what to do with my horse.

ester said:
6.30-5 pm which is a long time if she isn't getting easy hay access.
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Thanks Ester, I must have missed that.

OP, get the horse turned out later - say 9.00am ish, and brought in at about 3.00 ish. Ensure hay is offered before turnout (so give a haynet when you muck out) to ensure the horse is nice and full before she goes out. And ensure a net is in the stable for when she comes in.

I'd be surprised if the bringing in difficulties didn't stop immediately if you did this.
 
I'm following this with interest as I'm going through a similar thing with my normally mild-mannered cob. Due to illness (mine) she was turned away last winter and very happy, and this is the first winter she's been in work, clipped and in at night. As winter's gone on she's gone increasingly bonkers (sorry, best word to describe it!). She's not just fresh and strong, but genuinely spooky. This is the girl who could probably safely be led up the M6 in summer. Even leading her the short distance from her field (now in a bridle - unthinkable a couple of months ago) she's really spooky, genuinely tense. After a couple of hideous hacks I've resigned myself to sticking to the school for the foreseeable future, try and vary the work we do as much as possible. That said, she's even spooky in the school.

In my case at least, I agree with Amymay. I think it's winter, miserable weather and terrible fields and the longer it goes on the worse she's getting . Turn-out isn't helping as she hates just hanging about in mud and isn't get any exercise when she's out. I've learnt my lesson for next year; she'll be going out in the wintering-out field and live out 24/7. In the meantime, I'm just going to have to try and work out what I can do to help her this winter. I've cut out all hard feed (not that she was getting much anyway). Worse case scenario I'll stay on the ground, lunge her over some little jumps (she loves this) and just wait impatiently for spring when she'll be out 24/7 again.

I hope this is the case with yours too; it's horrible dealing with what feels like a monster. Good luck, roll on spring!
 
She is turned out in her own paddock, with other horses in adjacent paddocks. So its definitely her eating the hay. Hay is left over morning and night and she doesnt eat all of her breakfast of a half scoop of alfa. She and another horse (near her) are turned out by 6.30am. The other owners bring in when they finish work, none have a routine bring in time, ranges from 5 to 7
 
Jadey said:
She is turned out in her own paddock, with other horses in adjacent paddocks. So its definitely her eating the hay. Hay is left over morning and night and she doesnt eat all of her breakfast of a half scoop of alfa. She and another horse (near her) are turned out by 6.30am. The other owners bring in when they finish work, none have a routine bring in time, ranges from 5 to 7
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You do sound to have the feeding sorted, if that is not the problem I think you are back to a horse in pain, which makes it very difficult for you if money is tight. Only you can decide where you go from this point, why not talk to your vet about the options.
 
Jadey said:
She is turned out in her own paddock, with other horses in adjacent paddocks. So its definitely her eating the hay. Hay is left over morning and night and she doesnt eat all of her breakfast of a half scoop of alfa.
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Great stuff.

Try the turnout routine that I suggested, and hopefully you'll see a difference very quickly in her behaviour.
 
I had a thoroughbred who became increasingly difficult to bring in. She also hated rugs. I took the plunge and turned her out completely. After 1 or two winters turned out 24/7 I then decided she would be happiest without rugs too. We never looked back after that.
 
amymay said:
This is a management issue - plain and simple.

Look at your management of her to see what you can do to improve things. If there is hay in the field, can she access it? Would she like to be brought in earlier?

I bet my hat this is about winter, wet, hunger and preferences you're not recognising.
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Agree with this.....& also the lack of routine sounds terrible. My horse would not cope on a yard like this. Horses are creatures of habit, if my horse is out a bit later than normal I start to worry as that's when dangerous behaviour/fighting starts at the gate.
 
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If she is in an individual paddock does she have decent shelter? At this time of year mine appreciates huddling up with her mates behind a stone wall.

I would try shorter periods of turn out as Amy may suggests.
 
My horse is in routine as thats how she has always been managed and has always well with it. Shorter periods of turnout are a great idea apart from when you work all day. Shelter wise there are several trees and a devon bank. its a lovely field haha
 
Jadey said:
My horse is in routine as thats how she has always been managed and has always well with it. Shorter periods of turnout are a great idea apart from when you work all day. Shelter wise there are several trees and a devon bank. its a lovely field haha
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You have assistance available at the yard. Just make use of it......
 
Jadey said:
My horse is in routine as thats how she has always been managed and has always well with it. Shorter periods of turnout are a great idea apart from when you work all day. Shelter wise there are several trees and a devon bank. its a lovely field haha
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Why did you bother to ask?
 
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