My Horse Went Loopy Today - totally out of character

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ponieslovered

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My horse is an OTTB, he has been retrained and I have owned him since the begining of this year. He's a genuine chap and a really honest horse. The previous owner told me he would suit me down to the ground, as he is so easy to do, and is happy with just riding once a week if thats all i can fit in... , brilliant on the roads, not bolting or bucking or rearing, just a real decent chap. I love riding him to the point where i actually dont want to get off !!

2 weeks ago I rode him in the school and he was a beast !! just didnt want to go forward at all. Spooked and jumped at everything, My legs were on for a whole 30 mins and i was knackered so gave up. when i took his saddle off I notice rubs on his right shoulder, So i called the saddler and he came out on Good Friday to have a look at my saddle.
he said my saddle was fine, but was tipping slightly forwards onto his shoulders, so he advised that i buy prolite front riser pad, until he had built up topline. So I ordered the Pro Pad, and it arrived so today was the day to go around the block so to speak (on little back roads) to test the pad out.

So I put on my saddle pad, then the pro front raiser then my saddle. Well i didnt like it one bit. The pommel of the saddle actually raised up about 6 inches. The whole saddle seem to lift off, of his back. So did up the girth (with difficulty due to the raised saddle), and mounted.
So we start our journey and what a damn nightmare, for the first time in 37 years of riding - i was actually quite scared, so my friend was singing and talking to me, about what i had for breakfast and whats for tea etc.
My horse would not go forwards, usually he has the best walk ever - a great forward pace. But not today.

We were jogging sideways out into the roads, my friend had to keep coming over to the right side to push us back in. He was walking backwards and trying to jog backwards. anything but forwards, just sideways and backwards. The jogs and backwards motions caused small rears to occur. At no point did he say, "right thats it im bolting" nothing like that, he just would not walk forwards.

It was frightening because this well trained horse that fully understands leg aids and does dressage, just would not move over to my leg aid, he would just jog harder and lift his front legs (not a full rear, about 2-3 feet off the ground),

Anyway I was very pleased to get back to the yard, and untack him, the pattern from the saddle pad was quite deeply engraved into his back, so i am sure that the pro pad just made the saddle fitting even tighter and more uncomfortable.

Ive had his back checked this afternoon after what happened this morning and his back is fine.

Some of the girls have said that it may be the spring grass, but i just dont think that was cause this, we dont have much grass in our field, and he is also on Nupafeed Calmer, he's been on the loading measure for 2 weeks, so in theory he should be calm as a cucumber.

I did notice he was also really chewing on the bit today, and hanging his tongue out of his mouth and i havnt noticed him do this before.

I am planning on riding him again this week and i tried my saddle with a sheepskin half pad, which seems to lift the saddle slightly off the shoulder, so i am going to try this. But I am praying that he dosnt do the same again, eventually i will lose my confidence if it keeps happening.

Has anyone got any idea's please
 
My laid-back, placid, ex P2P TB turned loopy on the spring grass last year. He was spooking, spinning and squealing... it was horrible, to be honest, and it knocked my confidence. This year I know him a LOT better and know that he's generally as good as gold so if the sugar-rush hits, I will be able to cope with it a lot better because I know it will pass. I have to keep Roo on a sugar-free diet, even carrots send him loopy so you'd be surprised how much of a reaction you can get from spring grass. The shorter the grass, the more sugar (fructans) it produces - longer grass is actually less sweet so he may be getting more sugar than you think.

Incidentally, I tried feeding my boy magnesium (he's shoeless and it's excellent for hooves). Unfortunately this sent him loopy too so I had to take him off it again... I've just looked at your Nupafeed stuff and that's magnesium so perhaps your boy is related to mine??? lol
 
My sons 15 h TB lost top line and muscle over winter, I had to get a new saddle and also a half sheepskin pad, she loves it and son tells me the new saddle is v comfy, she started going tiny bit off and this has solved it. Good luck could be spring causing high jinks
 
I didnt realise that the MAF calmer could make my horse go loopy !! I will have to have a read up on this. my understanding was that if you overdosed them, they would get rid of it through there pooh. That might be the problem, and yes the grass is very short, so he could be getting to much sugar.
I changed his chaff 2 weeks ago from alph alpha to fibergy as this has 6% sugar and the alpha was around 12% i believe, he has a scoop of chaff and 1/2 a scoop of pasture mix, which is also low sugar just to help with condition and vitamins. he has this twice a day so i can give him the Nupafeed clamer with his feeds.
He also has shivers, so I have to keep the sugar out of his diet. He's on selenium and vit E, but has been since January and this has never caused a problem.

Thanks for the comments, really helpful
 
Err, the Pro Pad perhaps??? If its the only thing thats changed, and he has never done it before it stands to reason that it is the primary cause. Did you try going around the block the same way again without it? Thats what I d do if he were mine before suspecting any other causative.
TB are sensitive souls, and from the description, and the pattern on his back after you took his saddle off II reckon he must have been in considerable discomfort, a less nice natured horse would probably have bolted or bucked you off.
 
Last edited:
storminateacup

you are absolutely right, YES I should of gone around again without the pad. But i confuss - feeling so grateful that i actually made it back to the yard in one bit, the last thing on my mind was going around again without the pad.

I actually am sure that the pad was hurting him in some way and as it pushed the saddle up, it probably felt quite strange on his back.

Its hard to explain, i ride some horses that are extremely forward going, and you really need to be a strong rider to hold them back and control them, If my boy had just been excited and tried to take off with me, i probably would have prefered this and thought its the spring getting him excited.

But he did not threaten to bolt off in anyway, it was totally pi**ing around all the time, "Im not going forwards - im only going backwards and sideways - and i dont care if a cars coming or not". this is what is so strange, normally he walks forward with a great pace in a straight line and is very sensitive to my leg aids.
Today, just was not my horse, anyway i will try again in a couple of days, (kids are off school so finding time to ride is a nightmare at the moment)
 
storminateacup

I think the OP said that the problems started prior to getting the pad, hence the saddler was called and advised a pad. Have his teeth been done? When his back was checked did the physio check his neck/pelvis too?
 
I would get a second opinion.

Totally agree with the above to get his back etc checked. If it is totally out of character I would want to rule out the obvious things teeth, back, tack then look at diet etc maybe?
 
Bloody Tb's - they're a law unto themselves aren't they? I have the same problem at the moment, spring grass and the time of year - the joys of spring they call it, don't they - they're ALLl full of it on our yard.:eek:
 
2 weeks ago when riding in the school, he wasnt concentrating just spooking at everything, thats was when i saw the rub marks on his right shoulder, so i thought the misbehaviour was down to the saddle fit.

So had this checked and was advised the prolite front raiser.

Today i rode in the prolite for the first time, and this was when i had all of the problems stated above.

I know TB's are sensitive, and as storminateacup said, - Any other horse may well have bolted or bucked or even reared right up due to the discomfort.

My thoughts were if it was just him being fizzy due to the time of year, surely the Nupafeed Calmer would have kicked in and kept him calm. Or he would have tried to take off with me. Unless of course he was just being polite and knew tanking off was wrong, so he would just Mess around instead.

His back was checked today, but not his neck, he is due to have his teeth done, so will get this done soon.

Im going to try thursday with a sheepskin half pad and my normal saddle and see what happens.
 
2 weeks ago was when the spring grass was coming in though. My Tb has been a complete twonk since then. Moody, testing, spooking, zero concentration and balance. Today she kicked out at my instructor when we were trying to position her at the mounting block, first time ever she's done that, she's on a calmer (horse, not the instructor - lol) and it's made no difference.
 
Rotchana, is your TB normally pretty quiet ?. Im starting to think maybe my problem is a combination of the grass & the saddle issue. The sheepskin pad pushes the front of the saddle up enough to ease the tipping down onto his shoulder, so when i try this, if he still messes about it could be the grass, I do hope this isnt going to go on for too long, something like this can really lose your confidence
 
Sounds exactly like my ex racer last spring. He is normally the most laid back chap and when I bought him the previous summer he was fine until the following April when he suddenly became hyper active. He was a nightmare, couldnt stand still to be groomed, was kicking out behind at nothing in particular, was worse to tack up and scared me witless when I got on, fidgeting, backing up, little mini rears and the feeling that he was about to boil over all the time. The problem was too much grass (sugar) too quickly after a winter on poor grazing and fibre all the way in his diet. I put him on limited grazing for a while until the spring rush was over and he is now fed a magnesium based calmer all year round at the minimum dose. So far this year, no problems, although today for the first time he is a bit fresh, although nothing like last year, just a bit joggy leading back out to his paddock. I also know him a lot better so know this is out of character, he is a very polite, well mannered boy normally, so I can manage it a lot better this time.
 
Myboyche, Yes also a good point, as this will be my first spring with this horse, so it is possible that this will be the way he will act during spring time. He has no grass in his paddock (well very little due to the very bad winter), he was going out only for about 4-5 hrs per day due to the grass problem, but for the last 10 days or so, he stays out overnight and comes in about 9.30 am for love and cuddles and then goes back out about 12 noon until the next morning. He's on a calmer (has been for 2 weeks). I will go steady with him and ride in the school on thursday and see how he responds. On sunday yesterday,,, he did jog into the stable block, i think he knew he was gonna get some feed, (i give him a small feed so i can add the calmer to it) it made me laugh as i thought - he thought its grand national day today !!. It was as if he was being led around the pen before they go down the track, very bouncy, bless him, but he does do this every now and then and i dont mind as he is not malicious and dosnt try to tank off, its like playing, silly boy !!, and everytime he see's me at the yard doing the other horses, he blasts over to me for a cuddle, he's a great chap, i love him :-) lets hope he gets over this quickly
 
I haven't read all the replies, so some-one else may well have already said this. DO NOT RIDE until you have had a different saddler look at the saddle. If it doesn't fit now, something sensible needs to be done now. You can't just wait until his topline develops. II know from bitter experience that if the horse is telling you he is uncomfortable, you really should listen, (I landed on my head on the road). It might also be worth getting a second opinion about the horse's back. I would also get a dentist to check his teeth, just to be on the safe side.
 
I do think you need to have them a full year to know what they are like through the seasons. With Che, it is definitely a case of getting the feed right, as little sugar as possible and making sure he never gets left alone as he gets majorly stressy if he cant see other horses. Oddly enough we always hack alone and he is fine with this. Fingers crossed that your lad settles down fairly soon, dont push yourself to ride him until you think hes a bit calmer, I know how easily confidence can disappear. Personally I would do plenty on the ground until you see a change in his temperament again and then try hacking out on short routes that you are confident with. Good luck and let us know how you get on.

PS Che has been out 24/7 since last Thursday, his poo is very green and sloppy so there is definitely spring grass going through his system.
 
had my horse 2 years in May, this weekend he was a nightmare, first time napping then just all ways he could go until I managed to get off somewhere, silly but he just wasnt stopping.

I think its the grass, ive cut his food but hes still spooky and looking at everything and jumping for no reason. Going to let it subside a few days beofre trying again
 
Dont underestimate the spring grass in your field. My mare is on 1/2 an acre at the mo and the grass is really short and is only coming through a tiny bit as well as the field was so wet the other week but tonight she was a total witch to ride.

I had a problem with her doing stupid broncing and leaps when trotting/cantering when she had an abscess under her chin but that has gone away and on the whole she has been behaving so well recently but not tonight. She was on a total sugar rush and was all alert and tense and everytime a horse came anywhere near her she had a fit and that was just in walk :( Really un-nerved me as I havent experienced her being quite that bad before.
 
Myboyche, My foals pooh was disgusting yesterday, very sloppy and green, shes in a small paddock again with next to no grass, so bless her she is obviously managing to find something to eat in there, My horses pooh was quite firm yesterday and blackish, but the magnesium clamer could be doing this, if he wasnt on the calmer he may also have the green sloppy pooh. all advice taken, thank you, lots of groundwork for the next few days :-), hopefully another saddle fitter coming out next week, then the dentist :-)
 
my little treasure had me off twice spring last year- new saddle and spring grass really wasnt a good move. i tried lunging him minus the tack to get his attention but he just would not pay the slightest bit of attention even after 10 mins of so of a fast pase.
its put my confidence back so much.
 
I can totally sympathise with you, my girl is not wanting to go forward at all. I was about to take her down to the Equine Hospital as her back has been looked at and she hasnt got any better. Also she has been rearing when leading her out, like excitement rears to get out to the field which is totally out of character. We should send them away together! I am also at a loss as to what I should do but it is nice to hear someone else has the same problem.

x
 
It def sounds like the saddle. There shouldn't be indentations in his skin, poor boy!!

I would listen to him and not ride untill you have had a different saddler who can fit your saddle properly. Pads wont help a saddle thats not fitting. Id get his teetch checked too. Sometimes if they hang their tounge out its because of teeth probs, horses can get quite panicky if they cant swallow.

My mare had a bad back from a saddle and her reaction was exactly the same.. too scared to move forwards, going sideways, jogging ect.

Spring grass cannot change a horses personality. Yes it may make them a bit fresh and he may be more alert and forward going than normal but it wont turn him into a totally different beast.. pain does though!!
 
The grass is def coming tho and I don't know about where you are OP but we had quite a breezy few days for last week or so! My 4 year old was full of it in the school last night, spooking like mad at the woods by the school and he is usually quite a chilled fellow. The 16 yr old event schoolmaster who is normally totally bombproof went in after me and was just as bad so it wasn't just mine having a silly day! They are all the same!
But I would def get his saddle looked at for a second opinion as that doesn't sound ight to me.
 
I havnt read everyones replies but if the saddle doesnt fit then using a pad just moves the pressure from one place to another, it doesnt solve the problem that the saddle dosnt fit. i would get a second opinion on the saddle fit, it may just need a small amount of reflocking in certain places rather than the extra padding all over that a pad gives.
 
I have to echo the advice about the saddle - a good saddler will always reflock or otherwise adjust rather than suggest a quick fix. Also lots of good advice about the spring grass too. You would be amazed how much sugar is hidden in chaff - they will not list "sugar", but see that word "molasses" in the ingredients? There it is!

I was having real problems riding my mare in Jan/Feb, then I changed her diet - at the same time as she moved yards. The first week of the new yard, with her in season, were hell, but when the diet changed, I got a MASSIVE improvement. Basically, I give my mare two haynets to last her all evening, she gets about seven hours tunout - and then all she is 500g of balancer a day. I'm making her take all her energy from her forage and, if there is a surge in the forage sugar, at least I'm not adding even more in her feed!

I have to reach out here and touch wood, BUT my horse has gone from being barely rideable in walk, to being able to school with no hiccups - while in season, with a crane outside the school, farm machinery going past, even a sprinkler watering outside the school. She gets no calmer or hormone supplement whatsoever.

The balancer I use is from the Pure Feed Company, who are passionate about getting people to realise the hidden sugar in their horse's diet. A bag of balancer is a hetfy £27.50, bu includes delivery, lasts ages, and now I have a rideable horse. So it's worth ten times that!

Finally, PLEASE don't let this put you off your horse, who sounds totally gorgeous. Think of all the times you've had a massive go at your other half, for example, for no very good reason, and they're still there for you. Horses rarely do anything for no reason, he IS only reacting to something and he will be back to his wonderful self soon. Keep us posted!
 
I had the same prob today 3 of mine went silly out on rides, 2 of them did not bother me as they are youngsters, but the 3rd was my safe and sensible, and he just was all over the show, he is a horse that normally has 2 speds of slow and stop, only had trot and shoot off today.
I am putting it down to the spring grass, should be fun for the next week or so for me lol
 
I RODE my boy today, and he was Perfect !!! just as he always was (until Monday of this week) !!!.

I used the same saddle, NO PROLITE & a Sheepskin 1/2 pad, and the saddle fit was great and he moved lovely, walk trot and canter, absolutely no problems :-) how happy am I. So that has convinced me it definately was the prolite pad, that squashed the saddle to his back and made him hurt.
I am still have another saddler come by tomorrow to check the saddle, but i am so happy, 100% confidence is restored.
 
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