Strange Behaviour/ Personality Change - Advice Needed

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Jemma7967

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Hi I am very new to this website and I am just looking to see if anyone has any experience or a similar situation to mine. I have owned my full Thoroughbred mare for over two years now and in the last 7 months her personality has completely changed she was not your typical stressy Thoroughbred, and was very sane and sensible and was often used as a nanny horse when hacking our as she was perfect on the roads and to lead up and down from the field. However, she has become very up tight in her stable, no longer wants to be groomed, box walks, and occasionally nips at you. Also, in the field she has been seen just staring into space. In the last month we have moved to a much quieter yard where it is only my three horses. (one is a 12.2 ancient pony and a mini Shetland so she isn't being bullied) She goes from standing in her stable fine and then stares into space and begins whizzing about the stable for absolutely no apparent reason, she then becomes sweaty and so wound up. Her feeding or routine hasn't changed and we give her a boredom breaker ect to try and distract her. The other horses are also brought in at the same time as her so she isn't on her own then either. We have the vet coming on Friday but just wondered if any one had any ideas or suggestions?
 
So she now just has 2 small ponies for company and nothing else? but the behaviour change was starting 7 months ago, it sounds as if she is suffering from pain somewhere, it may be tricky to find but most changes are related to either pain or management, as it is getting worse I expect the discomfort is increasing, the stress of moving and being very much lead horse may have made things worse, is she turned out in the same field as the 2 ponies or in one with more grass on her own?
No answers but a few things to think about, many horses are happier in a larger yard as they have more company, can she see the ponies properly once she is stabled?, she may be struggling to cope with being in charge and looking for danger all the time, one of my boys got very nervy living with a follower who he felt required "looking after" a move to a group relaxed him as he shares the leadership with the others. Stress can lead to ulcers developing, something to consider.
Does she have a low starch/ sugar diet? is she on ad lib forage when in?
 
Jemma7967 said:
Hi I am very new to this website and I am just looking to see if anyone has any experience or a similar situation to mine. I have owned my full Thoroughbred mare for over two years now and in the last 7 months her personality has completely changed she was not your typical stressy Thoroughbred, and was very sane and sensible and was often used as a nanny horse when hacking our as she was perfect on the roads and to lead up and down from the field. However, she has become very up tight in her stable, no longer wants to be groomed, box walks, and occasionally nips at you. Also, in the field she has been seen just staring into space. In the last month we have moved to a much quieter yard where it is only my three horses. (one is a 12.2 ancient pony and a mini Shetland so she isn't being bullied) She goes from standing in her stable fine and then stares into space and begins whizzing about the stable for absolutely no apparent reason, she then becomes sweaty and so wound up. Her feeding or routine hasn't changed and we give her a boredom breaker ect to try and distract her. The other horses are also brought in at the same time as her so she isn't on her own then either. We have the vet coming on Friday but just wondered if any one had any ideas or suggestions?
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When you say whizzing about in her stable, do you mean circling the walls at speed? Staring into space in the field could just be thinking she has seen something in the far distance and concentrating on that. But the behaviour in the stable does remind me of my mare that had epilepsy. She used to go rather vacant and "inward" as the seizure started, then progressing to circling at some speed. Does she ever lean on the walls?
 
Thank you for your reply, we have spoken to the vets about this when it first started and she suggested trying various things which we have. She has always been turned out with the same ponies at the old yard there was only one other horse in the field but she has always kept herself to herself and is never been particularly close or sociable to any of them when grazing. The stables she is she can see both of the horses and touch them through the bars if she wants. We are now thinking ulcers could be a possibility. Just looking for any ideas as she literally goes from standing in her stable totally relaxed to trying to run round her stable, when their is nothing obvious to set this off. it doesn't seem to be anything in particular that sets her off, but its horrible if you are in the stable with her when she does it as she will literally walk over you.

Also she is on Hifi Molasses Free and basic pony nuts as she is a very good doer for a thoroughbred.

Also should've said she is 13 years old and an ex race horse.
 
Thank you for your reply. Yea circling at speed if you are in the stable she will just walk through you. My mum has began to think it may be something like epilepsy or related to her brain as she literally can go from standing totally relaxed to sweating and box walking :(
 
Hi I am very new to this website and I am just looking to see if anyone has any experience or a similar situation to mine. I have owned my full Thoroughbred mare for over two years now and in the last 7 months her personality has completely changed she was not your typical stressy Thoroughbred, and was very sane and sensible and was often used as a nanny horse when hacking our as she was perfect on the roads and to lead up and down from the field. However, she has become very up tight in her stable, no longer wants to be groomed, box walks, and occasionally nips at you. Also, in the field she has been seen just staring into space. In the last month we have moved to a much quieter yard where it is only my three horses. (one is a 12.2 ancient pony and a mini Shetland so she isn't being bullied) She goes from standing in her stable fine and then stares into space and begins whizzing about the stable for absolutely no apparent reason, she then becomes sweaty and so wound up. Her feeding or routine hasn't changed and we give her a boredom breaker ect to try and distract her. The other horses are also brought in at the same time as her so she isn't on her own then either. We have the vet coming on Friday but just wondered if any one had any ideas or suggestions?

Also she is on Hifi Molasses Free and basic pony nuts as she is a very good doer for a thoroughbred.

Also should've said she is 13 years old and an ex race horse.
 
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