Is this normal?

[Belle90]

Hey . So I have a 5 year old TB cross cob. He is more Tb though . He's always been forward but sensible. Enough for a beginner to feel safe on him . The last month though it feels like someone had swapped him! He's spooking at everything . Bucking , rearing , bolting! Screaming when I ask for canter . After a week of this I've had the vet out . He's perfectly healthy and his back and saddle are fine . Also has teeth checked . So there off my list ! Took him for a hack tonight and out or the blue he's bolted through traffic and galloped . I was totally out of control .He's only ridden in a loose ring snaffle. So when I got back I took him in the school and he's spooked at little birds and a twig ! He's flying around his field like a mad man . My friends on the yard have said it's spring fever . I'm thinking of getting him a calmer but magnesium sends him even worse and I dont want to putting him in a stronger bit . I'm new to horse ownership and would love some advice on how to handle his silly behaviour . Oh by the way on the ground his manners are impeccable . It's just on his back he's a nutter x

 

[L&M]

Oh dear poor you...

What is his 'routine' ie turnout/feed/excercise etc as may give clues to his behaviour?

Also do you have someone who can help, such as an instructor?

When my horse is like this i always lunge for a good while too take the tickle out of him.

There are herbal calmers also available that do not contain magnesium, or google valerian if you do not compete (it is a calmer that is not competition legal).

I would also suggest you do not hack him out near traffic until you have got to the bottom of the behaviour.

Good luck and hopefully it is just a spot of spring fever - my youngster is very spooky atm with the grass coming through, if that is making you feel better!

 

[Belle90]

He is turned out in the day and in at night . The small paddock that he does have doesn't have much grass but he gets plenty of hay . He has a scoop of healthy tummy twice a day . I try to school him 3 to 4 times a week and have either after schooling him or straight out on a hack depending on his mood . On the lunge he's a nightmare pulling me about . I've got an instructor coming out today to take a look at him so fingers crossed. I don't compete so ill be looking into valerian thanks !

 

[Primitive Pony]

'He's perfectly healthy and his back and saddle are fine . Also has teeth checked .'

Do you mean he had a saddle check, dentist and physio session since these problems started? - Saddle problems can happen almost overnight, and I say this with very recent experience of having a chiropractor and saddler to see my horse at the start of the year, problems with saddle fit since having it reflocked and him changing shape didn't quite kick in until about a week after the chiro saw him, so when his behaviour changed I initially thought he was being silly/spring grass etc but didn't quite trust myself with that, so got a physio out to see him and he was in a lot of discomfort, largely from the saddle but also some other muscle pain that the chiro hadn't picked up on. And got the dentist and yes, he needed his teeth done - new horse to me, I had thought he was up to date - my point being, it's worth checking everything if you haven't done so recently - apologies if you have gone through all of this already!

 

[Fides]

Magnesium in excess will send them nuts (the same as too low) so if his magnesium is OK, you could try giving a calcium supplement. It is the Mg/Ca balance that is the issue

 

[aspirit]

Why dont you try a calmer initially. I use 'Tranquil E' . The others didnt work. This is a valerium one and is the only one that worked. It takes the edge of her. My horse has been a bit loopy for the past month for no reason, but has just switched back into sane state (with calmer) still . Also swooped bit for stronger one to be safe.

 

[L&M]

Just a thought - alfalfa can affect some horses and is one of the main ingredients of happy tummy (assuming you are meaning the Dengie one?), so maybe take him off it for a few weeks to see if that helps.

 

[Belle90]

Just a quick reply to my post . My friend swears by global herbs super calm and she kindly let me have hers to try with him . He was on it just two days and the difference is amazing . He's still spooky but nothing bad and no bolting or bucking . He's still his forward self as well . Also just wanted to point out that while he was being a nutter I did have two different physios out to check him over as well as two different saddle fitters . I love him to death and of course I wanted to rule out any sort of pain . I'm not entirely sure why he changed so much but a few people in my yard are convinced it is spring fever and ! So hopefully now he will be a lot more chilled thanks for all your advice !