Mood swings gelding?

[saddlesore]

Hey guys, really at my wits end here!

Had my boy 3 1/2 years now, never the most straight forward time as a real worrier, but on the whole heading in the right direction.... slowly

However, now and then (very sporadic, no real pattern. Can happen every month, or not for 6 months etc) he seems to become extra unsettled. Very spooky, jumps at nothing, panics when grooming round his head, when rugs move on stable wall etc etc. It takes almost nothing to get an over reaction during these phases.

He seems to come out of them as quickly as he went into them, sometimes after a few days or a couple of weeks.

I have no idea at all what causes this behaviour or how to fix it. And I have to admit, it drives me utterly insane!

 

[Lintel]

I'll join that club.
One month my little fella- 4 year old Highland gelding, could be a kiddies ride, anything and anyone could get on him.
The next month (no change in diet etc) I would not let anyone else on him but me!!
Again with that he gets flicky with his feet, spooks at drains, forever snorting and stropping. Where as the month before he would let you put a bomb off next to him!

I blame his mood swings on (his mum)- tehe. And the fact he is a teenager

Sorry I can't help with your's but you are not alone!

 

[saddlesore]

Wow, I honestly thought mine was the only one! His name is Jackson and the other liveries (lovingly I should add!) call him Wacko Jacko because he's so bad when it happens

He is never ever agressive, just even more spooky and insecure. Thing is, thats him 7 now and I wonder if he'll ever change.......

 

[Lintel]

Some breed don't fully mature till then so maybe it is a teenage thing?
Bless his heart though- the weather can change a horses mood a lot, and so can the owner(in a nice way) being that if I having a stressful time and thinking I am hiding it beautifully, I really comes out on Bailey!! No idea how they know- but they know!

You've just got to love them with there insane blips and all, taking the rough with the smooth and all that. Maybe put him on a herbal supplement to balance his hormones (can't recommend anything sorry) but that way you'll be doing him no harm and just trying to balance him a little.

 

[Wagtail]

Could it be anything to do with weather systems. Low pressure often gives me migraines, makes one of my dogs tremble constantly and all the horses are on edge when its windy. Some a lot more than others. Just a thought.

 

[saddlesore]

Thanks guys.

I already have him on a calmer to try and help him. Its called Anxicalm compete. Trouble is i never know if they work or not as when he's good he's good and when he's bad he's awful! Could be that it helps make him good, and stop him being as bad as he could be I suppose

Wagtail, had considered that but it really doesn't seem that cut and dried. Some days you can hack him out, not alone mind you!, in really strong winds and he's totally chilled out, and other days when its calm he's a fruit loop. It also seems to be phases he goes through, rather than days here and there. although I guess a change in pressure could happen without the weather necessarily changing?

He tends to be better in summer, but its not a guarantee.

I find it so frustrating as I don't have the best confidence in the world and would really just like a reliable fun horse!