where to start?

[Emilieu]

My lovely boy is playing up. It began about two weeks ago, napping on hacks and spooking badly in the school. Both totally unlike him. So where would you start trying to figure out the issue - my ideas are: change of weather, feed (he's on a balancer, chaff, micronized linseed and charcoal) saddle (fitted in July), settling issues (been on new yard six weeks), just realised I'm not scary (owned him since June) so chancing his luck and seeing what he can get away with.
He's still uber chilled on the ground at all times.
So where would you start?

 

[Caol Ila]

Hard to know over the internet. That said, I'd make sure he is feeling all right and that back and teeth and all that are definitely fine.

Once convinced the horse is sound, I'd start with boot camp. Not letting him get away with a single thing. Often people let their horses off with little things that they don't even notice or seem insignificant, but they're not insignificant to the horse, who thinks, "Hey, I don't think this person really is in charge here. I guess I have to be."

He shouldn't be super hot on that feed, but not sure. As far as change of weather goes, horses can get silly but I don't let mine use that as an excuse. If the horse is spooking and napping, I push it forward and/or ride very tight circles and other figures. I don't worry that much about its motivations -- whether it's napping because of the weather, or because she's in heat (obviously not something you have to worry about) or whatever. I just don't want it to do it. As a contrast, I'm nice as pie when the horse is doing what I want. You have to approach them with the schoolteacher attitude of "I don't take any BS." Like squirrely teenagers, they know who they can push and who they can't.

 

[Jingleballs]

Apparently Linseed can cause some horses to heat up - it's not really supposed to but apparently it does.

Also, there has been a fair bit of change in his life recently - new owner, new yard and then another new yard. He could just be feeling a bit unsettled.

I'd drop the amount of linseed for now, hack him in company to get him to settle and just work away in the school giving him plenty to think about so he doesn't have time to spook at things.

 

[PandorasJar]

My lovely boy is playing up. It began about two weeks ago, napping on hacks and spooking badly in the school. Both totally unlike him. So where would you start trying to figure out the issue - my ideas are: change of weather, feed (he's on a balancer, chaff, micronized linseed and charcoal) saddle (fitted in July), settling issues (been on new yard six weeks), just realised I'm not scary (owned him since June) so chancing his luck and seeing what he can get away with.
He's still uber chilled on the ground at all times.
So where would you start?

Is it the same hacks you've done? Nothing related to your road hack that you're thinking about while out and then expecting it in school?

I'd be inclined to say it's a combination of coming into winter (mine seem to go the opposite and become positively backwards around now ), new yard/herd/routine/people and trying it on because of these.

Agreed re: linseed. I stopped feeding to littlun as had a bit more spark on it. She will happily munch through most feeds known to hot horses up with no change in temperament but did notice a difference with linseed. And agree with rest of Babybear's post.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Because of my previous expereinces, I'd start by looking at feed.
We've had at least 3 who were affected in different ways by different feeds and on one occasion we had some 'dodgy' (as it turned out, bought from a reputable supplier) seaweed supplement which turned all 3 that we had at the time, loopy and difficult to handle, to the point that we got the vet. He diagnosed a kind of poisoning by mould.
Have you canged any of your feed? Have you opened a new batch? Have you been feeding an ingredient for long enough for a build up of something to have affected him?
If you feel it may be feed related, cut back to nothing but hay for a few weeks, monitor him and then re-introduce ingredients one at a time.

Then I'd have his saddle fit checked, he may have changed shape while you've had him.

Of course it may just be a phase that he is going through and if you stay calm and consistent he will come through it.

 

[Emilieu]

Is it the same hacks you've done? Nothing related to your road hack that you're thinking about while out and then expecting it in school? .

We have tried both of our usual hacking routes with similar results. I think that the napping has definately affected my confidence riding him so that could be translating into him feeling less confident in the school I suppose. The 'this person isn't really in charge' idea rings horribly true

I'd love to hack him in company but we have none I'm the only person at the new yard who rides. I asked a friend to come out with us on foot but it made no difference to his behaviour.

All of his food is new because I only started feeding him in September. Will definately cut back on the linseed and see how we get on, have also bought a leisure balancer to move him onto as hopefully that will have a bit less oomph in it. Saddler will be due soon anyway so will get that booked.

Thanks everyone - just feeling a bit lost! Hope I didn't miss any questions. CI thank you for your lovely PM. Have replied x