Stressed horse

JustMeThen

JustMeThen

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This is a bit of a long story, sorry!
I bought my ISH gelding in July, as I'd had a right old b*tch mis-sold to me, which had knocked my confidence in a big way. I bought him because he was straight, which he is, but because I'd turned into such a wuss, we had a few teething problems, just him being a 6yo and taking the mick a bit when I was useless, and I ended up taking him to a livery yard for a bit.
That was brilliant and from being nervous of even getting on, I got back jumping, won a dressage class, etc, etc - then I took him home.
As soon as we got back, he was a different horse. I've sorted out a different bit now, as he really leans, and he's better to ride; have now been out to two BS shows and it's all good...
But what is the problem is, he's just really stressed all the time. Really headshy, you'd think I was beating him every day, nervous of everything - when my friend's husband did them yesterday morning, he wouldn't let him get near him in the stable and was panicking! When I clipped him yesterday, he was pulling back, jumping out of his skin, etc... when he was at the livery yard, he was absolutely fine; he was also fine to hack, whereas when I've hacked him here, he's jumping across the road at logs on the verge, shooting backwards at vans, etc.
I've had him on the Equine America Magnitude calmer for six weeks (he's been back home since Oct 29) and it's not really done anything... any suggestions?!
 
What's different about home & the livery yard? Does he have the same type of company, same turnout, same forage, grazing, similar stabling etc?
 
He goes out with one other, and there are two in each of the fields either side, and he's in with two more.
It's a private yard and he goes out all day, whereas at the livery yard they were all in all the time and there was always something going on. the one thing that might upset him is, my friend and I leave ours in, rugged and hayed for the night by 7pm but my sister sometimes doesn't get back till 8-9pm, when she gets hers in, so we have to leave the lights on and leave her to feed them all together - but I don't know if that would make him that nervous!
 
The trouble with magnesium calmers is that it will only work if there is a magnesium deficiency.

What is he being fed?

Also, do you spend time with him other than to ride and do chores? Perhaps some gentle one on one time just being calm and loving so he gets to trust you. I don't know if you know a bit of tellington touch. I don't know that much but learnt a bit off my previous teacher and it worked wonders on a rather rude stallion.
 
Are the stables different? Eg if he was in a loose box before & now he's in a barn with either low partitions or clear partitions he can see his neighbours through, or vice versa?
Anything like a footpath through the field, or anything different either in the vicinity, or that could be happening in your absence?
 
Sounds like you just need to give him a bit more time to settle. I recently moved to a house with land and my horse who I've owned for 17 yrs was very stressy and temperamental, some days he was fine but other days throwing toys out of the pram. One think he didn't like but it settling now was being in Dutch barn type stables as he couldn't see others when being groomed etc. His companions were 2 youngsters who think he's god so there was a bit of ego going on and them being quite attached to him so would set him off. Every day got easier so stick with it. Are you hacking out with company?
 
Yeah, I was thinking that, might try a herbal calmer or something... he's just on a basic mix, sugar beet and apple chaff, nothing heating.
I do try to spend time, especially brushing him as he's always plastered in mud and likes a good brush! But he was fine with me at the other yard, and he was at home 6-7 weeks before I went there and wasn't this bad, that's what's so weird...
I've never heard of Tellington touch, what's that?
 
The_angel_littlelegs said:
Are the stables different? Eg if he was in a loose box before & now he's in a barn with either low partitions or clear partitions he can see his neighbours through, or vice versa?
Anything like a footpath through the field, or anything different either in the vicinity, or that could be happening in your absence?
Click to expand...

He was in two different stables at the livery yard, both the same size as this one, the only real difference is he can just about see a neighbour over the top here, but not a major difference. No one goes through the field or anything and he was in exactly the same situation before we went to the livery yard but wasn't as stressed then!
 
What was he being fed at the livery yard? mix, sugar beet and apple chaff will all be full of sugar it may be a low sugar starch diet would suit him better.
 
Skipadeedooda said:
Sounds like you just need to give him a bit more time to settle. I recently moved to a house with land and my horse who I've owned for 17 yrs was very stressy and temperamental, some days he was fine but other days throwing toys out of the pram. One think he didn't like but it settling now was being in Dutch barn type stables as he couldn't see others when being groomed etc. His companions were 2 youngsters who think he's god so there was a bit of ego going on and them being quite attached to him so would set him off. Every day got easier so stick with it. Are you hacking out with company?
Click to expand...

Even though you'd had him 17 years, that's really interesting... how long did it take to settle him as mine's been back six weeks now and is almost getting worse if anything... he is the dominant one of the two that go out together too so the ego thing might be a factor too!
 
It may be a seasonal thing. You bought him in July, now it's winter and lots of wind etc. My mare who could not be more settled turns into a complete nervous wreck when it's windy. Today for instance, I will not be turning her out for fear she will hurt herself in blind panic. Bloomin' wind!
 
be positive said:
What was he being fed at the livery yard? mix, sugar beet and apple chaff will all be full of sugar it may be a low sugar starch diet would suit him better.
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Just about the same, I need to get food now though so will try a plain chaff and maybe change the mix, thanks :)
 
Wagtail said:
It may be a seasonal thing. You bought him in July, now it's winter and lots of wind etc. My mare who could not be more settled turns into a complete nervous wreck when it's windy. Today for instance, I will not be turning her out for fear she will hurt herself in blind panic. Bloomin' wind!
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Urgh yes, this wind's a killer! Riding in it is bad enough but when it's howling a gale and I get to the yard at 6pm in the dark, it ain't good!
 
If it's full sugar beet I would switch to unmollassed and have a look at the sugar levels in the apple chaff, the beet should be enough tbh. Your grazing and hay at home might be higher in sugars and the extras in his feed might be sending him over the edge. I would also feed some salt and look at giving a balancer, something like pro balance. http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Progressiv...79009018&_sid=134051938&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

Time is also another important factor. Does he get on with his turnout mate btw? Switching them round (if possible) might help. Two can be a difficult number together if they don't get on and in him feeling more secure. Horses are herd animals... safety in numbers. Just some ideas.
 
amandap said:
If it's full sugar beet I would switch to unmollassed and have a look at the sugar levels in the apple chaff, the beet should be enough tbh. Your grazing and hay at home might be higher in sugars and the extras in his feed might be sending him over the edge. I would also feed some salt and look at giving a balancer, something like pro balance. http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Progressiv...79009018&_sid=134051938&_trksid=p4634.c0.m322

Time is also another important factor. Does he get on with his turnout mate btw? Switching them round (if possible) might help. Two can be a difficult number together if they don't get on and in him feeling more secure. Horses are herd animals... safety in numbers. Just some ideas.
Click to expand...

Just realised, I've only just introduced the sugar beet and he has seemed almost worse so that could be worth dropping... thank you for that link, that looks good, I hadn't heard of adding salt though, is that just to make sure he's getting enough?
Thank you!
 
Yes. Horses generally don't get enough from licks etc. they have quite high requirements and it is generally low in their diet. It also balances out potassium in grass which can be high especially in spring. That's my understanding anyway. lol
Start with a teaspoon and increase up to a table spoon a day for a 16hh.
 
I haven't read all the replies, but I would be looking at diet too, grass mineral content obviously changes from yard to yard and if you have changed your hay source too?
Maybe speak to a nutritionalist but take a look here at your horse's reactions and see if they could be attritutable to feed. My WB is cereal and sugar intolerant and he is a pig to handle on that or on too much protein. All of mine get salt in their feeds as well as access to a mineral lick.


http://www.calmhealthyhorses.com/check_list.htm
 
YasandCrystal said:
I haven't read all the replies, but I would be looking at diet too, grass mineral content obviously changes from yard to yard and if you have changed your hay source too?
Maybe speak to a nutritionalist but take a look here at your horse's reactions and see if they could be attritutable to feed. My WB is cereal and sugar intolerant and he is a pig to handle on that or on too much protein. All of mine get salt in their feeds as well as access to a mineral lick.


http://www.calmhealthyhorses.com/check_list.htm
Click to expand...

That's really helpful, I'll fill that in, thank you :)
 
Jenny at Calm Healthy horses is very helpful - she sent me some stuff over FOC for our stress mare. The info on the website is very informative. I have cut molasses out of our ponies diet and added salt. She also had problems when she was on clover.
 
eleanor79 said:
Yeah, I was thinking that, might try a herbal calmer or something... he's just on a basic mix, sugar beet and apple chaff, nothing heating.
I do try to spend time, especially brushing him as he's always plastered in mud and likes a good brush! But he was fine with me at the other yard, and he was at home 6-7 weeks before I went there and wasn't this bad, that's what's so weird...
I've never heard of Tellington touch, what's that?
Click to expand...
What was he eating at the LY?

ETA, have just read you've added in sugar beet. Please take it out completely. I've had a cereal and sugar intolerant horse and even the tiniest bit upset her. It really isn't worth saving £8 or so when your and your horse's safety are at risk. My mare was fine with alphabeet or speedibeet but the molasses sent her completely loopy and unsafe to ride.
 
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Hi, it took my boy about 3 months to fully settle (I got to the stage of thinking what have I done! Lol) but then he would have a settled day. He's back to his normal self now but does through tantrums if I hack on my own and haven't been out for a while as he can see the horses for quite some distance when riding away from yard and heading back to yard but he gets better. I have actually got a winter lodger (an older horse) so have 4 now (2 young and 2 old). It's a much more settled mix but I always lead them in separate and ride him on his own so he gets used to being away from them. As long as your feed isn't causing problems, persevere but stay firm if you want to ride and he's throwing shapes then lunge him instead etc. don't risk your safety but don't give in. It will get better, I thought I'd never get him to accept stables as he'd shake and sweat up, barge door, refuse to eat but now he's 100% fine, stabled at night, I can leave stable door open and he waits for me to walk out etc.
 
Couple of things,

He sounds like HR could be intolerant to sugar. So you need to sort out an appropriate diet.

Your lack of confidence and leadership is stressing him out. He is looking for a trustworthy leader and cannot find one. You need to drastically up your leadership skills.
 
Pearlsacarolsinger said:
What was he eating at the LY?

ETA, have just read you've added in sugar beet. Please take it out completely. I've had a cereal and sugar intolerant horse and even the tiniest bit upset her. It really isn't worth saving £8 or so when your and your horse's safety are at risk. My mare was fine with alphabeet or speedibeet but the molasses sent her completely loopy and unsafe to ride.
Click to expand...

I should have said, it's Speedibeet he's on, don't think it's molassed... Alfabeet's a good idea though, thank you.
 
Skipadeedooda said:
Hi, it took my boy about 3 months to fully settle (I got to the stage of thinking what have I done! Lol) but then he would have a settled day. He's back to his normal self now but does through tantrums if I hack on my own and haven't been out for a while as he can see the horses for quite some distance when riding away from yard and heading back to yard but he gets better. I have actually got a winter lodger (an older horse) so have 4 now (2 young and 2 old). It's a much more settled mix but I always lead them in separate and ride him on his own so he gets used to being away from them. As long as your feed isn't causing problems, persevere but stay firm if you want to ride and he's throwing shapes then lunge him instead etc. don't risk your safety but don't give in. It will get better, I thought I'd never get him to accept stables as he'd shake and sweat up, barge door, refuse to eat but now he's 100% fine, stabled at night, I can leave stable door open and he waits for me to walk out etc.
Click to expand...

That's brilliant, glad he's settled now and that's encouraging, thanks. Love the throwing shapes comment!
 
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