Jekyll and Hyde horse

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ApacheWarrior

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Please can someone tell me why sometimes my 4 yr old cob comes in from the field nice and quietly and behaves himself, and then just when you think you have him sorted, he decides to come in and stomp around and lash out at the wall and throwing his head about in a tantrum? Yesterday he was good as gold; this morning in the field, he was loving and affectionate; tonight he was a demon in the stable and even bit me twice - and he has never bitten before.... all I can think is that I've been giving him some pegasus 747 cubes the last couple of times he has been brought in and worked - as a small reward- but these are supposedly non heating??
 
Am guessing that it might be simply because ...... He's four years old. Think of it as like being the terrible twos maybe? Of course you should also keep an eye out for underlying factors (the tiniest changes seem huge to some horses) but over the years my cob has stomped, planted himself, head butted me, broken things etc even tho most people who know him would say he's a pussy cat. Cobs are stubborn when things aren't going their way, and we don't always notice when we've changed a routine ever so slightly.
 
Hmm - all that sounds familiar - Ive only had him 8 weeks and I thought I was buying a totally chilled lovable cob but in the time Ive had him he too has done all those things - we've had the stressy phase, the scared phase, the head tossing, then the planting in the field and refusing to budge, and currently we are in the "don't even thing about asking to pick my feet up or I will kill you" phase. Oh and earlier this week there was the "I want to stand in the field water trough so I will" But I had 36 good hours with him until I brought him in tonight and all hell let loose. Please tell me he will grow out of all this....
 
My boy has more or less grown out of it over the years ( forgot to mention he also once broke my toe, and on another occasion gave me a black eye....), but still throws in the odd tantrum - most recently re getting on his lorry, despite having previously loaded perfectly ( and yes to everyone, I have looked at all the possible reasons why - he's very canny and will load on his own without even a head collar if food is involved). The thing is, the personality that makes cobs like that is also the one that makes them so laid back/self-confident when you need it, like when the combine comes round the corner of the field on the track you are riding on or whatever. . .
 
Yes all types get through this stage, then they hit the 5yr old stage, forget what they have been taught, a bit like a rebellious teen, I wouldn't have another horse under 9yr old.
The plus side is you learn a lot with youngsters and worth the effort
 
Mines 11 and goes from "Every-thing's fine and dandy" to "OMG THE WHOLE WORLD IS OUT TO GET ME!" usually the first one he puts on when my riding teacher is here so she thinks he's a little darling!
 
It could be something physical. Perhaps ulcers, teeth, or something else that is causing him him pain. Just a thought.
 
I would cut out the feed, check what it contains and then try an elimination diet and re-introduce the different components of the feed to see if that makes a difference.
 
I had only just started giving him a handful of feed in the stable thinking it would relax him in the stable and make the experience more pleasureable for him - however when I brought him in today he was absolutely having a tantrum. Great in the field always - great to catch and cuddle for ages in the field - and comes in from field calmly. Great to ride in the outdoor school - slow and ploddy if anything. But in the stable it is just a nightmare. He paces and poos constantly and his head is up and he is lunging at the walls with his front legs now and generally being bargy and badly behaved. He is getting worse! I am at my wits end and at this point in time would gladly give him away to the first person that passed the door. I desperately need the blacksmith but we can't get near his feet - and he was shod at least 3 times at the breeder/owners before me. I think I've taken on more than I can handle.
 
millreef said:
Hey! Don't give in AW! Read books, ask friends, talk to instructors but don't give in sweetie.:o
Click to expand...

Agree with this - get an instructor in!
Mine has helped me so much, not just with riding but wiht general manners and behavioral issues - dont give in its early days :)
 
Hi Dont give up it could be that at this time of year the grass is good, and hormomes up. It also sounds like he is not settled in the stable is that because he is away from his friends, or has he had issues in the past before you got him where he was shut in for long periods of time.
I think a lot of people are under the impression that cobs are laid back but it is just not the case the can be as highley strung as TB or Arab (no offence to either by the way) the difference with a cob is the pack a bigger punch.
 
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