Slightly concerned about my horsey

[You Wont Forget Me]

Okay well first off i will say that my boy used to love being out in the field and i had to literally drag him in at nights but in the past week or so i have noticed that he has totally changed meaning in the mornings when i go to turn him out he wont come out his stable, he then wont come out the stable block or go in to the field, once he's eventually in he just stands at the gate all day until i go to bring him in when he tries to drag me to his stable! Im just slightly concerned as he is never like this he is usually the kind of horse who loves being out stuffing his face with grass all day! Is this normal, have any of your horses done this before? Why is he doing this?
It could very well be nothing but im just a bit worried about him.

Thankyou to all who read through that and any replies will be muchly appreciated

 

[rockysmum]

Most obvious question, is there any grass

Mine are the same at the moment, prepared to go out for an hour to play, but then want to come straight back in as there is nothing much to eat.

 

[You Wont Forget Me]

Yeah there is plenty of grass in the field still (should have mentioned that) lol

 

[rockysmum]

OK next questions

1. Are his friends in the field or still in their stables

2. Is he warm enough, if clipped has he enough rugs on

 

[You Wont Forget Me]

Yup, his friend is out everyday with him as are his other friends in fields all around him. I would say he's warm enough he is fully clipped with a HW 360g and MW 200g rug on and feels a comfortable in that just now

 

[rockysmum]

OK, last question and then I will leave it to the experts.

Is the ground frozen and rutted.

One of mine doesn't like walking on hard uneven ground. I suspect its because she's getting on a bit and its harder on her joints.

 

[tasteofchristmaschaos]

Are you sure he isn't too hot? 560g is a lot of filling, even if he isnt sweating he could be too hot and thus feeling uncomfortable and not wanting to graze.

 

[albeg]

Is his buddy annoying him? My lad sometimes will anyone that goes out with him if he's got too much energy, to the point that they're begging to come in.
He might be too warm either? What's the weather like where you are, the MW and HW together seems like a lot, unless it's very cold/he's thin skinned.

 

[starryeyed]

My horse is like this, but he's never liked wind/rain so I know exactly why he'd rather stay in bed, but it's strange for yours to suddenly change his mind.
I was also going to suggest that perhaps he's too hot, have you checked him throughout the day to see what kind of temperature he is?
He's not being bullied at all is he?

 

[TigerTail]

Yup, his friend is out everyday with him as are his other friends in fields all around him. I would say he's warm enough he is fully clipped with a HW 360g and MW 200g rug on and feels a comfortable in that just now

Id guess too hot and waiting to come in and have his rugs changed. Temps are very mild for this time of year and when the sun comes out they bake under rugs which they cant take off.

Boredom is another one which springs to mind - or he's just looking forward to his tea. have they got hay out in the field? Theres not much nutrition in grass this time of year

 

[You Wont Forget Me]

Rockysmum ground is slightly frozen first thing but that has never bothered him before.

tasteofchristmaschaos He definatly isnt to hot, so many people at yard have said about that being shocked with the rugs he has on but he is a really cold horse, so much that he has his very own wardrobe of duvets for under rugs at night time!


ailbheg funny you should say that bacause he has actually always prefered to be in a field himself and seems to get quite fed up with other horses but he has ben with his field companion for 5 months now so dont know why he would suddenly do this now

 

[You Wont Forget Me]

My horse is like this, but he's never liked wind/rain so I know exactly why he'd rather stay in bed, but it's strange for yours to suddenly change his mind.
I was also going to suggest that perhaps he's too hot, have you checked him throughout the day to see what kind of temperature he is?
He's not being bullied at all is he?

Temp seems fine throughout day when ive been checking. Im not sure about the bullying because as ive said in my last reply he doesnt like being in a field he prefers his own space so ive never actually caught him being bullied so really dont know about that but will look out for it

 

[albeg]

Temp seems fine throughout day when ive been checking. Im not sure about the bullying because as ive said in my last reply he doesnt like being in a field he prefers his own space so ive never actually caught him being bullied so really dont know about that but will look out for it

Could you put him out on his own for a couple of days and see how he is?

 

[Holly Hocks]

How old is your horse?

 

[You Wont Forget Me]

Could you put him out on his own for a couple of days and see how he is?

I would love to do that but there is no extra fields at yard as other field are on rest for summer Have been asking for my own field for some time now as when he was in himself before he was perfectly happy

 

[whisp&willow]

personally i wouldnt worry-

my mare used to HATE being in at all! she was always field kept 24/7 unless absoloutly necessary. last winter was awfull and she had a foal at foot so was stabled for a while through the worst. She went out fine, but was stood at the gate waiting to get back in after a short turnout! very unusual of her, but she is much older and more chilled these days.

how old is he? and whats your weather been like?

 

[You Wont Forget Me]

How old is your horse?

He is 5, 6 next month but he is a really mature horse for his age, very laid back about life in general

 

[You Wont Forget Me]

and whats your weather been like?

A bit of everything! Snow, rain, wind, sun, hail, hurricanes the lot lol

 

[whisp&willow]

A bit of everything! Snow, rain, wind, sun, hail, hurricanes the lot lol

i know the feeling! ha ha! well like i say whisper was stood at the gate shouting to get back in last winter, and i never thought id see that day! Her daughter Willow is nearly 18 months now, and i swear she'd stay in 24/7 if i let her!

be interesting to see if its the company thing though?

 

[albeg]

I would love to do that but there is no extra fields at yard as other field are on rest for summer Have been asking for my own field for some time now as when he was in himself before he was perfectly happy

Any chance of his buddy's owner agreeing to both of them having an hour or two to themselves during the day? Awkward I know, but maybe it could be done at weekends?

 

[You Wont Forget Me]

Any chance of his buddy's owner agreeing to both of them having an hour or two to themselves during the day? Awkward I know, but maybe it could be done at weekends?

I dont think other owner would be up for that as she keeps her horse out 24/7 as he hates being in! So complicated.

 

[Holly Hocks]

He is 5, 6 next month but he is a really mature horse for his age, very laid back about life in general

Ok, it's not what I thought - my old horse went like this when he got arthritis - but he was 21 - it won't be that at your horses' age.

 

[SusieT]

Could he be lame/ill?

 

[You Wont Forget Me]

Could he be lame/ill?

Not that he's showing any signs of this really he seems totally sound and everything else is normal apart from this

 

[AmyMay]

How do you know that he is standing by the gate all day?

 

[jodiepony]

Hi there

My old loan horse used to hate the winter weather and didnt like being out in the field at all. Come summer, a nightmare to get in

Sorry, hasnt helped much. Hope you manage to get to the bottom of this.

Jodie

 

[littlemisslauren]

Has he got mud fever?

We have one horse like this at the moment, he is usually very hard to catch as he much prefers to stay out. At the moment he has some nasty mud fever that is taking a while to shift and it is very sore for him. We have to turn him out or he gets stiff but by 2pm he is stood at the gate waiting.

Just an idea

 

[Mince Pie]

Are you sure he isn't too hot? 560g is a lot of filling, even if he isnt sweating he could be too hot and thus feeling uncomfortable and not wanting to graze.

I second this, my fully clipped TB is only in a MW with a fleece!