New horse has gone nuts

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squidsin

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I'm after some general advice, really. I rather rashly bought a lovely sensible bay Warmblood (I know I know but my other horse is a Warmblood and I'm used to them!) in November with the idea of competing her in some low level BE events next season. I say 'rashly' because I have another horse, two kids, two dogs and a job, so time and money are fairly stretched - but I've always wanted to do ODEs and my older girl isn't the world's most predictable or brave jumper, to say the least. Hence deciding that I'd get another horse, get to know it over winter, and spend next season competing and living the dream! Fast forward to now and the lovely calm horse I bought has turned into a spooky, bolshy menace. In the last couple of weeks, she's gone from being a plod to lead out to the field to being a total liability - today she reared up full, twice, and bolted off as I was turning her out (although she did come back quite quickly as she's basically a bit of a wuss.) She's taken to sticking her head up and bolting in the school, and at the moment I don't dare hack her out. I've been (up until Christmas anyway) riding her consistently - she's had more work, and more asked of her, than in her last home where she was a happy hacker. Her feed hasn't changed, and she only gets a bit of chaff and a balancer as a hard feed. She also kicks for the farrier and her manners aren't great. However having said all that her paces are lovely and she can jump, and she's very sweet when not being a bolshy pest. But why has she suddenly had this personality change? She's gone from a quiet-ish yard in her old home to a much bigger one, which is on the top of a hill and very windy and rattly and foggy. The school is very open with views for miles which I think freaks her out a bit, plus there's a colt turned out next to the school and I think he winds her up too. I think she's coming into season and very hormonal. Could it be that? Saddle and back are fine, although I don't think it's pain-related as it seems to be the crazy spookiness which is the main problem and that's not just under saddle. I'm on the cusp of saying 'enough' and going back to having one horse, but part of me wonders whether I should persevere. Anyone been through similar?
 
Cut out all hard feed. Enforce all rules and work on her manners. My new WB was a right pig for a few days but I am a disciplinarian and he soon realised he wasn't getting anywhere with his antics and is now completely fine. Part of it was anxiety. However that isn't an acceptable reason for bad behaviour in my opinion!
 
Hard feed has been ditched! I'd say it's anxiety but what I find strange is that she seemed OK for the first couple of months - really sweet in fact - then suddenly went silly and bolshy. She was fine to ride in the indoor school initially - I took her in there last week and she was such a nutter I ended up just lunging her. Didn't want to get on! That's what makes me think it might be her coming into season.
 
i am sure a colt being next to her wont be helping....is she turned out with others or on her own.....my old mare was turned out on her own at old yard and was very spooky and a nightmare to put out/.bring in when it was winter time. moved to a different yard where she was turned out with a companion and this behaviour changed immediately ...i think mares can be very sensitive and you may have to take some time to find the key to why she has changed....
 
Also give her 1-2 tablespoons of salt, in addition maybe try giving her magnesium oxide, it may not help but it's a cheap easy way of finding out and with some horses it can completely change their attitude and a lot of parts of the country are naturally low in magnesium.
 
She's turned out with two other mares, and stabled with my other mare (who is the same as usual and not nuts at all!) I've put her on a calmer (Naf Magic) but it's made zero difference.

I don't want to ride her when she's being like this - I value my neck! I'm a mum and if I break a bone, my household would collapse! But am worried about not riding her, too. Just don't know what to do, really.

Just to add, I've already decided to move them, for various reasons - partly to see if that helps her, but also because current yard is in the opposite direction to work and my boss is fed-up with me being late! We're going to a much quieter, smaller yard.
 
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LD&S said:
Also give her 1-2 tablespoons of salt, in addition maybe try giving her magnesium oxide, it may not help but it's a cheap easy way of finding out and with some horses it can completely change their attitude and a lot of parts of the country are naturally low in magnesium.
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Agree with above also have saddle checked over and also have chiro - new location, new pecking order, she may have been bullied out in the paddock or may even have been racing around, slipped and fallen. Teeth are also a consideration, you say she is a wuss she may have a sharp tooth.
 
Is she silly when you get on have you actually got on and found out? I didn't want to ride mine either when he was being a moron thug but actually under saddle he was the perfect gent (wouldn't stand to let me on but I just kept making him stand still until he gave in!). Could be her coming into season but also could be her feeling well and getting fitter so upping her work if possible is another option to see what happens.
 
It could be hormone related, my older girl is giving all the signs of starting to come in season without it actually happening.

If she doesn't settle when you've moved it might be worth getting a vet to scan her.
 
squidsin said:
I'm after some general advice, really. I rather rashly bought a lovely sensible bay Warmblood (I know I know but my other horse is a Warmblood and I'm used to them!) in November with the idea of competing her in some low level BE events next season. I say 'rashly' because I have another horse, two kids, two dogs and a job, so time and money are fairly stretched - but I've always wanted to do ODEs and my older girl isn't the world's most predictable or brave jumper, to say the least. Hence deciding that I'd get another horse, get to know it over winter, and spend next season competing and living the dream! Fast forward to now and the lovely calm horse I bought has turned into a spooky, bolshy menace. In the last couple of weeks, she's gone from being a plod to lead out to the field to being a total liability - today she reared up full, twice, and bolted off as I was turning her out (although she did come back quite quickly as she's basically a bit of a wuss.) She's taken to sticking her head up and bolting in the school, and at the moment I don't dare hack her out. I've been (up until Christmas anyway) riding her consistently - she's had more work, and more asked of her, than in her last home where she was a happy hacker. Her feed hasn't changed, and she only gets a bit of chaff and a balancer as a hard feed. She also kicks for the farrier and her manners aren't great. However having said all that her paces are lovely and she can jump, and she's very sweet when not being a bolshy pest. But why has she suddenly had this personality change? She's gone from a quiet-ish yard in her old home to a much bigger one, which is on the top of a hill and very windy and rattly and foggy. The school is very open with views for miles which I think freaks her out a bit, plus there's a colt turned out next to the school and I think he winds her up too. I think she's coming into season and very hormonal. Could it be that? Saddle and back are fine, although I don't think it's pain-related as it seems to be the crazy spookiness which is the main problem and that's not just under saddle. I'm on the cusp of saying 'enough' and going back to having one horse, but part of me wonders whether I should persevere. Anyone been through similar?
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I suspect it's 'all the above' reasons. Big yard, windy, open site, colt nearby.....building up to too much stress in a sensitive horse not used to such surroundings. Your description is of a fearful (but very nice) horse. It's not unusual to have a 'honeymoon period' with a new horse. What you do from here in is your decision bearing in mind you family responsibilities but I'm sure if you bail out you will feel disappointed in yourself. One option would be to change to a quieter/more sheltered yard and give her as much time as pos - riding and on the ground preferably with professional help to boost your confidence. She will pick up your nervousness which will increase her worry - a vicious circle. Good manners are essential but be careful how you enforce these. To punish for bad behaviour caused by stress, increases stress (fear) which will increase 'bad behaviour' and a softer approach taking things very gradually is usually more successful. Bad manners with the farrier is unforgivable but not insoluble. Break shoeing down into small parts. When does she get upset? Build touching, holding, hammering her feet into daily routine - then get friend to do similar. If it's the smoke from forge, have her stand close to quiet horses being shod etc
Set everything up for success - does she get more worried by being last out or first? Is she better alone or in company (could a friend ride out on other horse to cut down on your work and boost your confidence)?
Whatever you decide is the right thing. Good luck to you both.
 
When I moved my sensible mare to a new yard - on the top of an always windy hill - she also became more "flighty". I used plain and simple Mag ox which did help...the NAF Magic didn't help at all..in fact 2 years on I still have a huge tub I didn't finish..ought to have a clear out at the yard.....
 
FfionWinnie said:
Is she silly when you get on have you actually got on and found out? I didn't want to ride mine either when he was being a moron thug but actually under saddle he was the perfect gent (wouldn't stand to let me on but I just kept making him stand still until he gave in!). Could be her coming into season but also could be her feeling well and getting fitter so upping her work if possible is another option to see what happens.
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I haven't got on in a couple of weeks! I've got my trainer coming out on Friday to help me, and will be lungeing her first!
 
Thanks! I'll try that. Naf Magic is clearly not even touching the sides! It was all there was in the shop at the time, I've had success with Global Herbs in the past so might try that again.
 
Could be first season of the year, used to send my TB utterly nuts. She went from being 99% safe and well mannered to a horrible, dominant, evil evil horse who needed some very expert handling (and choice words thrown in!) until her horomones settled.

Same with the last one of the year, went from a sweet little TB to this raging dragon.

Talk to your vet about something like Regumate to see if that makes a difference.
 
It could be season related. My cousin last summer brought a Irish sports horse type, she was fine for first few months then came into season. Well she reared over backwards breaking loose when tied on our yard taking a post and rail fence out with her as she fell through it! Would bolt when trying to bridle up or even lead across the yard and go galloping back to the field screaming her head off for her field friends! At 16.1 and my cousin having a 4yr old child that often came to yard she's as going to get rid. I suggested rule out issues first.

Had her ovaries scanned and started on regumate, completely different mare back to her usual safe calm self. The entire time tho once you was on her back though she was fine to ride, just effected on the ground.
 
Regulate sounds like it's worth a try. I'd imagine the presence of a colt could bring her into season early? Seems weird as it's the depths of winter rather than the beginning of spring, but a few of the mares on the yard seem to be coming into season - and it's certainly BOYS that seem to set her off every time she goes nuts!
 
It could be physical, an increase in work brings on behaviour changes sounds possible. I'd have a physio look at her and get her teeth checked as a start.
 
squidsin said:
She's turned out with two other mares, and stabled with my other mare (who is the same as usual and not nuts at all!) I've put her on a calmer (Naf Magic) but it's made zero difference.

I don't want to ride her when she's being like this - I value my neck! I'm a mum and if I break a bone, my household would collapse! But am worried about not riding her, too. Just don't know what to do, really.



I'd be curious to know how much magnesium is in the daily dose, I've tried looking but can't find a break down but I would guess it's quite low
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Ì don't really have much to add advice wise, but can sympathise as my mare went through a delightful stage of being a complete fool that I didn't even want to bring in from the field let alone ride. If I can persevere through and come out the other side I'm sure you can too - she's back to the horse I thought I'd bought, rather than the menace that I considered selling.

I'm not quite sure what sorted us out - possibly a mixture of several things. We moved yards, now on ad lib hay rather than a weighed net, she's been on HorseFirst Relax Me although we're weaning her off that slowly, she had Agnus Castus for her hormones through the summer last year which seemed to help, I grew a bit more backbone (not for a second suggesting that's an issue for you, but it was for me!) and seemed to have earned a bit more trust/respect from her because of it, and she had an MOT (saddler, dentist, physio etc) going in to winter this year so that we could be more confident that any stupidity was just that.
 
My Clydesdale arrived very underweight and under developed. I have built him up mainly on hay alone and work, with a bit of chaff. In order to improve his top line I was advised to put him on balancer. I have been using Top Spec cool balancer, the difference has been amazing and at first there was no difference in temperament. However over the last couple of weeks I notice he seemed to have reverted to his fearful self, he was starting to panic about whips, he was spooking in the school and just really wasn't himself at all. My instructor had remarked about how well he looked, I'd ended up with a new saddle, as his topline had increased and I felt that the balancer had gone from doings its job, to actually giving him to much energy , which was coming out as anxiety. I have now stopped the balancer and I wait to see if his attitude improves.
 
squidsin said:
Regulate sounds like it's worth a try. I'd imagine the presence of a colt could bring her into season early? Seems weird as it's the depths of winter rather than the beginning of spring, but a few of the mares on the yard seem to be coming into season - and it's certainly BOYS that seem to set her off every time she goes nuts!
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It has been quite a warm winter and I do think some mares do continue to come into season during winter so it isn't out of the realms of possibility!
 
You have had lots of useful advice. The other thing I wonder has her turnout been reduced at all, as this might particularly change the way she is to lead out to the field (and you don't mention that she is bad to lead back in).
 
I've actually changed my mind about moving her now as my YO has offered to use my older mare in the riding school which would free up funds/time to sort out the other one. I'm thinking of putting her on 5 day livery. Anyway, thanks for all the responses - you've helped convince me to give her another try and not pack her off to the nearest dealer!
 
I don't think so - at her old yard, she was out in the day and in at night, as she is here. There's not much daylight and she's out for most of it! Both my mares are waiting at the gate to come in from about midday! My older mare would be quite happy never going out at all, I think!
 
2 things.............NAF magic actually made my stallion worse!!!!! made him spooky when he is not normally spooky and seemed to make his hormones worse too so scrap that. He is generally not very stalliony at all, ive met more colty 20yo geldings lol but i was recommended (by a very respected herbal expert who has helped me with some issues, successfully,in the past) that horses of both sexes will respond to dried raspberry leaf well and it will calm hormonal urges in both mares and stallions.
I have had him on it a week or so, as i feel that having a little help to soothe over things in a young,competing stallion is useful, and i do feel it helps his concentration just that bit that then allows me to work him through that moment of "ooooh what is THAT" etc. I get mine off ebay.

what balancer are you using? if its topsepc then please swap that too as it has made every horse i have tried it on, including a very reliable older horse that has never spooked or bucked or reared etc, in to demented hyperactive eejits!!!
 
It was the Top Spec balancer! I've used it with my other mare very successfully - she has poor feet and it's really helped with growing better hoof, and hasn't affected her behaviour - but it could well be causing a spooky reaction in my new mare. I've taken her off all hard feed for the time being, and no NAF Magic either. She's just having hay until she calms down a bit.
 
i actually recommend it to people wanting to buzz up lazy horses lol! its never failed to add turbo boost!

i use the Equivita balancer from Equinatural now, my boy is reactive to a lot of things but totally ok on this :)
 
Am I right in thinking you said she was OK up until Christmas when she was doing lots if work?
Being next to colts, rigs or stallions really can upset some mares.
Move her so she is not near the colt and get her working hard every day if the week- see how she is in 2 weeks.
 
twiggy2 said:
Am I right in thinking you said she was OK up until Christmas when she was doing lots if work?
Being next to colts, rigs or stallions really can upset some mares.
Move her so she is not near the colt and get her working hard every day if the week- see how she is in 2 weeks.
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Yup, she was fine until Christmas - so I think it's a season thing. Moving her is definitely a good idea.
 
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