WWYD - horse possibly lost the plot!

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Starbucks

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I think Badger has turned into a bit of a psycho pony ! I pay a girl at the yard to hack him out for me, she’s been saying he’s been getting a bit silly with canter work but she’s pretty competent and seemed to be enjoying it so no probs. Anyway she’s just called, not sure exactly what’s happened but he’s ended up jumping a full up hunting gate from a standstill onto the road!!! Just for the sake of it, nothing spooked him or anything.

Difference from usual is he’s hunting every week now which he’s never really done before, it’s been quite exciting (lots of jumping and galloping) and I wonder if it’s just pushed him over the edge a little? He’s getting fair bit of feed but nothing different to usual and he needs it to keep the weight on, ad lib haylage, turned out daily.

Just wondering if I should try and do anything about it or not? Not exactly safe behaviour but maybe just a one off. Hmm. Thoughts?
 
Sounds to me like he is getting very fit. My lad is a nightmare when he is really fit, seems the fitter they get, the more energy they have to expend. Might settle down after a while. What would I do? Look at his diet and also at the amount of work he is doing. Do they equate? If they do could be he is just getting very fit and you may have to deal with it or change his work regime.
FDC
 
He’s doing 1 long, fairly hard days hunting a week, then girl from yard takes him a decent hack twice a week with plenty of cantering, he’s led on a roadwork hack once a week and then I ride him in the school 1 night. I think it probably is a fitness thing, he did a check ligament last season so I’ve been determined to make sure he was fit and ready to go before we started. He’s not doing a huge amount mid week now but guess the hunting will be making him really fit.

I don’t really want to cut his feed because he’s a little bit on the skinny side as it is, he’s not the best eater and can get thin quick. Or am I missing something?
 
I wouldn't cut his feed either if he's hunting every week.

When you're hunting/riding him, does he take the mickey? Does he know that No means No?

And is the girl that rides him sticking to the same rules?

I'm wondering if it is that he's feeling super fit, and super confident, and perhaps he's got used to 'you going with him' when out hunting rather than you making all the decisions.

I think I'd be carrying on just as you are but making sure that you seize more opportunities to 'take charge'. Hold him back, do gates, insist on jumping last making him wait - that kind of thing.

On an aside, it was lovely to see this because my girl is suffering from a pulled check ligament and we're off hunting for this season. Your post has made me very positive about next season :)

Good Luck with him.
 
RosieroundtheChristmasTree said:
I wouldn't cut his feed either if he's hunting every week.

When you're hunting/riding him, does he take the mickey? Does he know that No means No?

And is the girl that rides him sticking to the same rules?

I'm wondering if it is that he's feeling super fit, and super confident, and perhaps he's got used to 'you going with him' when out hunting rather than you making all the decisions.

I think I'd be carrying on just as you are but making sure that you seize more opportunities to 'take charge'. Hold him back, do gates, insist on jumping last making him wait - that kind of thing.

On an aside, it was lovely to see this because my girl is suffering from a pulled check ligament and we're off hunting for this season. Your post has made me very positive about next season :)

Good Luck with him.
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I don’t think he really takes the mickey, but he does find his galloping and jumping very exciting and I kinda let him do what he wants a bit! I don’t think he will have ever been this fit before. I think we’ll cope, I’ll get her to put a stronger bit in next time for hacking, hopefully that will do the trick!

What are you doing with your mare then is she on box rest? Badger’s wasn’t that bad but I just took it really steady with him and he’s fine now (touch wood). :)
 
Whilst I can understand you don't want to reduce the overall calorie content of his feed, you could change the type of food to reduce the cereal starch levels which might make him a little saner.
 
I just wonder if she's doing canter work as well as when he's hunting if that's just making him over the top. Perhaps get her to do more long slow hacking rather than cantering every time she rides to make him think more rather than be so gung ho and go everywhere at a rate of knots. He has to learn to put a lid on it!
 
Starbucks said:
mare then is she on box rest? Badger’s wasn’t that bad but I just took it really steady with him and he’s fine now (touch wood). :)
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Thank you for asking :)

Well, luckily as it's a pull and not a tear, she isn't on box rest but we are confined to a limited amount of walk on a daily basis. But it's not easy!!

She's hunting fit, has just done the start of the season and is ready to go go go... So walking around the block is not a calming experience. She's bored, frustrated and nappy. But apart from that - we're fine. I long for the time we can get going again. We get to introduce trot in mid February. Woo Hoo!

And my vet hunts, and has made it very clear to me that if she sees me out hunting at the end of the season she will be VERY VERY CROSS.
 
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