New hedge monster issues! Ideas?!

AnotherNewbie

AnotherNewbie

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My ardennes lad (14 years ish) has suddenly discovered the joys of spring. We've gone from working an hour max (3 mile hack all in walk, he's not the quickest!) or half hour in the school doing walk and trot exercises, gradually up to 6 mile hacks every other night and 45 mins in the school working harder with more trotting once a week or so. He's now started spooking at hedges in a major way even if there's nothing there and god forbid a bird dare to flap in one. He's also the same in hand on the way to and from the field where he walks alongside a huge hedge. He's perfectly bomb proof on the roads however, nothing bothers him there.
He's holding weight nicely on the slimmer end of healthy as he has a weak back end so the less weight he's carrying the better (vet advice). He's fed half a scoop of unmollassed sugar beet and a dose of devils claw daily, with general purpose supplement and biotin added.
He's feeling perkier as he's just had his first pair of shoes on and I think the sound of them clanking is still causing a few "oh my god something moved and I didn't hear it first" type issues.
Anybody got any ideas on bombproofing to hedges? Or of food suggestions even less heating than beet?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
 
With hedge monsters - if you lead him on his other side (hedge side) he won't spook.

With the riding - give him a good old growl.
 
He may be suffering from the usual spring grass problem - lack of magnesium.

When the grass grows fast as it does in spring it lacks sufficient magnesium. You can replace the magnesium either with a commercial product or you can make your own.

Feed twice daily while grass growing fast
1 level tablespoon each Epsom Salts, Baking Soda, Yeast & Dried Thyme. Try to give one does about 1½-2hrs before riding.

Once the grass has slowed then feed once daily 1½-3hrs before riding
 
He spooks no matter what side you lead from, he's currently being led in a chifney because you stand no chance stopping him if he goes in a headcollar! As for on board, it's amazing how quickly a horse who's top gear is normally 'trudge' can go from plod to full on canter......
 
Evelyn said:
He may be suffering from the usual spring grass problem - lack of magnesium.

When the grass grows fast as it does in spring it lacks sufficient magnesium. You can replace the magnesium either with a commercial product or you can make your own.

Feed twice daily while grass growing fast
1 level tablespoon each Epsom Salts, Baking Soda, Yeast & Dried Thyme. Try to give one does about 1½-2hrs before riding.

Once the grass has slowed then feed once daily 1½-3hrs before riding
Click to expand...

Thanks, I've never heard of this, might be worth a go! Although would there not be magnsium in normal general purpose suppliment? Or just not enough?!
 
Evelyn said:
He may be suffering from the usual spring grass problem - lack of magnesium.

When the grass grows fast as it does in spring it lacks sufficient magnesium. You can replace the magnesium either with a commercial product or you can make your own.

Feed twice daily while grass growing fast
1 level tablespoon each Epsom Salts, Baking Soda, Yeast & Dried Thyme. Try to give one does about 1½-2hrs before riding.

Once the grass has slowed then feed once daily 1½-3hrs before riding
Click to expand...

oh thanks for this
 
My horse used to be scared of the hedge in his field. He's not a scaredy horse normally, I just don't think he'd come across a hedge before, and this one has a path behind it so strange noises!

I solved the problem by borrowing a shetland - eventually he got brave and followed the shetland down to that end of the field.

Could you try the same sort of thing - get another sensible horse to walk in front of yours until it stops being scary?

As for magnesium, I use Topspec calmer which has magnesium in it among other things.
 
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