shaking/trembling

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nvb77

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Our 5 year old pony shakes uncontrollably when nervous/stressed. He's only ever done it when being bathed or having his feet hosed, or generally anything involving water. And has also started doing it when travelled in the lorry.

But now he seems to be doing it at anything he's slightly unsure about... he cut his foot a couple of days ago and every time I even bend down to look at it he starts to shake! I had to worm him this morning and again, he shook like a jelly!

Once he starts shaking it takes him at least 30-40 mins to calm down :(

Is there anything I can do?!

I should add that we've had him since a baby and he's never had anything traumatic happen to him and is very well cared for (pampered way too much according to the girls on our yard which may be the problem!)

He's such a funny little chap and quite quirky, but I hate to see him getting so stressed!

Any advice would be much appreciated :)
 
Not Welsh by any chance is he ?

I had a Welsh D from 6 months old to 28 years and if anything upset him he shook and trembled like mad.

He would tremble in fear and excitement. I just ignored it, I knew he had never been abused and it was just 'him'. In fact as he aged and became frail I was able to tell if he was unwell by him not being trembly.

The downside to the shaking for my boy was he would run up very light through nerves (he was a hunter who relived his day over night), this made him tricky to feed.

On the other hand I now have a 10 month old weanling, bought in and possibly had a bit of a rough time, he shakes with fear as I handle him and bit by bit it is becoming less, he also gulps with fear. It is very interesting to see this young horse try to stay with me despite his fear.
 
Yes he is a welsh!
Just got back from the yard and he even started trembling when I filled up his water bucket with the noise of the water. And getting the purple spray on his cut was as if I was trying to kill him!
Funny how he's only started doing this recently :(
 
Is there any chance, assuming you are on a shared yard,? that anyone has given him a good hiding or is doing anything to him in your absence ?

It is very odd if he has just started out of the blue. My boy did it from weanling stage. He was a Section D and full of fire right up to around 25 years of age. He was nick named the Welsh Dragon as he would tremble, sweat and steam. Genuine as the day is long but a handful to say the least.
 
regardless of the root cause, try some positive reinforcement, clicker training working from a dry sponge, to the sound of a spray, to a wet sponge, sound of a hose... and so on, combine this with clicker training, there are loads of books and sites on this, all you need is a few minutes a couple of times a day, a £2 clicker and some treats.... should help him improve.
 
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