Spring Grass and how to stop my horse turning into a lunatic!

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I recently (Feb) purchased a 6 yo ISH (TB x connie type).

He arrived 'hunting fit' and despite long gallops uphill, 3 hr hacks etc I just can't wear him out. I had the chiropractor out and she has diagnosed a bad back which has been adjusted but he needs 2 weeks off (walking for 20 mins ridden or lunging for 20 mins).

He lives out 24/7 and recently moved to a field with really rich long grass with the 6 other horses (who are all muzzled).

He is about right in terms of weight - don't want him to get much fatter. He only eats grass.

Lunged him today and he went totally mental bucking and cantering flat out (glad I wasn't on board as it was crazy and I could barely hold him).

My questions - Should I be restricting his grazing (pen him off as I hate muzzles)?
Or do I just wait for grass to get eaten (big field and all are muzzled)?
Or will the effects of "spring grass" subside soon (if so how long)?
AND how long to reduce his fitness a bit (so I can wear him out if needed)?

Im nervous of riding when he's like this.......
 
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Orangehorse

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We have received a warning from the vet to make sure that farm animals get sufficient magnesium when they are turned out on the fast growing grass. The silly behaviour in horses in spring time is very likely to be partly magnesium deficiency.

Horses don't get really ill like farm animals as they are not under so much physical stress - dairy cows making milk, young growing cattle, etc. Known cases, one here, where magnesium deficiency will send cattle beserk.
 
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Shay

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You can certainly try a magnesium based calmer - but they will only work if the horse is actually deficient in magnesium. There has been quite a lot of published research on this in the US and NZ - but less here. Another possibility is to try a valerian based calmer. Its banned in competition because it works! As you reduce his fitness / workload do watch his weight on the grass. The recent odd weather has caused the grass to shoot up and you are at real risk of laminitis if you don't muzzle or otherwise restrict access. Too many calories for workload is a classic cause of over excitable behaviour which is really what you seem to have.
 
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spacefaer

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One of the reasons why hunters were traditionally turned away at the end of the hunting season - because they were so fit, it was difficult to do anything with them! Our guys always test me if there is too much of a gap between the end of hunting and when they get turned out - it's the worst part of the year.

I appreciate that having just bought your new horse, you don't want to turn him away, but it would help! He hasn't been getting nearly enough work for his level of fitness, and then you fix his back and add fresh spring grass - no wonder he's feeling well!!
 
Cortez

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The fitness will wear off quite quickly if he's not being worked. If he needs 2 weeks off and he's turned out all the time then all you have to do is just leave him alone, surely? He'll be walking around for himself and doesn't need you involved in the process.

If you have been trying to "wear him out" by riding him for 3 hours and galloping then you are only upping the fitness, not reducing it. Bucking and titting around on the lunge does not necessarily mean he will do the same under saddle, many are total lunatics on the lunge and then perfect gentlemen when ridden.
 
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Doublethyme

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You may not like muzzles but they work. If I wasn't muzzling my 16.3 Hanoverian at the moment on the grass plus she's in during the day, I would be in serious trouble. On that regime, she's a lamb, an energetic forward one but without the screwy brain. I would be finding a way to seriously restrict his intake of the crack cocaine currently masquerading as grass at the moment!
 
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Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm going to pen him off to restrict the grazing tomorrow to see if that helps and generally stop riding him as much as for as long. That way he will reduce fitness slowly but I will still be able to ride. Lack of magnesium is unlikely as he was on a multivitamin that included magnesium until he went on the grass last week. I can't get the multivitamin or calmer that he was on before into him as he refuses to eat at present due to the grass.
 
Cortez

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letitia7778 said:
Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm going to pen him off to restrict the grazing tomorrow to see if that helps and generally stop riding him as much as for as long. That way he will reduce fitness slowly but I will still be able to ride. Lack of magnesium is unlikely as he was on a multivitamin that included magnesium until he went on the grass last week. I can't get the multivitamin or calmer that he was on before into him as he refuses to eat at present due to the grass.
Click to expand...

Is he not supposed to be "off" for two weeks on your chiropractor's advice?
 
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be positive

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Clodagh said:
Chiro said to ride and lunge. Seems odd to me, if he needs to rest a bad back how is lungeing helping?
Click to expand...

Lunging correctly with the horse working properly is often part of a rehab plan and can be better than totally resting the muscles that need to be worked in order to improve, allowing them to gallop about on the end of a lunge rein is obviously no use to any horse.
That said with this horse being turned away to let down a bit will probably be best and then bring him up quietly starting with getting him listening, working in a relaxed manner and not galloping about trying to "wear him out" as that will just make him more tense, fitter and may well wear him out in ways that are not desirable.
 
Cortez

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Lunging can indeed help muscle soreness in the back if it is done in the right way, with the horse stretching down and working rhythmically mostly in trot. But then being out at grass with the head down grazing is also highly therapeutic. If the horse is tense and running off (fit?) it may well be more to do with back pain than anything else.
 
Antw23uk

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If you keep galloping him and riding him for three hours you are only increasing or maintaining his current fitness levels not wearing him out, lol! Mine are snorting spooking tools at the moment but i think its quiet fun and like them lit up :)
 
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Notimetoride

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I haven't read previous replies so sorry if this has already been said. I understand that when grass grows very fast like in Spring, it is low in magnesium. So you could try a good quality magnesium supplement.
 
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