Sorry - good doer on short grass = bonkers

Flibble

Flibble

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Didn't know how to title this 15.3 cob too good a doer on very short grass lots of clover.

He was out 24/7 for 10 days as I was away. Brought him in yesterday and think snorting twit.

Got as far as gate and there was a dragon in the hedge opposite cue snort 180 turn and bolt flat out.

Other horses spun gawped trotted a bit and looked puzzled.

He is on no feed at all. 6 weeks ago we stopped feed as it appears any sugar blows his mind and he needed to lose weight. He was in by day before with a small net to help reduce his flab.
His chilling out break of just being a horse hasn't chilled him at all.

I would love some sensible ideas :(
 
Get him off the good grass for much of the time & work him too, even if its lunging work.
Just turn out for a few hours after he has worked.
The grass is really getting away at present - a right flush with the warm temps & light rain we've had recently.
If you can't get him off grass, then as suggested above - muzzle him.
 
Thanks guys I was hoping to avoid muzzling if possible. If he was in at night he would be alone so I was trying in by day and work.
I have always had horses with no weight issues and last year he was on rehab so didn't get any grass from about now it was box rest and inhand then turnout Decemberish.
 
If the bringing in daily helped go back to that regime or time in a grass free area each day. There can be a lot of sugar in grass and hay so perhaps feed soaked hay when in. I'd also feed a balancer and salt (not a lick) in as small amount of something like fast fibre that you a get away with to get him to eat the balancer if it's powdered.

Be careful with a muzzle if the grass is short, it has to be long enough for him to eat wearing the muzzle.
 
The only way I keep my lads weight in check is by stabling him at night all year round and having him on a paddock where he has to scrat about for stuff to nibble on. A few years ago I left him out 24/7 whilst I went away to make it easier for his 'minder' to look after him and when I got back he was footy, which turned into laminitis needing box rest and months of rehab...never done it since.
 
Note also all of ours have been spooky twits this last week due to the flush and they are out 24x7 permenantly so could be jut the weather/grass combo.
 
I think the autumn flush of grass in the last few days will be to blame, our fields are very low on grass but with the few damp days and then more decent temperatures and good sun they are bright green again and that kind of short fresh grass is very high in fructans. Mine was being very odd yesterday, eyes out on stalks and hysterical about being in by himself but today seems a bit more like himself. Last night when I turned him out he was like a loon, went to have a drink from the trough and then went off across the field like a thing possessed, finishing by the fence with an impressive buck stop as though he himself had no idea what had just happened :D I also always judge grass growth by looking at my lawn, I only cut it last weekend and it's absolutely sprouted again so I'm guessing the fields have done the same. Mine will always go through a funny grumpy but also silly phase both coming out of the winter and going into Spring and then again about now :) I've just got used to it. Not nice though a flat out bolt, hope you stayed upright and didn't get rope burn.
 
I dont think it is the grass, i would say change in the weather, coolness, wind they know winters coming, just go with it and lead him short by his shoulder and walk fast do not dawdle in the hope of having better control
 
I would also think that its the autumn flush of grass along with the lovely weather we seem to be having. My horse has his own paddock so if I stand him in all that happens is the grass grows a bit more and waits for him to come back out so I have to muzzle him at certain times of the year to keep his weight in check. If your grass is sprouting quickly and is low in magnesium as a result he might benefit from a good mag based calmer for a week or two.
 
amandap said:
If the bringing in daily helped go back to that regime or time in a grass free area each day. There can be a lot of sugar in grass and hay so perhaps feed soaked hay when in. I'd also feed a balancer and salt (not a lick) in as small amount of something like fast fibre that you a get away with to get him to eat the balancer if it's powdered.

Be careful with a muzzle if the grass is short, it has to be long enough for him to eat wearing the muzzle.
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He was on a balancer but we took him off it as I had fallen into the trap of adding more and more fibre and chaff to disguise it. I would give him a balancer again if I could find a simple one that didn't need feed. My thoughts the same on muzzle I don't think the grass is long enough.
 
MochaDun said:
I think the autumn flush of grass in the last few days will be to blame, our fields are very low on grass but with the few damp days and then more decent temperatures and good sun they are bright green again and that kind of short fresh grass is very high in fructans. Mine was being very odd yesterday, eyes out on stalks and hysterical about being in by himself but today seems a bit more like himself. Last night when I turned him out he was like a loon, went to have a drink from the trough and then went off across the field like a thing possessed, finishing by the fence with an impressive buck stop as though he himself had no idea what had just happened :D I also always judge grass growth by looking at my lawn, I only cut it last weekend and it's absolutely sprouted again so I'm guessing the fields have done the same. Mine will always go through a funny grumpy but also silly phase both coming out of the winter and going into Spring and then again about now :) I've just got used to it. Not nice though a flat out bolt, hope you stayed upright and didn't get rope burn.
Click to expand...

Yep that's him no rope burn TG it's annoying I am just getting my confidence back and the fiery beast has returned.
 
Putasocinit I agree with don't dawdle but he planted all four feet and grew 5 hands and snorted. Today I came prepared lead rope with a knot in it and lunge line so he was a bit better.

I am thinking of a magnesium based calmer but it needs to be easy to administer with no feed at all.

Really grateful for the feedback and opinions it helps a lot just to know it's not just me when he is sane he is lush.
 
My old boy used to go bonkers every year for a couple of weeks every March and October. In the end we decided the change in daylight did it to him as it did seem to correspond to grass level changes and you could set your clock by it. Just lead him out in a hat and gloves with a long line for a few weeks.then he would go back to being a donkey for the next 6 months !
 
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