Stressed, anxious, scared horse - close to giving up!

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Ellie2893

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Posted before re this topic...


situation has gotten worse since, horse is seriously wound up (can't be left in stable by himself for 5 mins) starts box 'running', clambering at the door, barging past me, screaming the list goes on....


He is in a yard of 7, stabled next to 3, turned out individually - has been 110% fine at livery in same pattern before only when we moved to this yard and only after about 2 weeks of being there - question, did something happen I'm not aware of!?? (Nothing has happened when I've been near him.. It changed over night!)


At previous yard (he was at for 4 years) he stayed in for days at a time by himself, no issue, no complaint etc perfect pony...


Also after 4 years of being the perfect traveller he's now decided he'll load but trow himself over the breast bar the second we leave the yard (200 yards down the road he's fine) as other post concluded - now have weave grill up (with inset in case he tries it again)


I have a space available at my old yard which I am holding and if no improvement by weekend I will be moving back but my question is....


Is this behaviour going to carry on? Or will he relax when he goes back to his old 'environment/territory'? When he returns to his field with his old buddies and his old stable (its the same one he was in before)


I'm terrified I've lost my pony, my competing prospect and my best friend. He doesn't trust me and I've frankly cried myself to sleep for the last 3 weeks solid. I'm so lost I just want him back! I want him to come to me in the stable and nuzzle me like he used to not run past me and scream in my ear :(
 
So sorry to read of yours and your pony's distress. It really sounds as if something has happened or is continuing to happen when you are not there that is causing this distress to your boy.

Sounds as if the move back to familiar yard and friends is the the right thing to do, I hope he recovers whern he gets to his old home.
 
Sometimes they just don't settle in a new place, no matter how much time and support you give them. I think the move back to his old place is a good idea, as if he settles in then you know what the problem was :)
 
Big hugs, OP :( Take him back to your old yard. Fingers crossed he will soon be back to normal! Has his feed changed at all at new yard - maybe even the sort of quality of grass or hay/haylage? Sounds awful!
 
Ive got 2 that are quite different depending on field and friends. One is a neighing maniac when her social life is not right. the other is plain savage. I think friends and places are of great importance to them. I really hope you get yours sorted. i think going back to your old place might be the easiest option.
 
No feed changes 'before' the episodes started... He is now on Top Spec Cool & Condition, Mollichaff Calmer & Magic 5* Calmer... (He should be asleep!!!)

Can't see how he'd be getting electric shocks in his stable..? I've cleaned it all out to check for rats etc, no sign etc.

It comes in 'episodes' only when he feels like it... So strange :(
 
It may just be that he doesn't like new yard and doesn't get on with other horses. Sometimes, they don't settle and their senses are more acute than ours.
He's obviously trying to tell you something. I hope you get the horse you know back soon.
 
Just wondered as some stables have ropey electrics, making some things 'live' that shouldn't be - very unlikely I agree, but it has been known.

Hope you get your calm horse back when he returns to his old yard, though I imagine it will take him a few days to settle. What an awful worry for you, all the best.
 
You must be so worried, I hope you can resolve it. I can't recall where I heard this tale but I did hear a story of someone whose horse was unsettled after a move, no reason that anyone could see, until they realised that the yard was overrun with rats all night, a lot of rats rather than just a normal population, I believe the horse settled after the rats were culled
 
Hi,
What a nightmare! Have you done anything since your previous post to try and help the situation ie change routine/field mates etc?
If you can and haven't already might be worth talking to yard owner - could he change stables/field. If he cant be left alone can you buddy up with another livery and bring in/out together?
I'd keep him in a very strict routine so he knows when to expect you and work him as much as you can so he has something else to think about.
I hope he settles soon
 
sammiesmum said:
Hi,
What a nightmare! Have you done anything since your previous post to try and help the situation ie change routine/field mates etc?
If you can and haven't already might be worth talking to yard owner - could he change stables/field. If he cant be left alone can you buddy up with another livery and bring in/out together?
I'd keep him in a very strict routine so he knows when to expect you and work him as much as you can so he has something else to think about.
I hope he settles soon
Click to expand...


Ive tried various things, I've spoken to the other liveries (only two of them anyway!) they helped for a day or so then went back to old ways - I can't really tell then when to turn theirs out either, felt a bit bad!

I also can't ride at the moment, he just loses it even more... I wish I could give him 2 hours hard work but its looking unlikely at the moment :(

im giving it until the weekend and see of there's any improvmemt, if not - back to old yard we go and take it step by step!
 
My horse was really unsettled when I moved him after 9 yrs at his previous yard. He went from individual turnout (for his own good!) to joining a settled group of 5 other geldings and he loved it, until I wanted to bring him in his stable. He changed from a horse that was calm and would stand in alone at his previous yard to a stress head in the stable although he was better when others were in. He lost tons of weight last winter and has been fed more than ever, ever since. His rugs and saddle no longer fitted him, it was awful yet in the field he was perfect. At times, he still isnt 100% in the stable but the majority of the time he is fine. In my case I think being with horses again after being alone for so long has made him feel secure and he felt insecure when I removed him from his new mates.
Was it individual turnout on your last yard too? Im not calling it, my horse coped fine for years alone, (he was seperated by electric fencing but in the same field as others) but I do think it has made him more clingy now. Im just wondering if your horse is feeling a bit insecure?
I really hope you get to the bottom of it, its so upsetting seeing them like that. Good luck
 
If he's being difficult to ride and wont load are you sure it's the yard that's the problem - not something physical. I had a horse who was a shocking traveller if he was sore in his back, they have to work hard to balance while travelling.
 
sammiesmum said:
If he's being difficult to ride and wont load are you sure it's the yard that's the problem - not something physical. I had a horse who was a shocking traveller if he was sore in his back, they have to work hard to balance while travelling.
Click to expand...

Medically he is 110%, first thing I did was call my vet, also had physio about 3 months ago with no issues.
 
I agree about moving him back.
Last year I moved my lad to a yard that to me seemed perfect but he went bonkers from the moment we got there. He did get slightly better, but after 12 weeks and a shedload of calmers I gave up and moved him to a different yard. Soon as he stepped onto current yard he was back to his lovely old self.
 
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