Natural Worrier?

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Beckie65

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I've had my boy nearly 4 years now and in all the time, i've had him he seems like a natural spooky stress head, he really is scared of his own shadow, i've tried repetition on hacks and he reacts exactly the same every time, as if he has never seen it before, spooks at things that are not there even in his paddock, i'm really starting to get tired of it, i love him to bits and it is genuine fear, i've tried him on calmer, magnesium, had blood tests done. Im really at a loss on what to do, as this issue is really taking the fun out of horses for me and now i don't really want to ride as i know its the same thing every time. He is in no way nasty with all this but its really getting me down, i have a 2 year old colt that is rock solid in every way and a really quiet temperament, but my boys is not, can it be possible that he is just a natural worrier? any advice welcome im at my wits end x
 
I think it is like with people, some are more natural worriers. It sounds like you have worked very hard indeed to help your horse, and I can imagine that after 4 years you are getting tired of it as it does take the pleasure out. I have no idea what to suggest as you have tried for a long time with him by the sounds of it. I am sure there will be other great suggestions from others. But I do think that some are more natural worriers without a doubt. Good luck with your boy, i do hope you can sort it out.
Does he worry when out with other horses out of interest? Have you tried food reward at all for his calmer/less worried moments?
 
Before you give up on him, I would try someone else riding him. Perhaps your trainer or some other professional rider. Sometimes we can unintentionally make our horses nervous by anticipating their reaction. They read this as a warning that something scary is about to happen. (In fairness to whoever is riding, you should say he is a bit spooky but don't build it up).
 
Given up hacking my big lad now he isnt eventing anymore as he spent the last 5yrs spooking, spinning and napping. Draw reins strapping him down was the only way to get him out. Spooking was automatic for him, no nanny would work and in the end he started to have a detrimental effect on my friends horse. Now he dressages and doesnt have to be as fit he can be freshened up with a canter round the field. Ive accepted thats just him. He has been a far happier and settled horse since i removed the pressure to go out and confront the invisible hacking demons!
 
He worries weather there is horses whith him or not, someone has recently mentioned ulcers, do I think this could be symptoms of them as this is the only thing has not been checked x
 
Not particularly. Just sounds stressy. Im fighting mine to go out now as its to wet to school and we.ve just spooked and pratted through the whole village. If you are on a magnesium calmer you should have had an almost overnight improvemnt otherwise its probably not having an effect. What food does he get? Little spooky horse gets mega spooky on anything cereal and has just come off pasture mix as he couldnt leave the stable without a nervous breakdown!
 
Had his eyes, teeth, saddle checked, he's had a full bloods to make sure there isn't any mineral deficiencies. He gets 1 scoop of happy, hoof, with 1 scoop, of mollichaff calmer, with garlic and top spec multivit, and alibi hay as we have no grass x
 
Does he get enough turn out, could he be too fresh due to not enough exercise hence he is on edge, could you ride with another more placid horse to give him confidence, which is what he is lacking.
 
Mollichaff calmer is a tad like dripping calmer on sugar cubes. Maybe try an unmollased hi fi and high fibre cubes? Probably havent much to lose. Does he struggle to hold weight? Having coped with a super spooker you have my sympathy!
 
Yes gets turnout everyday what ever the weather as have my own yard but he is stabled at night, I have no school, and has been out of work a while but he has always been like this, he will hack out but will constantly spook, he does love to go out tho he's not nappy he's just a bag of nerves. X
 
Yep, I have one! It got worse rather than better over a course of 12months, however I think that we have just started to come out the other end!! He is a terrible stresshead but in the last 2 weeks I have really upped the amount of work he's doing anything between 1-3hrs per ride about 5 times a week and he is really settling down, we even managed a hack with I would say 60% no spooking - this is a massive achievement! I have also cut him right back on his sugar intake, he's now on: Pasture cubes, speed-beet and hi-fi plus getting 10hrs turnout a day with exercise - more turnout on the days that he's not ridden.

I know how frustrating and sometimes unnerving it can be, but how much exercise is he getting at the moment? It may be that he'll calm down with a bigger work load, also how old is he now?
 
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