bumblelion
Well-Known Member
Morning everyone!
I'm looking for a bit of advice. My tb has always been very sharp, easily hots up and is generally quite stressy. Since moving him home, he has chilled out loads as it's much quieter and he doesn't have to worry about others horses routines etc. He is here at home with my other horse, an idxwb who is a companion due to his arthritis.
Recently he's become a bit of a handful. Mainly when turning out. He's led in a chiffney (settled in it, accepts it and TBH anything less, when he has a moment, I'd stand no chance holding him!). He's not rude by any means, does respect my space etc but gets his knickers in a knot! Now, he walks nicely from his stable to the field (5 metres away), will stand for a treat whilst I release him and then just tanks off! That is fine, he's been in all night and is excited!! By the time I get my other boy out, he comes galloping over, biting his flanks, his legs etc! However, this morning he mounted my other boy whilst I was holding him, trying to release him! Which resulted in him rearing up above my head and flying forwards etc! I managed to back the tb up whilst swinging my id around to get him back in the field and managed to let him go and get out before I got caught in the middle again!
My id is a very dominant horse and generally rules! However my tb is very playful! Hence the nipping etc, which generally results in my id turning back on him and shredding his rugs!!
The tb isn't in work due to my child committments and basically lack of time etc! Last winter he coped fine and was pretty chilled overall. They're turned out between 6.30 am-4pm. Both very happy to come in (would come in at 9am if allowed as I muck out in the morning and they both stand at gate whilst I do so!). Whilst turned out they both get their exercise, have a good gallop about and at the moment are spending most of their time up on their back legs, front legs sparring! I would really love to work him, however all I could do is lunge at weekends. I don't think this would help, he's one of those that if in work, is in daily! I could get someone in but it would work out expensive as would cost at least £20 a session!
I think my tb's freshness is due to his feed. He is currently on haylage which I don't like putting an unworked horse on but I didn't really have a choice. He was on hay for a week but was coughing no end, despite soaking it, steaming it (in a haygain) etc. This has now stopped on haylage. At the time I thought, he's a tb so I don't need to worry weight wise and he'd chilled out so much I thought temperment we'll manage! Also, the past month I'v switched them onto simple systems feeds. He has 1/4 scoop of greengold with total eclipse and joint eclipse twice a day, so not a great deal. We also got advised on blue bag grass nuts, however I haven't fed him these, I was keeping them for when he needs them in the depths of winter (starting to wonder if I'll need them at all!). They haven't got much grass in field now either.
So basically I was wondering what you think?! Is there anything you would do different? Are they all a bit nutty at the moment? Normally I'd perservere, however he just seems to be getting a bit above himself out in the field. I can't separate the two of them either as we're on clay soil and the posts just sink and fall over as they then do it over the fence! My tb was cut as a 4 yo whilst in racing.
Sorry it's a bit long! Thanks for getting this far!!
I'm looking for a bit of advice. My tb has always been very sharp, easily hots up and is generally quite stressy. Since moving him home, he has chilled out loads as it's much quieter and he doesn't have to worry about others horses routines etc. He is here at home with my other horse, an idxwb who is a companion due to his arthritis.
Recently he's become a bit of a handful. Mainly when turning out. He's led in a chiffney (settled in it, accepts it and TBH anything less, when he has a moment, I'd stand no chance holding him!). He's not rude by any means, does respect my space etc but gets his knickers in a knot! Now, he walks nicely from his stable to the field (5 metres away), will stand for a treat whilst I release him and then just tanks off! That is fine, he's been in all night and is excited!! By the time I get my other boy out, he comes galloping over, biting his flanks, his legs etc! However, this morning he mounted my other boy whilst I was holding him, trying to release him! Which resulted in him rearing up above my head and flying forwards etc! I managed to back the tb up whilst swinging my id around to get him back in the field and managed to let him go and get out before I got caught in the middle again!
My id is a very dominant horse and generally rules! However my tb is very playful! Hence the nipping etc, which generally results in my id turning back on him and shredding his rugs!!
The tb isn't in work due to my child committments and basically lack of time etc! Last winter he coped fine and was pretty chilled overall. They're turned out between 6.30 am-4pm. Both very happy to come in (would come in at 9am if allowed as I muck out in the morning and they both stand at gate whilst I do so!). Whilst turned out they both get their exercise, have a good gallop about and at the moment are spending most of their time up on their back legs, front legs sparring! I would really love to work him, however all I could do is lunge at weekends. I don't think this would help, he's one of those that if in work, is in daily! I could get someone in but it would work out expensive as would cost at least £20 a session!
I think my tb's freshness is due to his feed. He is currently on haylage which I don't like putting an unworked horse on but I didn't really have a choice. He was on hay for a week but was coughing no end, despite soaking it, steaming it (in a haygain) etc. This has now stopped on haylage. At the time I thought, he's a tb so I don't need to worry weight wise and he'd chilled out so much I thought temperment we'll manage! Also, the past month I'v switched them onto simple systems feeds. He has 1/4 scoop of greengold with total eclipse and joint eclipse twice a day, so not a great deal. We also got advised on blue bag grass nuts, however I haven't fed him these, I was keeping them for when he needs them in the depths of winter (starting to wonder if I'll need them at all!). They haven't got much grass in field now either.
So basically I was wondering what you think?! Is there anything you would do different? Are they all a bit nutty at the moment? Normally I'd perservere, however he just seems to be getting a bit above himself out in the field. I can't separate the two of them either as we're on clay soil and the posts just sink and fall over as they then do it over the fence! My tb was cut as a 4 yo whilst in racing.
Sorry it's a bit long! Thanks for getting this far!!
