What has happened to my thoroughbred!

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NewBeginnings

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I have a 9yo ex racehorse - he broke his pelvis aged 6, had rehab til 7, and was signed off for happy hacking and low level flatwork then. He came to me aged 7, the first year we did very little (mostly thanks to my lack of confidence).

In January 2025 I moved him to full livery (stabled) where there were facilities (arenas, lunge pen, people to hack with). He stayed there until April, whereby he came home. He then had most of the summer off with a bad back (the livery yard was very hilly). Brought him back into work in July, in August he went away for reschooling for 5 weeks which was the making of him. Since then, we’ve been hacking out solo 2-3 times a week from home.

He lives out 24/7 with a 30 year old cob. He’s on 1 scoop of Allen & Page Soothe & Gain and 1 cup of linseed a day. Hasn’t been given any hay - him and his geriatric buddy are on 3 acres which has been rested for nearly a year, so oodles of grass for them all winter!

However, more recently (since 17th Feb or so) his temperament is becoming trickier - he’s very sharp recently, quite spooky, and very anxious. He’s usually a nice laidback chap despite being an ex-racehorse but suddenly his body engages before his brain does.

Any tips/tricks/thoughts please?!

I rode today and thought the sunny weather, lack of wind and 15° would help but he still spooked, spun, froze, and I had to get off and lead for a while whilst he was shaking like a leaf at…pigeons.
 
You don’t sound like a very good match if I was being honest, you seem to be lacking confidence which if you are solo hacking on a tb you need. I also suspect your horse and his old buddy do need hay over the winter.
 
I think the weather improved (where I am at least) in mid-February and the grass has been growing again - my lawn needs cutting again today (!) and the horses around here are preferring the grass to hay. It could be that the grass is now richer and he may need supplementation to balance the minerals. I don't know anything about Soothe & Gain but most balancers don't truly balance spring grass. You could start with adding some magnesium and salt and seeing if that helps.
 
Looking at your timeline with him - have you ever had him in consistent work in Spring before?

Mine has been mildly off his rocker last couple of weeks, we have good days and then a day where he can't hack down the road without spinning, spooking dramatically at everything and just generally being at an adrenaline level of 100%. Next day he will be chill again, or not. It's pretty normal for him at this time of year, spring grass is sneaking through, weather is improving so he's feeling more jolly but there's a still a nip in the air and the wind up his tail. Mine will settle again into 'summer mode' in a few weeks time, it's just spring fever.

Mine was being an absolute noodle last week but I've only had him in light work 3 days a week due to my own time restrictions, upped him back to 5/6 days good work and he's much more pleasant again!
 
NewBeginnings said:
I have a 9yo ex racehorse - he broke his pelvis aged 6, had rehab til 7, and was signed off for happy hacking and low level flatwork then. He came to me aged 7, the first year we did very little (mostly thanks to my lack of confidence).

In January 2025 I moved him to full livery (stabled) where there were facilities (arenas, lunge pen, people to hack with). He stayed there until April, whereby he came home. He then had most of the summer off with a bad back (the livery yard was very hilly). Brought him back into work in July, in August he went away for reschooling for 5 weeks which was the making of him. Since then, we’ve been hacking out solo 2-3 times a week from home.

He lives out 24/7 with a 30 year old cob. He’s on 1 scoop of Allen & Page Soothe & Gain and 1 cup of linseed a day. Hasn’t been given any hay - him and his geriatric buddy are on 3 acres which has been rested for nearly a year, so oodles of grass for them all winter!

However, more recently (since 17th Feb or so) his temperament is becoming trickier - he’s very sharp recently, quite spooky, and very anxious. He’s usually a nice laidback chap despite being an ex-racehorse but suddenly his body engages before his brain does.

Any tips/tricks/thoughts please?!

I rode today and thought the sunny weather, lack of wind and 15° would help but he still spooked, spun, froze, and I had to get off and lead for a while whilst he was shaking like a leaf at…pigeons.
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I also had a horse that had a broken pelvis and he would always let me know when he was in pain to begin with it would be to drop and roll with me still on his back, later on it was spooking and bronching that was when I knew I needed his Si medicated
 
Photos of said thoroughbred and his 30-year-old buddy from yesterday/today! Both on just grass, 1 scoop of A&P, 1 scoop of linseed (and joint supplement for the cob). Both looking a bit hairy and feral with full winter coats, but conditions are good. Both usually rugged of course! Today just happens to be glorious so they enjoyed a naked day.

I used to ride the TB on the gallops when he was an in-training racehorse, and solo hacking has been improving enormously up until very recently. Even partook in his first clinic last weekend and was (mostly) good, just got a bit frazzled towards the end. Was mostly on a loose rein for the first half though!

Comments shared made me laugh - recognise 'off his rocker' and 'absolute noodle' sound familiar! He's not doing anything too drastic, it's just a change from his usual happy mooching behaviour. Glad lots of you suspect spring grass and are recommending magnesium - that was my gut too so will get some magnesium in and see if that helps level him out.

Interesting re SI medicated - will keep an eye. He's quite vocal if something is hurting so will monitor that!
 

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We have several TB's who have lived out happily this entire winter on decent grass with no extra hay. some tB's are actually rather good doers! A couple of ours are a bit dizzy at the moment - spring grass definitely. Magnesium supplement should help through the spring flush, also ensure he is having an appropriate amount of salt.
 
Hallo2012 said:
id be amazed if a TB has wintered out well with zero hay-any recent body pics?
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I agree, he doesnt look bad in your photo, but he is hairy which can hide condition and not anazingly muscled. My TB is vile if he gets hungry, and gets really sharp. It could be that your grass is running low. I would be tempted to put a bit of hay out and see if he improves
 
NewBeginnings said:
Photos of said thoroughbred and his 30-year-old buddy from yesterday/today! Both on just grass, 1 scoop of A&P, 1 scoop of linseed (and joint supplement for the cob). Both looking a bit hairy and feral with full winter coats, but conditions are good. Both usually rugged of course! Today just happens to be glorious so they enjoyed a naked day.

I used to ride the TB on the gallops when he was an in-training racehorse, and solo hacking has been improving enormously up until very recently. Even partook in his first clinic last weekend and was (mostly) good, just got a bit frazzled towards the end. Was mostly on a loose rein for the first half though!

Comments shared made me laugh - recognise 'off his rocker' and 'absolute noodle' sound familiar! He's not doing anything too drastic, it's just a change from his usual happy mooching behaviour. Glad lots of you suspect spring grass and are recommending magnesium - that was my gut too so will get some magnesium in and see if that helps level him out.

Interesting re SI medicated - will keep an eye. He's quite vocal if something is hurting so will monitor that!
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Congratulations, they both look great, especially your 30 year old….
 
NewBeginnings said:
Photos of said thoroughbred and his 30-year-old buddy from yesterday/today! Both on just grass, 1 scoop of A&P, 1 scoop of linseed (and joint supplement for the cob). Both looking a bit hairy and feral with full winter coats, but conditions are good. Both usually rugged of course! Today just happens to be glorious so they enjoyed a naked day.

I used to ride the TB on the gallops when he was an in-training racehorse, and solo hacking has been improving enormously up until very recently. Even partook in his first clinic last weekend and was (mostly) good, just got a bit frazzled towards the end. Was mostly on a loose rein for the first half though!

Comments shared made me laugh - recognise 'off his rocker' and 'absolute noodle' sound familiar! He's not doing anything too drastic, it's just a change from his usual happy mooching behaviour. Glad lots of you suspect spring grass and are recommending magnesium - that was my gut too so will get some magnesium in and see if that helps level him out.

Interesting re SI medicated - will keep an eye. He's quite vocal if something is hurting so will monitor that!
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so weight wise he actually looks good (and ill admit to being surprised but in a good way!) however he is lacking muscle over his topline and i wonder if perhaps his saddle (which fits at summer weight) is too wide or low or both?

i'm not 100% sure about spring fever etc and IMO the horses that are sharp are more likely to be having a negative gut reaction to new grass, objecting to an increased workload causing a pain reaction etc
 
Thanks for the kind comments on their conditions, especially cobby’s!

Thoroughbred’s routine hasn’t changed at all since September, has consistently been in light work of 2-4 short solo hacks a week. Saddler came out a couple of weeks ago, so saddle should be all good.

Appreciate he’s undermuscled but he likely always will be; 2-4 hacks a week (or light schooling/lunging in the fields when the ground is dry enough) won’t build masses of muscle, but he doesn’t need fitness for much else (the cob has been in this routine for the 16 years I’ve had him and there’s no ill effects there!). Thoroughbred’s workload has stayed the same for 6 months, it’s only the past 2 weeks that this new spooky behaviour has appeared.

Will try magnesium, added to this morning’s feed and see how we go for a week - if no luck in reducing tension, will increase workload (although I actually don’t want him to get too fit!)

Grateful for the replies that are also in the same boat with fizzy spring horses - mine are kept at home so I don’t have anyone to bounce ideas off of!
 
I’ve always found my horses to be twats in February and March. Coat moulting. Bit spring grass growing in the mud. Still stabled at night. My ginger one spooked on a ride this week and jumped a high embankment from the road. We ended up in a field looking down at the cars that were previously behind us.
 
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