over the fence so she had to go and rescue him.

I sold him via a dealer, with full disclosure of horses' funny ways... the horse went to a hunting and Eventing home, who loved his 'screw-loose nuttiness'. (I met the woman at a local horse trial and had a chat with her) I just thought the horse was brain damaged!
 
SpruceRI said:
1 - he was a bolter. Fantastic on the road/in traffic. Ride in woods/across fields and he'd just take off. Not immediately, but eventually. No warning, no dancing, no fizziness. Just go and was unstoppable, couldn't steer either.

The last time I hacked him was in a wood. He ran straight into the trees where I got knocked off when there was a perfectly nice wide track he could've bolted along.

The other weird thing was the 'fence-running' he did just once. At the yard I had him at, the fence had struts at every other post diagonally into the ground holding the fence posts up (as they were falling over).

And one day 'spotty' just trotted up and down the fence line neighing at the other horses, and tripped up over every fence stake. Fell over, got up, continued on, tripped, fell over, got up..... We couldn't catch him as he just didn't seem to see us... he just kept going, up and down the fence line, falling over and carrying on - we had to dive out of the way.
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Not saying it explains or applies to the horse you had,but appy's can be very forward and overly responsive,a result I believe of their general intelligence and over reactive nature.My lad doesn't bolt,but get's VERY 'let's go' in open spaces or anywhere he can let off steam,and although not unstoppable I have seen him with another rider be very difficult to get back under control.Maybe it's not too big a leap from that to what you describe??

The running into trees thing made me chuckle,my friends TB took off on a fun ride and only reason he stopped was that he ran into a tree and knocked himself out,guess it's not only appy's who are daft like that lol

The fence thing I have no idea about,but IME appy's are also inclined to be anxious and very 'on the edge' so to speak.I wonder if the fence walking was just exaggerated anxiety?? Perhaps the tension took over and was just reacting and stressing rather than thinking clearly?? You said he was on his own so maybe the need for company and attention overtook his ability to behave sensibly??

Sorry digressing and over thinking:o They just interest me so much with their odd little ways!!
 
How strange, and interesting. I had not heard of dummy foal syndrome before, it makes sense that your horse could have some brain damage. Bless his heart how lovely that he has found you!
 
Hello,
I specialise in autism with children and teens and to be honest he just sounds a little 'simple' I have a pony just like him!
We always say he's got a mossibg brain cell as he forgets how to get up after roll, eats posts all day and is generally a dim horse!
If he's been hand reared like my boy has that an play a big part in why he doesn't like being hit and why he's so sweet and cuddly.
Good luck!
 
Thankyou everyone for your replies!

I'm not sure he was hand reared as he came off Bodmin moor, quite surprising how he lasted 3 years up there! Since he is always cold. I have never known a horse to feel the cold so much, these past few days where the temperature is between 2 and 9 degrees he has to have a heavy weight rug on and sometimes with that on he's still cold to touch.
He's very mouthy as well, everything has go in his mouth, it's like he has a mind of a two year old!

I'm glad I can come home to my mares who are too smart for their own good. Gives me a little break as sometimes you just want to shout at Rambo to just THINK! :D

Devonlass which market did you get your appy from? I got Rambo from Hallworthy in cornwall and his breeder was called T.Steed I think. It took me 5 hours to get him home as apparently his breeder has a reputation of bringing very wild horses! In the end SWEP helped me get him home.

Regarding his riding, he has really come on leaps and bounds, he's still on the lunge with a rider on board just incase he does throw a wobbly but he hasn't so far and you can now extend and collect his trot as well as sit or rise to it. I'm finding the lunging work is really helping him progress as it's simple stuff and he's really starting to find his balance as he gets a bit confused where his feet go, hence his funny positions when he stands still :p
picking out his feet can be a nightmare as he finds it hard to balance on 3 legs
 
Hi Izzywall.
I stumbled on to your thread by pure coincidence but I'm rather glad I did. I myself have a Bodmin Moor horse (well, she's almost a horse, she's 2yo and about 14.1hh) who came off the moor in 2010. She also went to the auctions where a lot of her peers went to the meat man, luckily she was saved by a lady from up my way and she eventually ended up with me!
Anyway, I've always had her down as being a Cob x TB mainly because, from the stallions I was told about that were on the moor, that seemed to be the most suitable fit from her appearance. She's skewbald so would never have presumed her to be half Appaloosa. She indeed has white schlera and striped hooves, but despite having been around horses for nearly 15 years I never knew these were characteristics of the breed. Her mum was a 14.2hh coloured cob apparently and, who knows, my filly and your boy may even have the same sire!
Funnily enough she's a bit dim too, frighteningly so when compared to my PRE. She has a very loyal, loving temperament despite going through a bit of a "terrible twos" stage at the moment. She's just generally quite daft and simple and is very food orientated. To be honest though it makes her a very easy youngster (well, it did, until she became alpha mare in her herd and got a bit full of herself!)

Striped hooves..
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White schlera

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She's also a very slow developer and I think she's going to be a late bloomer to be honest. She still has quite gangly legs, narrow shoulders and generally looks quite immature for a 2 and a half year old!
Oh and PS, I realise how fat she looks in these pictures.. she's also a very good doer especially out on 40 acres. I think her narrow shoulders emphasise what a grass belly she has too! Considering this picture was taken around the same time, the angles you look at her can be quite deceiving.
223797_10151184783816054_1845490627_n.jpg
 
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Hunter93 said:
Hello,
I specialise in autism with children and teens and to be honest he just sounds a little 'simple'
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Although more often than not people with autism (and by that i mean a fair way along the spectrum not people who are high functioning) also have a learning disability or at least a lower than average IQ,despite what silly films like rain man would have you believe;)
That's not a slight BTW,as I work closely with ASD's also,just pointing out that the two traits are not mutually exclusive.

Izzwall said:
He's very mouthy as well, everything has go in his mouth, it's like he has a mind of a two year old!

Devonlass which market did you get your appy from? I got Rambo from Hallworthy in cornwall and his breeder was called T.Steed I think. It took me 5 hours to get him home as apparently his breeder has a reputation of bringing very wild horses! In the end SWEP helped me get him home.

picking out his feet can be a nightmare as he finds it hard to balance on 3 legs
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Lol my lad also like to mouth everything.Bit better now but up until he was gone 5 he was like a teething toddler:rolleyes:

I didn't get him from the sale,his previous owner did.I always assumed it was hatherleigh market TBH,although no idea why but could have just as easily been Holsworthy which is the one you mean i assume?? His breeder was based near Launceston,and his one other owner was near Callington which is where i got him from.There are two or three breeders in Cornwall though,they are related and share stock as i understand it from speaking to the girl who bred my lad (I rang her to get more info on him as i was so baffled by him lol),so is quite tricky to ascertain who came from where and out of who!!

My lad was weaned at the sale at 4 months old:(.His picture on his passport was taken at the sale,last time he was with mum,poor lad.

Took me 4 months to pick up my lads feet properly,not that he couldn't balance so much as was too wary of anything new or that he wasn't sure of,complete drama queen from the word go lol

I have to say he is totally different form your lad if you're sure your lad is a bit dim,as my lad is so sharp he'll cut himself one of these days:rolleyes:
Really fast learner and have to out think him and be one step ahead all the time.
Are you sure your lad is dumb,and you're not just mistaking a different way of thinking for a stupid one?? They really are different from most other types,and think outside the box so to speak,but I would be hesitant to be labelling that as unintelligent just yet;)

legyield said:
Hi Izzywall.
I stumbled on to your thread by pure coincidence but I'm rather glad I did. I myself have a Bodmin Moor horse (well, she's almost a horse, she's 2yo and about 14.1hh) who came off the moor in 2010.
She's skewbald so would never have presumed her to be half Appaloosa. She indeed has white schlera and striped hooves, but despite having been around horses for nearly 15 years I never knew these were characteristics of the breed. Her mum was a 14.2hh coloured cob apparently and, who knows, my filly and your boy may even have the same sire!
Funnily enough she's a bit dim too
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There are many coloured cobs and natives also running on the moor in Cornwall,so is just as likely she is one of these:)

Don't quote me on it,but AFAIK an appy could be few spot,various roans or even solid coloured with some spotted traits,but I think it's highly unlikely if not unheard of to have no appy traits coat wise and be coloured.I think she is exactly what you thought she was a cob x:)
White schelera can also be present to some extent in coloureds eyes,just usually not as pronounced as in an appy.The striping on the hooves again is not exclusively an appy trait,but is one of the traits used to identify and qualntify an appy if that makes sense??
Mottled skin is another very common trait present in nearly all appy's,I can't see any in your girl,in fact her muzzle looks distinctly pink and cob like to me;)

I could well be wrong and am no expert by any means,but to me your girl looks like a coloured cob or cob type/cross,I can't see any appy in her at all.She's very lovely all the same,and probably far easier than if she were an appy.
Cobs are also more typically a bit slow like you describe,despite OP's problems with her lad most appy's are actually clever and very switched on.
 
devonlass said:
There are many coloured cobs and natives also running on the moor in Cornwall,so is just as likely she is one of these:)

Don't quote me on it,but AFAIK an appy could be few spot,various roans or even solid coloured with some spotted traits,but I think it's highly unlikely if not unheard of to have no appy traits coat wise and be coloured.I think she is exactly what you thought she was a cob x:)
White schelera can also be present to some extent in coloureds eyes,just usually not as pronounced as in an appy.The striping on the hooves again is not exclusively an appy trait,but is one of the traits used to identify and qualntify an appy if that makes sense??
Mottled skin is another very common trait present in nearly all appy's,I can't see any in your girl,in fact her muzzle looks distinctly pink and cob like to me;)

I could well be wrong and am no expert by any means,but to me your girl looks like a coloured cob or cob type/cross,I can't see any appy in her at all.She's very lovely all the same,and probably far easier than if she were an appy.
Cobs are also more typically a bit slow like you describe,despite OP's problems with her lad most appy's are actually clever and very switched on.
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Thanks for the input :D
I wrote that post then soon after actually thought, is there such a thing as a half appaloosa that's coloured? Is it possible? I'm not really into genetics and breed traits so don't know! She's definitely half cob though
But always interesting to find someone else who has a horse off of Bodmin. Perhaps thats why she absolutely adores living out, 24/7, in all weather on a 40 acre field!
 
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Sorry OP, not got time to read to the end of the posts but the behaviour you describe sounds to me almost like a blind horse! Not responding to other horses' body language, bumping them with his nose, following you like a dog, not knowing his haynet is there, funny eyes... Are you sure he can see? You can do a very basic "startle" test. Stand by his head and go to bring your hand very fast up to his face as if you were going to hit him hard. Stop an inch away and see if he startles, ie flinches back. Not a perfect test by any means as a blind or partially blind horse will have taught himself to get by from different cues eg the movement of air near him, but it's certainly worth investigating. He looks an absolute poppet and I'm glad he found you. If he is blind or partially blind, PM me as there's a million ways you can help him stay happy and safe starting with finding him a safe companion and tying a cow bell round the companion's neck so he could always find him/her x
 
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