New horse has gone nuts

squidsin said:
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!
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I'd definitely perservere, it is the worst time for getting to know a new horse now, with bad weather and lack of daylight hours. Ditch the TopSpec balancer (I've had friends whose horses have turned unrideable on it too), get lots of help from your trainer, pay someone to ride her if you have to, do plenty of lungeing and get her back into a regular work routine. If you can get through this bit, I suspect she will be back to a nice, normal horse once the days are longer, warmer and she gets a bit of sun on her back!
 
TGM said:
I'd definitely perservere, it is the worst time for getting to know a new horse now, with bad weather and lack of daylight hours. Ditch the TopSpec balancer (I've had friends whose horses have turned unrideable on it too), get lots of help from your trainer, pay someone to ride her if you have to, do plenty of lungeing and get her back into a regular work routine. If you can get through this bit, I suspect she will be back to a nice, normal horse once the days are longer, warmer and she gets a bit of sun on her back!
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this is very true and a lot of clients have been reporting silly behavior in normally relaxed horses, over the last few weeks!
 
All this makes me feel a lot happier! She was really great for the first two months then something changed - I just need to change it back!
 
My mare of 7 months has on a few occasions pulled away and buggered off to the field and been spooky and horrid . A lot is related to seasons and more recently less turnout and have noticed her getting grumpy with others. I too would persist ,even nice horses become horrid at times esp this time of year and there sound quite a few potentiol causes for you to explore.
 
oldjumper said:
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.
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This. Sometimes horses plunged into an unfamiliar environment will be very subdued at first, but gradually the 'no. I really don't this' creeps in. So maybe your planned yard change might just give a chance to settle her again.
 
There is a small niggle that makes me wonder if she was deliberately sold in the autumn because she is silly when in season.

I think that the hormone supplements are good. Still there is lots of good advice and I hope it all works out for you.
 
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