laid back horse has turned wild

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samp

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Well what can I say except the above. Took Lottie to XC competition yesterday and she was a handful, before I had even got on she had trod on dad with studs in and manage to rip back of his hand open. She was v tense when I got on so walked around lorry park to try and settle, I thought she had and was starting to relax when she reared and then started borncing, then rearing again. In the warm up one minute we'd be one side the next we'd be rearing, broncing and running off with me. Over the practice fence we exploded. So off to the course

Well we jumped the first (log) she was not very commited, approached the 2nd at a nice pace but we had a horse coming towards us, people walking and a car boot sale happening on our right, well Lottie would not go near the fence started rearing, then broncing and nearly knocking the walkers flying. I had like no control, I had to let another horse over take me. I was nearly about to retire then I dug the spurs in and shouted at her, so off we went over the fence and took a slight hold. Stopped at the 2nd but jumped 2nd attempt then the wotsit bu**ered off with me flew fence 5, off 2 fence 6 (skinny) shot up the field with me trying to steady her but a 15.3hh fit warmblood with a 5'3" lightweight rider didn't have much effect. We jumped the next 4 fences and knew I somehow had to bring her back to trot for a steep hill. Well I managed that but in the process we stopped at the fence. Then once over she took a hold and went, flew the rest of the course coffin, water etc. She felt like she was happ to take on anything. However I was not so happy as it was a bit to hair raising for me. I came back looking like i'd been round several times. My legs and arms had turned to jelly and I felt pretty rough. Took both horse and rider far too long to recover.

So I have not got a clue what to expect next time we XC - one word 'madam'

She has also got a bit grumpy recently so wondering if she is either enjoying herself, or feeling sore. The physio is out anyway today but wondering if its a hormonal thing. She has never been a marey mare but last season she was filthy
 
Hard to know where to start with this one, so I'll start with a list of questions:

- is she in season and sore/hormonal from that
- can she behave like this when she's in season
- would her age affect her as in is she young
- do you think it could be a feed/exercise balance
- is her feed too much for her
- is she getting enough exercise - mixed exercise / a chance to gallop
- how long is it since she's been out
- how did she behave last time out
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hard to know where to start with this one, so I'll start with a list of questions:

- is she in season and sore/hormonal from that (Not at the moment)
- can she behave like this when she's in season (first time ever reacted like this, though I bought her as a quirky horse, however this was out of character for her)
- would her age affect her as in is she young (she is 10)
- do you think it could be a feed/exercise balance (she has been on the same feed and quantity for about 4 months though changed mix from Endurance to Conditioning mix)
- is her feed too much for her
- is she getting enough exercise - mixed exercise / a chance to gallop (we try to gallop every couple of weeks, ridden 6 days a week)
- how long is it since she's been out (out for 12 hours a day)
- how did she behave last time out (like an angel)

[/ QUOTE ]
 
Poor you! It is tricky there if you are having a few problems as the horses can see all the others in the collecting ring as you set off, then have horses coming towards them and then have to go back past the collecting ring again.

There is a little HT at Oakwood Park next weekend - i'm not sure where your based
 
If she behaved like an angel last time out and from all your answers her life seems to be very balanced.

I suggest it looks like something physical. Either a change in hormones for her, it can happen as mares get older their hormone patterns change. Or she may have a specific soreness, back, teeth etc.

You're doing the right thing getting the physio. Let us know how you get on, as it does sound very out of character from what you describe.
 
Thanks guys, well physio is up in 2 hours so if she finds nothing I may try oakwood park as was considering warlingham and dirstrict but 2'3" is not going to challenge her enough and 2'9" may send her over the edge.

I have just seen my pics and I look petrified on the flat (oops) and the jump she didn't even make any effort over
 
Well, congratulations for sticking with it and getting around, another thought though, has the change in weather made a difference to her? Lots of people I know are saying their horses (and mine are the same) have become awkward, feisty and hot over the last few weeks. It does sometimes happen with the coat change. Just a thought...
 
Well I had the physio out yesterday and I think considering what was found Lottie did well to jump anything really.

She had muscle spasms around her poll, very bad muscle spasm in the mid back (which at first the physio thought may be a possible kissing spines happening - in fact she is still not sure), she also had a severe groin strain on her right hind. She managed to release all the spasms and then used the faradic (sp) machine over her back. Another problem she finds with Lottie is that she is too flexible and moverable in her back and feels that with this she should be such a talented horse. Well she'd win the olympics if they had fastest time XC!

So I am hoping that Sun was a bit of a pain response to the above really, as I know I struggle to walk let alone run and jump with groin strain.

She is to have 2 days off then I will walk her out and then continue as normal, I need to do more pole work and gymnastic work and also get her working really deep to help open her back
 
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