_MizElz_
Well-Known Member
I have posted many times about our struggle this winter to get Ellie to stay out in the field...
Basically, we moved her from a yard with group turnout after she got very badly kicked back in the autumn last year. New yard has individual turnout (perfect, exactly what we wanted) with square paddocks all surrounded by others, so the horses are all next to one another. We tried at times through the winter (in between various periods of box rest
) to turn her out, but every time she simply careered around and around until she a) did herself another injury or b) turned the field into a bog. Of course, every time we made sure that she was surrounded by other horses, but it made no difference - she just wanted to come in.
I tried again a few weeks before Easter (ground was still very wet) and the same thing happened, so we decided to give up until the ground was hard enough that she wouldnt churn it or hurt herself - our plan was then just to let her get on with it and learn that she did actually have to stay out. Tried again a week after Easter when the ground was much better, and she was like a different horse. Completely content - didnt care who was turned out around her, didnt make a fuss at all. She went out during the day for about a week after with no issues, and we thought we'd cracked the problem. Then she started becoming restless again, and ever since we have had intermittent days of contentedness versus constant pacing. And when I say constant, I mean that she doesnt stop walking around the field from the time she goes out until the time she comes in six/seven hours later. There is a dirt track around the whole perimeter of the field that she has worn down with her pacing! She doesnt get stressed in the sense that she doesnt sweat, isnt tucked up, doesnt gallop around. Just constant pacing. And other days - like today - she simply goes out, has a roll, and then spends the rest of the day grazing. It also doesnt seem to be linked to which horses are out with her at certain times, either - there was one day where there were no horses in the immediate surrounding paddocks when she was fine, and likewise another day when everything was out and she was a nutter
I should add that she is not at all stressed when stabled nor when ridden - far from it. Some people have suggested giving her a calmer, but I am really reluctant to do this as I do not want anything about her performance/personality under saddle or in the stable to change.
Someone also mentioned this morning that she could be magnesium deficient, perhaps after being kept in all winter. Has anyone had experience of this, and could it be a possibility do you think? We have never given her any supplements at all, and she is terrified of mineral licks in the stable (although perfectly happy to tolerate a Likit ) so she hasnt been receiving anything other than what is in her food.
Any ideas? It isnt like its a major problem - I have no worries about her jumping out or doing anything silly - but obviously if she is deficient in some way then it is something I would like to get on top of.
Here's the little moobag, after a relatively contended (!) day out in the field yesterday....
Basically, we moved her from a yard with group turnout after she got very badly kicked back in the autumn last year. New yard has individual turnout (perfect, exactly what we wanted) with square paddocks all surrounded by others, so the horses are all next to one another. We tried at times through the winter (in between various periods of box rest
) to turn her out, but every time she simply careered around and around until she a) did herself another injury or b) turned the field into a bog. Of course, every time we made sure that she was surrounded by other horses, but it made no difference - she just wanted to come in.I tried again a few weeks before Easter (ground was still very wet) and the same thing happened, so we decided to give up until the ground was hard enough that she wouldnt churn it or hurt herself - our plan was then just to let her get on with it and learn that she did actually have to stay out. Tried again a week after Easter when the ground was much better, and she was like a different horse. Completely content - didnt care who was turned out around her, didnt make a fuss at all. She went out during the day for about a week after with no issues, and we thought we'd cracked the problem. Then she started becoming restless again, and ever since we have had intermittent days of contentedness versus constant pacing. And when I say constant, I mean that she doesnt stop walking around the field from the time she goes out until the time she comes in six/seven hours later. There is a dirt track around the whole perimeter of the field that she has worn down with her pacing! She doesnt get stressed in the sense that she doesnt sweat, isnt tucked up, doesnt gallop around. Just constant pacing. And other days - like today - she simply goes out, has a roll, and then spends the rest of the day grazing. It also doesnt seem to be linked to which horses are out with her at certain times, either - there was one day where there were no horses in the immediate surrounding paddocks when she was fine, and likewise another day when everything was out and she was a nutter
I should add that she is not at all stressed when stabled nor when ridden - far from it. Some people have suggested giving her a calmer, but I am really reluctant to do this as I do not want anything about her performance/personality under saddle or in the stable to change.
Someone also mentioned this morning that she could be magnesium deficient, perhaps after being kept in all winter. Has anyone had experience of this, and could it be a possibility do you think? We have never given her any supplements at all, and she is terrified of mineral licks in the stable (although perfectly happy to tolerate a Likit
) so she hasnt been receiving anything other than what is in her food.Any ideas? It isnt like its a major problem - I have no worries about her jumping out or doing anything silly - but obviously if she is deficient in some way then it is something I would like to get on top of.
Here's the little moobag, after a relatively contended (!) day out in the field yesterday....
