Becca-84
Well-Known Member
Hi guys, I'm a bit of a lurker on here, don't post very often, but really need some advice, I'm running out of ideas!
I'll try and keep it brief. Basically, my sister is having problems with Vinnie (11yr old Haflinger gelding). He has had lots of changes and upsets since July:
1) We moved back to UK (from Spain) in July and he and my mare were put onto full livery for 3 months. Here, they said he was lovely, so sweet and calm and all the new horses were stabled near him as he was so calm.
2) During this time my mare colicked badly and had to be PTS so he lost his life-long companion
3) In November, he was brought to UK by LOC (who also loved him). He was no trouble on the journey, despite never being in a trailer more than 20mins before. He was delivered to the yard where my sister works.
4) After 2 months there, my sister found a local small DIY yard for him, where he lived out with 4 geldings and 1 mare. He was moved there but after a little while started showing "riggy" behaviour and trying to mount the elderly Arab mare, who's owner was less than impressed.
5) Because of the trouble he was causing, my sister's boss said she could bring him back to the yard where she works, as he was previously no problem.
6) 2 months down the line, my sister was riding him, he got excited jumping, rushed and fell, landing on her and breaking her rib. She now can't ride and he is becoming a big problem.
He had started to chase the ex-racer veteran and welsh A he is turned out with away from their feed a few weeks ago. Now another ex-racer has joined them and Vinnie is being really aggressive. He is running at the others, ears back, swinging his back end at them, chasing them round and round....this is really not like him.
I know my sister's boss had been feeding him on barley and he has put on lots of weight as she can't ride, but this is so out-of-character. He is normally so calm and placid.
Do you think it is probably just lack of exercise and being hyped up on barley, or could it be something else? I've bought some calmer (wendals herbs) to try him on, in case he is just stressed with all the moves etc - is there anything else we can try?
I'm sorry this got so long. I've suggested that she tries loose schooling him to get rid of some energy, until she can ride again, and he is no longer on barley. Could he be in pain/mineral deficiency etc that could change his behaviour so much?
Any help or suggestions much appreciated
I'll try and keep it brief. Basically, my sister is having problems with Vinnie (11yr old Haflinger gelding). He has had lots of changes and upsets since July:
1) We moved back to UK (from Spain) in July and he and my mare were put onto full livery for 3 months. Here, they said he was lovely, so sweet and calm and all the new horses were stabled near him as he was so calm.
2) During this time my mare colicked badly and had to be PTS so he lost his life-long companion
3) In November, he was brought to UK by LOC (who also loved him). He was no trouble on the journey, despite never being in a trailer more than 20mins before. He was delivered to the yard where my sister works.
4) After 2 months there, my sister found a local small DIY yard for him, where he lived out with 4 geldings and 1 mare. He was moved there but after a little while started showing "riggy" behaviour and trying to mount the elderly Arab mare, who's owner was less than impressed.
5) Because of the trouble he was causing, my sister's boss said she could bring him back to the yard where she works, as he was previously no problem.
6) 2 months down the line, my sister was riding him, he got excited jumping, rushed and fell, landing on her and breaking her rib. She now can't ride and he is becoming a big problem.
He had started to chase the ex-racer veteran and welsh A he is turned out with away from their feed a few weeks ago. Now another ex-racer has joined them and Vinnie is being really aggressive. He is running at the others, ears back, swinging his back end at them, chasing them round and round....this is really not like him.
I know my sister's boss had been feeding him on barley and he has put on lots of weight as she can't ride, but this is so out-of-character. He is normally so calm and placid.
Do you think it is probably just lack of exercise and being hyped up on barley, or could it be something else? I've bought some calmer (wendals herbs) to try him on, in case he is just stressed with all the moves etc - is there anything else we can try?
I'm sorry this got so long. I've suggested that she tries loose schooling him to get rid of some energy, until she can ride again, and he is no longer on barley. Could he be in pain/mineral deficiency etc that could change his behaviour so much?
Any help or suggestions much appreciated
