Sudden extreme spooking - time of year or possible ulcers?

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casinosolo

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I've had my boy for 7 months now and he's been generally great. I've hacked him alone mainly and this has never bothered him. Not a novice ride or bombproof by any stretch but I've never felt insecure or scared of riding him before. He has occasionally hacked out in company and, in the main, this seemed to get him more excitable and forward as he wanted to 'chase' etc.

In the past couple of weeks there has been a change in him. He's always been slightly spooky, but nothing to worry about. However, he's suddenly got extremely spooky when being hacked alone to the point of massive sideways leaps and spins. I fell off for the first time last weekend whilst riding on the road when he spooked and ran at a massive snow pile and have had a few 'nearlys' since then - spooking at silly things like wheelie bins and flowers and sheep that he has passed a million times.

I rode him out last week in company and he was much calmer and not spooky at all. I know that some horses only like being hacked in company but it's weird that he would go out happily for 7 months alone and now suddenly seems to hate it!? :confused:

He's always pooed a lot whilst out riding, but on the last few rides I've noticed that his poos get increasingly loose as we're riding - possibly as he gets more anxious. The poos in his stable overnight etc are not loose at all so it's not a constant thing.

There's no spring grass in his field yet - he and the others have hay before going out and stay out for about 4-5 hours before waiting at the gate to come in as grazing is severely lacking still. Farmer doesn't allow hay in field.

I've been giving him Mag Ox for a few days but, to be honest, he is not keen on eating his food with it in so I don't think he's actually had much. I've ordered some Brewer's Yeast to see if that helps.

So... do I put this down to silly spring behaviour? ( Even though spring hasn't really sprung yet.) I know lots of people are having 'spooky' issues atm but this just seems extreme.

Or is there a possibility of something more serious? My mind keeps wandering to the possibility of ulcers. He is girth sensitive and sometimes grinds teeth on the bit. He isn't, however, off his food and is a good doer.

Should I be calling the vet? Should I try and feed more ulcer orientated supplements? Should I wait it out and see if it's just a time of year thing?

Sorry for the essay! Just needed to get my thoughts down as rather worried.
 
What are you feeding him? Deans did this for a while and stopped as soon as I cut micronised linseed from his feed. I know its not heating or anything so I decided he was just packed full of energy and didn't know what to do with it! I didn't know where to start but luckily started with cutting things out from his feed which did the trick. Hope you get to the bottom of it x
 
Emilieu said:
What are you feeding him? Deans did this for a while and stopped as soon as I cut micronised linseed from his feed. I know its not heating or anything so I decided he was just packed full of energy and didn't know what to do with it! I didn't know where to start but luckily started with cutting things out from his feed which did the trick. Hope you get to the bottom of it x
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Thanks for being the one person to reply, lol. He's just on a small handful of Hi-Fi Lite morning and evening. I just give him a small feed so I can give supplements if needed. He is a good doer and easily puts on weight. I'm currently putting 5g of Mag Ox per feed, although that seems to be putting him off eating it. He also gets a bit of celery seed powder and turmeric but has been on them for ages before this started :/

Other than that he's on just hay; sometimes have to give him haylage as farm runs out of hay but I always soak it. He was on haylage with his previous owner anyway so don't think it could be that.

I think he is packed full of energy as when we get to the bits on hacks where we sometimes canter he just wants to go but I don't trust him unless in company as he has done massive spooks and spins while cantering and I was lucky to stay on :/

I've been trying to ride him in the school more to get his energy out but he hates schooling :(
 
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MY old pony went from being 100% bombproof to spooking at literally everything when he got a bad back. It's something to do with the fact that they're in pain and feel they can't get away that fast so are more ready for it, if that makes sense. Maybe get his back checked?
 
It does sound as if he could have ulcers. You might find that Aloe Vera juice added to his chaff helps. I read this as a tip on here and it certainly helps my mare. Although she is not spooky she was girthy and grumpy, if I accidentally run out of AV she soon gets grumpy again. After she kicked the wall in her stable down, I make sure I don't run out! Mine also has Brewer's yeast.
 
Amy567 said:
MY old pony went from being 100% bombproof to spooking at literally everything when he got a bad back. It's something to do with the fact that they're in pain and feel they can't get away that fast so are more ready for it, if that makes sense. Maybe get his back checked?
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Thank you - yes, I think I will do. A McTimoney lady is coming to our yard in a couple of weeks but I don't know much about it. Will look into it! Thanks.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
It does sound as if he could have ulcers. You might find that Aloe Vera juice added to his chaff helps. I read this as a tip on here and it certainly helps my mare. Although she is not spooky she was girthy and grumpy, if I accidentally run out of AV she soon gets grumpy again. After she kicked the wall in her stable down, I make sure I don't run out! Mine also has Brewer's yeast.
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Thank you - I do think it could be ulcers so I'm not sure whether to ask the vet to scope or whether to just feed things to ease them if they are there. I would prefer the latter as don't really want to put him through the former!

Will try the AV and also the Brewer's yeast I've ordered. Hopefully he will eat it!
 
Spring grass is a possible - my placid cob has suddenly turned into a scatty, spooky, lack of brakes TB-wannabe that's nausing all the other horses in the field, coming to call then running away as soon as I go to put a headcollar on.

Oh the joys of spring. :rolleyes:
 
My horse had ulcers and was scoped. There are lots of lotions and potions for ulcers. The only ones I have found have worked is Coligone liquid and my miracle one RiteTrac. You could try some sodium bicarbonate from the chemist in his feed or alternatively if he doesn't like in his feed try in his water. I would also def be adding Brewers yeast and some YeaSacc. I'm sure I read somewhere that Vit b1 deficiency can also cause spookiness.
I would be looking at his diet first to check what he maybe missing Vit/mineral wise to check if he's deficient as first point of call.
 
Frozen Hoof Boots said:
My horse had ulcers and was scoped. There are lots of lotions and potions for ulcers. The only ones I have found have worked is Coligone liquid and my miracle one RiteTrac. You could try some sodium bicarbonate from the chemist in his feed or alternatively if he doesn't like in his feed try in his water. I would also def be adding Brewers yeast and some YeaSacc. I'm sure I read somewhere that Vit b1 deficiency can also cause spookiness.
I would be looking at his diet first to check what he maybe missing Vit/mineral wise to check if he's deficient as first point of call.
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Thanks - lots of possibilities here :) I was thinking it could be a vit/ mineral thing which is why I started the Mag Ox, but then I'm worried about tinkering with his feed too much as don't want to make too many big changes! I will start with the Brewer's Yeast and see how we get on!
 
ShadowFlame said:
Spring grass is a possible - my placid cob has suddenly turned into a scatty, spooky, lack of brakes TB-wannabe that's nausing all the other horses in the field, coming to call then running away as soon as I go to put a headcollar on.

Oh the joys of spring. :rolleyes:
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Yes, I initially thought it must be spring! But it's weird because there is honestly still NO grass in his field!?
 
Is there not even any really short growth that they have eaten down? Mine is spooky at the moment too, she is normally a bit spooky and has mag ox which helps lots but its definitely more than usual, we do have grass though!
 
casinosolo said:
Yes, I initially thought it must be spring! But it's weird because there is honestly still NO grass in his field!?
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Our field is brown. Please excuse melodramatic coblet in the middle.

IMG_20130407_114014_550_zps86f3c382.jpg


However, either he's finding spring grass, or someone's sneaking him something I really should know about! :D
 
ShadowFlame said:
Our field is brown. Please excuse melodramatic coblet in the middle.

IMG_20130407_114014_550_zps86f3c382.jpg


However, either he's finding spring grass, or someone's sneaking him something I really should know about! :D
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Lol! He looks to be enjoying himself :)

This is our field:



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Maybe he is eating some new growth, but can't imagine it's enough to send him bonkers!? Anyway - I really hope it IS that! It would be less worrying than the possibility of ulcers.
 
mandwhy said:
Is there not even any really short growth that they have eaten down? Mine is spooky at the moment too, she is normally a bit spooky and has mag ox which helps lots but its definitely more than usual, we do have grass though!
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Thanks - I don't THINK there is any grass, but then I can't be sure :/ Maybe they have eaten it down.
 
Interesting about the micronised linseed......have got Fab on that and he's a spooky idiot at the moment. May cut it out and see if there's a difference
 
To be honest I think its with Spring in the air, cut out anythng feed wise you think could be making your horse giddy and take it from there. They know the grass is on its way, sun is occasionally shining, days are longer etc, must admit Im a little giddy too and cant wait for Winter to end even though it officially has.

Once they are all out 24/7 Im sure you will see a difference. If the behaviour carries on then maybe investigate further. Def check out teeth, back and tack, always a good way to go first.
 
Look for the gastric ulcer diagnostic video on Youtube (Dr De Paulo). Endoscopes will only find any ulcers in the stomach, it can't investigate the large intestine so a negative scope result isn't definitive.
 
Izzwizz said:
To be honest I think its with Spring in the air, cut out anythng feed wise you think could be making your horse giddy and take it from there. They know the grass is on its way, sun is occasionally shining, days are longer etc, must admit Im a little giddy too and cant wait for Winter to end even though it officially has.

Once they are all out 24/7 Im sure you will see a difference. If the behaviour carries on then maybe investigate further. Def check out teeth, back and tack, always a good way to go first.
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Thank you :)
 
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