knightmare hack, HELP PLEASE!

[05parkerr]

i have a problem. i have a15.2hh six year old british warmblood. he is brilliant to school but just lately has become very dangerous on hacks. never use to be like it. he has started to pick up the pace, rear, bolt down the road and canter sidewards and when all seems calm broncs down hill. have had his saddle checked recently and his feed or routine hasnt changed. its getting to the point where i fear for my life on hacks and have jumped off due to him being like he is. its on busy roads aswell as quite roads, he goes on the bit also when having a funny five minutes. i havent a clue what to do and it seems to be with any horse i hack out with which in turn starts to make the other horse disrupted. any help would be appreciated

Thank you xx

 

[tasteofchristmaschaos]

Have you had his back and teeth checked recently?

 

[Goldenstar]

It sounds awful poor you please be careful.
it's hard to give advice without seeing the horse but I would have him on just hay turnout as much as possible and look at giving more work ,as its only hacking out its unlikely to be pain but just think ,if it starts going downhill I would get him checked out.
The only other thing I would suggest is that you get someone very experienced to see the behaviour to see if they have any suggestions don't delay getting some help
Good luck

 

[Goldenstar]

By going downhill I meant going downwards not getting worse I had one who was naughty hacking out and I realised it was always when going down wards turned out it was kissing spines starting.

 

[Echo Bravo]

Get the vet out have him checked over and get some blood tests done. For a horse to suddenly change like this, something is wrong.

 

[05parkerr]

back and teeth have been done. should of mentioned that. its scarying me to death. i called it to an end sunday due to almost getting us run over, and to say i had ANY control is an understatement. im in the bristol area. could you reccomend anyone who would be able to help.

 

[05parkerr]

By going downhill I meant going downwards not getting worse I had one who was naughty hacking out and I realised it was always when going down wards turned out it was kissing spines starting.

its uphill, downhill straight, road, grass, mud.

 

[Merry Crisis]

What are you feeding him? Sounds like he is feeling well, is he getting enough work?

 

[skydancer]

Is he like it when you hack alone? Mine gets so excited when hacking with other horses she can become dangerous, When i ride on my own and just give her kits of encouragement shes brill

 

[Holly Hocks]

My horse did EXACTLY as you described - she was bombproof and I hacked her for miles by myself, then this totally out of character behaviour started, just as you have described.. It turns out that she has navicular syndrome in both front feet as well as something wrong with her proximal suspensory ligament in one hind limb. However the lameness didn't start until a while after the weird behaviour. I am pretty sure that the behaviour was pain related.

 

[smellsofhorse]

Where about in Bristol?

Does he get plenty of turn out?
Lots if exercise?
What food is he on?

 

[jaysh]

I feel for you 05parkerr, my mare has gone the same way after coming back from recovering from an accident. She has had saddle checked, vet visits, chiro visits, dentist, hair sample tested, taking her to a remedial farrier expert tomorrow, as i dont know what else to do with her. But she sounds like your horse.
Getting worse out hacking, thrown me off, jumping at things, hypventilating,(and some days she will be calm and normal again) the last advice i got from the vet was ....what about a horse communicator?? I am determined to get to the bottom of it though as i know there is something wrong with her, i just need someone to find it!
Hope you get some joy with yours.

 

[monkeybum13]

First thing I would do is get your vet out. Discuss everything with your vet and they will know the best action to take.

In the mean time do NOT hack out!

 

[Goldenstar]

OP how many days per week is he working TBH if mine muck around its seven days a week on hay and as much turnout as possible
but I must stress if you are afraid listen to that fear I would look at sending him to a pro for assessment .
not much help I know but good luck.

 

[05parkerr]

thats what ive decided. we have the alan and Paige lady come out to check. we stopped giving him magnesium because it was giving the opposite effect and he got dangerous in the school then. hes calm in the school and will happily do a dressage test and score into the 70's.
ill be ringing the vet tomorrow its just frustrating and upsetting watching your horse get like that. he doesnt hyperventalate and hes like it on his own. he ran into a mesh fence and gave me a nice bruise and since then have told people where im going, how long im going to be and have hacked out with another lady aswell who has a cob who is bombproof on roads. we can have a bus come right up our bums and thats when he will decide to behave, a communicator sounds like a good idea, im from the kingswood area in bristol

 

[05parkerr]

he is 6 days in work and a day in the field rest, comes in at night and out in the day. its just comming up to christmas and a bit short of money. but when i get into some i will deffinately send him to someone.

 

[smellsofhorse]

How much work and exercise us the horse getting?
Is it varied?
Maybe the horses is bored schooling and is excitable hacking out.

If teeth, back, tack, food ate all ok and the horse gets enough exercise and turnout.
The horse could be just being naughty!
Now he has s ares you, it is a vicious circle.

 

[05parkerr]

he gets lunged on the pessoa for 30 mins. can then go onto 45 min general schooling, jumping or some fun exercises. drill rides in the school with other horses. and its never planned. i get on and then decide what i need to work on. if hes looking well or not going how id like him to be then i school. i have 101 jumping,dressage and schooling tips to use so a varied lessons.

 

[cptrayes]

Spavins in the hocks often present as bad behaviour on downhill slopes before any lameness is obvious.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Do you feed glucosamine? If so STOP.

I realised (far too late) that my ID's odd behaviour - again only when hacking- had started shortly after I started giving her glucosamine. In the meantime the vet had treated her for muscle wastage in her back and her behaviour had improved but she still wasn't right. I think that she must have had a terrible headache, as her behaviour was a reaction to noise. She once set off cantering along the pavement when someone scuffed their feet through dried leaves on the opposite side of the road. She bucked repeatedly when a diesel car with a throaty engine passed us.
I took her off the supplement and she became much less jumpy. Unfortunately shortly afterwards she died of something completely unrelated.

 

[rockysmum]

Obviously agree with getting everything checked.

Just a thought though, how fit is he, it sounds like he gets lot of exercise, has he always done this much.

My old horse used to be OK'ish to ride when he was unfit, put some work into him and he became downright scary. Feed and turnout changes didn't make any difference to him, but when he started to get fit it did.

 

[05parkerr]

well hes being trained to hopefully start eventing next season so reasonably fit. not sure about the feed suplements so will deffinately look that up. i got him last year as never really done anything so worked him up and schooled him up. he has put on alot of muscle lately if thats anyhelp.

 

[WelshD]

Its worth walking him out in hand (wear gloves and a hat!) maybe with him in a bridle for extra control to see if you can eliminate some of the current things from the equation

eg if he still naps then it may not be the saddle and could be feet etc.. if he doesnt it could be rider/back/saddle orientated, it may not get you your answer but it could help also you will have a better view of his head/eyes and can look for reactions

Also you could try hacking both before and after schooling to see if the reactions change then

 

[muffinmunsh]

I'd be very careful taking anything out on the roads in hand. In my humble experience you are far better off on top of a 600kg animal than on it's side.
Agree with the fitness though... My gelding can be a nightmare when he is fit and this time if year (I e in stable at night). He is absolutely fine and competing le Trec in summer when 24h turnout.

 

[skydancer]

I'd be very careful taking anything out on the roads in hand. In my humble experience you are far better off on top of a 600kg animal than on it's side.
Totally agree with this if i walked my horse out in hand she would be gone off into the sunset before i could say whoaaaaa!