My horse has lost the plot... Help please!

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Ellie2893

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My normally (of 3 years..) wonderful natured, calm and affectionate horse has recently lost it...

He moved yards about 3 months ago to a smaller yard and the problems have built up - he won't be alone at all (at any point!) he used to be 110% fine in or out for any period of time by himself, he calls constantly, barges me out the way and recently started getting so wound up I've had to get the vet out twice to sedate him because he's dragged me across the yard twice from being so crazy!

Hes stabled next to two other horses, turned out at the same time and bought in at the same time 90% of the time turned out individually but next to the other two horses which he can groom over the fence.

Hes fed calming feeds (mollichaff calmer and top spec calm & condition as well as NAF Magic) and this hasn't changed since the move. He's on hay not haylage and the vet has checked to confirm its not a medical issue.

Ive asked my old yard for a stable back but there's no space at the moment, I'm stick when I am and with a horse that has done a 180 on me in the last few weeks and is SO out of character I'm at a loss to know what to try without hurting him, me or both.

I compete a lot and I've had to withdraw from 3 events recently because I just didn't see him in a state to travel. He was already rearing before I closed the partition...

This is SO unlike my horse!!! Does anyone have any advice in the meantime before I can move back???
 
Some horses will be dramatically effected by a change in location. Part of this is due to their enhanced ability to smell, hear and see things that we are not aware of. Remember a horse is naturally a flight animal. It would be interesting to see how quickly he settles down once he has returned to his old yard.
Make quite sure that nothing has changed in his feed regime.
A friend kept her Endurance horses with me. They were always very much on their toes and flighty but all of a sudden one of them completely changed for the worse. It took some weeks to discover that one of the feed companies had accidently incorrectly labelled one of their feeds. What she thought was normal feed was in fact a race horse feed and that of course put her horse over the edge. Once this had been identified and the horse put back on to it's correct feed it went back to normal.
 
Is he ridden. Maybe he needs a good 2 hr hack, at walk and trot to get him to come back to himself. Just give him time to settle, put a bridle on if you can hold him in a headcollar, sedation wont calm him down if he is feeling a bit homesick.
 
If he's that unhappy is there another yard that does have space that you could move to asap - obviously as similar to old yard as possible - unless it's only a few weeks til there is space at your old yard.
He's doing a good job of telling you how bad it is - shame they can't explain what the actual issue is!!
 
I've seen a horse do this before. A very well manered, even tempered schoolmaster allrounder who had been with his owner for years went totally bonkers in a new yard. In the end the owner gave in and moved her again and she was her normal self. It's a hassle for you but if it suits the horse better it might be worth trying a third yard.
 
He did used to be turned out in a heard... I personally think that's his issue.
He stays away at a lot of competitions and has never ever reacted badly like this!! It's a huge shock to see him so unhappy!

I lead him in an Eskadron 'control' halter it has a chain on the nose - still can't hold him but ill try a bridle tomorrow!

I'm not sure how long the wait list is currently I'm findings out tonight.

He's just unhappy and I love him to bits I hate seeing him like this!!
 
i think the turn out has probably caused the issue. being next door to other horses is not the same and being in the same field. they are probably missing the interaction and chilling out with friends in the field. they tend to get less attached to only one of two horses when they are in a herd as well. it there no way they can go out with another horse?
 
I did wonder as I've seen it before. Many horses are fine with individual turnout and seeing others over the fence, but some aren't and you don't know if your horse will be OK until you try. I hope the waiting list is short or that you can find an alternative yard.
 
Have you spoken to your yard owner??
Why did you move from the old yard, if your happy to move him back so quickly you must have been happy there - just curious!!
 
This has happened to me! People thought I was absolutely crazy moving him on so quickly, they told me he needed more time to settle but he went from chilled, happy horsey to a crazy beast in one simple move! Personally I would do whatever you can in the meantime to keep you both safe but try to move on fairly quickly if you dont see any improvements. I actually moved my horse to another yard rather than going back to my previous one. I was concerned about this as it meant more change, but as soon as he got off the trailer he was back to his normal self and I have never regretted it since. Good luck, I know how upsetting it can be. xx
 
Thank you all.
I've been told there's space as of next week. We'll rent the stable and if he doesn't improve move him.
I only left because he used to box walk. This is worse than the box walking - he's now running lol!
I hope he's not been scared permanently that's all! Hopefully he'll settle.
Any tips in the meantime?
 
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