Nervous horse...seems petrified of everything :(

P

princess_jay

Member
Joined
30 September 2009
Messages
18
Visit site
Moved my mare to a lovely new yard last weekend, have given her the week off to settle in new field and she's happy as larry living out again with her old friends.
The yard is new and work in progress so there's no school or even tie up area ready yet. I brought her out of the field and planned to just walk around on her in the riding field. She came out the field like she'd seen a ghost and was spooking, yanking me, trying to bolt off, pushing her weight around, even reared up at one point, all with me just trying to lead her round the field in headcollar and leadrope... I've got leadrope burns from all the yanking - she's so strong when she starts throwing her weight around - im just glad I didn't get on her the way she was acting :(

I know its a new yard and will take time for her to settle - but this was seriously dangerous behaviour and she was physically shaking with fear at every tiny tiny thing... she's not being naughty, shes genuinely petrified of everything... I don't know what to do apart from not ride her until she's settled as I don't fancy being tanked off with... is there anything I can do to help her relax apart from walking her round the field every day?? Anyone else had a horse so petrified they were shaking and trying to bolt off for no obvious reasons?
Thanks x
 
have you tried naf magic calmer? my RI uses it on her horses and says its made a huge difference. i've yet to try it on mine though
 
Sounds like the symptoms of Magnesium deficiency. Put her on a good inorganic suplement (never mind the fancy suplements, Good old Magnesium oxide is absorbed very fast). Acts very fast ,should see improvement in 24 hours.
 
Its very common at this time of year. My own horse has just done exactly as you describe . Magnesium suplement and 24 hours later he was back to normal. He acted like I was a stranger and seemed petrified. Couldnt even bring himself to take a carrot from me. Spring grass unballances the mineral uptakeespecialy so if they are getting a lot of calcium too.
 
Mike007 said:
Sounds like the symptoms of Magnesium deficiency. Put her on a good inorganic suplement (never mind the fancy suplements, Good old Magnesium oxide is absorbed very fast). Acts very fast ,should see improvement in 24 hours.
Click to expand...

Hi :) I tried a Magnesium based calmer before, a fancy expensive one :D. Where did you get just Mag Oxide from and how much do you feed. Thanks
 
If this is the first time you have taken her out , then maybe she is just worried that she is going to be moved again.
 
Sounds like there is more going on here than just the change of yard.

In your post you mention that it is nice to see her 'out again', Has she been kept in for a period?

There may well be a change in the quality, type of grass in your new field, which may be too much for her.

Mag oxide is a good place to start.
 
AndySpooner said:
In your post you mention that it is nice to see her 'out again', Has she been kept in for a period?

There may well be a change in the quality, type of grass in your new field, which may be too much for her.
Click to expand...

...Yes she lived out for most of her life until 2 winters ago when she had to come in at night over winter at that particular yard - now we've just moved to a new place with no stables so she's living out again which she loves (she hated being stabled to be honest). The grass is plentiful but short its not long and over grown... the soil is quite sandy underneath, would this make a difference? Sounds like magnesium is a common suggestion?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top