Yearling's turned jumpy and highly strung. What can be wrong?

[phantomhorse]

A previously relaxed and sweet natured yearling has suddenly turned into a jumpy and highly strung lunatic. Over winter she's been stabled at night and out during the day, rugged and groomed daily. She's been well handled frm birth and always a total delight to be around. Since the nice weather started (about 2 months ago) she's been staying out in her paddock 24/7, unless the weather turns nasty when she's brought in. She's in a large paddock on her own but has a 2 year old she can groom and chat to over the electric fencing for company. She's visited twice a day, fed a small feed of Bailey's Stud Balancer and has the minimum of her feet picked out daily, when staying out.

Recently, however, she's become really nervous and jumpy. She'll come over to you when you arrive but back away nervously when you first try to touch her. When you catch her up and try to lead her she jumps about all over the place shying at things she's seen millions of times before and today I struggled to get her past the water trough when bringing her in. She just stopped dead, gawped at it and refused to pass it. After 15 minutes I eventually got her past it by getting someone to cautiously wiggle a whip behind her. Then she proceeded to shy at the hedge the whole way down the drive to the stables, and when in her stable eating was really jumpy when I was trying to handle her. If my foot scraped the floor she'd jump half away across her stable in panic. She's suddenly showing a lot of the white of her eye and seems to have completely lost her lovely relaxed outlook. What could be wrong? She's on a private yard so nothing or no one could have upset or harmed her. Is this just a phase or could it be hormones or something? What can I do to help her? It's getting to the point where I am considering selling her on as I do not want to ruin her.

 

[scotsmare]

Could just be that she's turned a bit 'feral' now that she's out all the time - mine went through the same thing and still does it to be honest! (It's cos we're bad people 'abandoning' them out in the field

)

 

[air78]

Has she been in season before?

 

[MillionDollar]

It could be the electric fencing!

A liveries horse was absolutely fine one day, the next she couldn't catch her. Took her a week to catch, using 30 ACP tablets. When she tried to catch her she was extremely nervous and when someone grabbed hold of her she was a nervous wreck so reared vertically and bolted. They also made a pen for her and she shook like a leaf! The only thing we can think it is, is the electric fencing as she is totally fine in the stable and round pen

If not that, prehaps it would be a good idea to get the vet to check her eyes. It could be to do with her eye sight?!

Other than that I haven't a clue, unless someone has got into her field and given her a dreadful experience. Do you have any trouble with youths, etc in the area?

 

[phantomhorse]

She only 13.5 months old. Thought she would be too young to be coming into season already, plus we do not have any colts or geldings on our land to make things worse.

She just seems to have turned into the complete opposite of what she was as a foal. Rolling her eye and skittering about all over the place. I'm only 5 foot and she's 15hh already and I'm finding her behaviour very difficult. Even using a stud ring to lead her in from the field, I'm worried she's going to injure me or herself as she's become so unpredicatable. I lead her on a lunge rein and quite often have to lunge her around me to calm her down. I hate like doing this to young joints but it's preferable to being reared or jumped on when she's being scatty and distracted.

I taught her lead in hand as a foal and she's been walked to and from her stable on a lead rope since 4 months old. Three months ago I could walk and trot her on a loose rein in hand, stand her up and rein her back on command, and I was happily looking forward to showing her this summer. The comment from the stud vet who visited back then was, "Gosh she's absolutely wonderful, why can't they all be like her!".

Feel over horsed now and at my wits end. What's happened????

It's getting to the point where I dread going up and having to do anything with her. I brought her in tonight as it's stormy here and I'm frankly dreading leading her out tomorrow morning.

 

[air78]

One of ours came in to season at 9 months (but was fine with it) so she's not too young.

One of others had her first season at 13 months and lost the plot with it........ She jumped out of the field several times and would bolt at the fence when out and also when been led. She would stand quaking in the corner of the field terrified for no apparant reason; it was heart breaking to see, I was totally at my witts end with her.
I put her on 'hormonize' liquid (agnus castus) and U gurd plus (as she wasn't eating the grass when out) and she's come good again now. It took about two months to see a change, but she is a diffrent animal again now

I yhink it's trial and error with these things, but I wouldn't rule out her seasons.

 

[magic104]

Is there a reason why your youngster is out on her own? My personal view is as a herd animal adapted to work in a herd they should not be deprived in this way. Company over the fence is just not adequate enough. I have been in a situation where there was no other youngsters so the mare & foal went back out with the mares when the foal was 3mths (they had continued to graze in the next paddock). When it came to weaning the foal stayed in this group. I am sorry, but I feel it very wrong to keep a youngster on its own, without a very good reason i.e. colt, rig or a horse that is anti social.

How do you think a human child would develope if the only company it had was another child in the next garden. It can see them over the fence it can talk to them, but it cant actually play with them or any other child.

 

[Spyda]

That's an interesting option. Haven't seen mine showing any obvious signs of being in season (squirting or anything) but without the stimulation of males horses on the property she might not show I guess. She's definitely a bit mental in her head, by that, I mean flashing the whites of her eyes and is seemingly unable not to over react to the slightest thing. Totally out of character. Rather like me when I've the PMT's

You know, when you know you're acting totally unreasonably but just can't help it!

 

[phantomhorse]

Sorry you do not agree with how I keep my horses.

This foal was bred at stud and remained in a herd of mares and foals until after weaning, after which the foal came home to me. Whilst I would love her to live out in a herd of other horses at the stud, roaming free until 3, there is too a high risk of her injuring herself in that environment. Proof enough at the stud where many of the youngstock showed scarring from injuries sustained whilst living out in a large herd. Quite simply, it is a judgement call I have personally made to keep my valuable horses safe from accidental injury by grazing them in separate paddocks within the same field. I ensure they all have company over a low electric fence and can mutually groom and can see and interact with other equines at all times. None are kept in isolation, which I too find unacceptable, for any horse regardless of age.

 

[phantomhorse]

My filly hasn't shown any obvious signs of being in season, either [re: Spidas comment].

Would it be worth have the vet out to check? Would he be able to determine cycling?

 

[magic104]

I understand better then anyone, my colt has been spoilt by a kick to the hock (sound as a pound) he now has a lovely blemish. The culprit was removed, but I would never dream of keeping my horses apart. I hope you get to the bottom of your youngsters issues. How you keep your horses is your business, as I said this is my opinion. We do things that suit us, it may not always suit our horses, but most of the time they adapt. As I said I know better then anyone about injuries and it is heartbreaking to see his hock day in day out and know I am wasting my time showing him. I would have loved to have taken him to the futurity but am not about to throw £50 away before I even start! And if my horses were worth 1000's perhaps I would be wrapping them up in cotton wool.

 

[rabatsa]

I have a donkey who becomes very nervous and jumpy when he has been in a field of his own for a few weeks (summer dieting) even though he has company over the fence. Within days of getting a companion in his field he is back to being a placid animal again. As this has occurred more than once I believe that he finds over the fence touching not enough to allow him to relax and he has been in the same field for 14 years now. A youngster will not be mentally able to cope with this situation and it may affect behaviour at a later date when ridden (bitter experience as I made this mistake with a yearling who now suffers from heightened awareness when being ridden and is always looking for dragons). I would not dream of criticizing how anyone brings up their animal as no two circumstances are the same (and I would have to do the same again with my youngster under the circumstances that then existed) Good luck with your baby.

 

[nikkiportia]

Sounds like your yearling wants some friends I'm afraid

I have to agree with magic on this one. Each to their own and all that, but yearlings are equine teenagers, and get stroppy from time to time, especially when not allowed to roam with buddies. We have fields of yearlings that are worth anything from £5k - £200k and we wouldn't DREAM of seperating them unless absolutely necessary (ie injury/illness) Fillies are fine in pairs, but colts are better in groups 3+, simply because boys will fight and play and in a pair, one will always be harassed by the hornier of the 2.

I can understand that some horses are 'worth' so much money. But they are of no use to you if they grow up with temperament issues due to not being allowed to be horses when growing up.
IMO you are keeping this yearling like it already has a job to do, and she will prob cause you more problems in the future.
As for injuries sustained when turned out with others - thats just horses! Kids do and will injure themselves, and if she is unhappy then she has just as much chance of injuring herself when turned out alone. We RARELY see any significant injuries in herds of yearlings, colts will have a few bite marks from play mounting and kicking, but the fillies rarely do.
Another suggestion is to find a nice quiet mare to put in with her, that will keep her in line if she pushes it, and teach her about how to act around others.
I am sorry if you do not agree with my opinion, but wrapping them in cotton wool will do youngsters NO favours whatsoever.

 

[DAHH]

I have to agree with Nikkip and Magic, it sounds like your yearling needs company. I understand why you want to keep her out of harms way. However if she carries on the way she is,it is more likely she will do herself an injury. Keeping such a young horse on its own is like keeping a child away from other children. They need to be with thier own kind in order to develop mentally and physically. Interacting with others is fundamental for youngsters.
If you don't want to put her with horses of her own age then I would suggest you find her a companion, maybe an old mare. I would bet money that she would calm down in no time.

 

[Bossanova]

I'd definitely get her eyes checked

 

[phantomhorse]

Aaah, well I've just gotten back from the yard and a lot of you will be glad to hear that I've opened up two paddocks and put the two year old and yearling filly in together. Not sure my tetchy yearling is that interested in the two year old; put her ears flat back and mouched off to graze when approached by Jaz for a friendly hook-up. This yearling really is a miserable moo with everyone at the mo. I'll check on them later and see how they're getting along

 

[phantomhorse]

I'm so sorry to hear about your youngster's hock injury. If he's sound on the hock, could he not still go to the Futurity? It's not a showing class, and surely a cosmetic blemish would not ruin his chances to be assessed for a successful career later on? Sure hope so.

 

[magic104]

Hi phantomhorse, I know its not a showing class, but lets face it this hock is huuuge & though he has never been lame except when it 1st happened it is still unsightly as you can see.

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f137/tamara104/Colt/Prince[IMG]
[img]http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f137/tamara104/Colt/SatJue2808.jpg

Everytime I post any pics with his legs in view I always get comments, it it that big!!

 

[magic104]

Ps - Good luck with your filly, I am glad you are giving it a go with letting her in with the other youngster. Fingers crossed it works, though it will take her time to adjust to sharing her space.

 

[phantomhorse]

Nothing they can do for him cosmetically? He's such a smashing chap. It's such a shame

I bought a 17.1hh 3 year old TB filly with a hock rather like that. She wasn't lame when I bought her but I had her xrayed after I brought her home and it showed she had a chipped bone floating around by the hock joint. Took her down to Liphook Equine Hospital for an arthroscopy within a week of bringing her home. Duh, teach me for being a soft touch, eh?! The hock never looked great but she was sound enough to breed from and, thankfully, I'd bought her solely because of her super bloodlines. Could have done without the arthroscopy bill though

 

[magic104]

Has the yearling settled a little bit more now she has had a night out with the 2yo?

 

[phantomhorse]

Hard to say today, woke up feeling lousy - think I've got flu or something. Achy, headache, mega sore throat, etc. Just about managed to crawl out of bed to put the fly masks on this morning. Went up again this evening and two year old ran frantically up and down the fence line when I moved the yearling into the next paddock to let her eat her bit of stud balancer. She's never done that before! When I put the yearling back, she prompty flattened her ears at the 2 year old and mouched off to other end of paddock to doze. Miserable so and so!! Poor Jaz! She's trying to be friendly and the littlie is having none of it.

Tomorrow, however, I have the farrier coming out at lunch time. This should be an opportunity to see if the yearling's behaviour has mellowed any

 

[pinkcatkin]

Phantomhorse, let us know how your filly gets on, would be interested to know

 

[phantomhorse]

Well, I got yearling in this morning and she was pretty darn good. Jumped on me a couple of times when dramatically shying at absolutely nothing and did an impressive 90 mile an hour piaffe at the gate when I was trying to close it behind her (would put the Spanish horses to shame

), but the nasty piggy expression in her eye has gone and she seems to have a better demeanor about her this morning. Still can't help wondering if it isn't a hormonal thing. I know she's out with Jaz at mo... but I still think there's something more to it than that. She had two of my children hanging around her neck over the stable door this morning, one on each side of her. She was rubbing her nose on their chests and thoroughly enjoying the petting she was getting. Now that's more like the little girl we knew and loved! Long may it last.

I'm going to keep a note in my diary and see if there's any pattern to her mood swings. Still got the farrier coming out at 12.30pm.... hopefully she'll still be in a good mood