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The tack room
Spooky horse - calmer, small blinkers?
SR04 · 07/12/2022 11:50
We have warmblood who has become very spooky. Its out first winter with her but I'm thinking the cold is having an effect.
We've had saddle, teeth physio etc.
It's more in the dark but Shes gets very distracted and you can literally see her eyeballing everything and she likes to put in a nice big spook and can be quite difficult to focus.
I'm looking for any advice on calmers, there's so many, I'm unsure on which to go for and also if anybody has any experience with blinkers, I've seen a few kids with showjumping ponies wear the small ones, I'm wondering if they would help focus her?.
Obviously working on desensitizing etc. Just looking for experiences really.
I've cut down her feed and giving ad lib hay.
Janieread · 07/12/2022 11:52
Have you had her eyes checked? I use Magnitude which is basically pure magnesium and works well for ours but apparently it only works if their diet is low in it.
1sttimegran · 07/12/2022 11:56
What is she getting to eat. Warm bloods don't want any sugar at all, so just nuts and chaff.
Lastqueenofscotland2 · 07/12/2022 12:15
What is she getting fed? I’d be avoiding high sugar and starch. Is she on hayledge it can send some loopy. I had a mare who went batshit on Alfa-a oil too.
magnesium only works if they are deficient in it.
Has her turnout been reduced? If so she might be a bit pent up. Enrichment bits and bobs in the stable might be the way forward.
When they are like this I do like lunging for 5 mins before I get on, not to let them get it out of their system but to listen to me for stop and go and have them vaguely in the room before getting on.
I had a horror winter with a rising 5 year old a few years ago who just one day in December went stupid bordering on dangerous (had a full check over and found nothing) and it lasted for about 10 weeks (she was getting daily turnout etc) then one day she chilled back out to normal… 
Newuser82 · 10/12/2022 13:52
Might seem overkill but have you considered ulcers? My horse suddenly started being very spooky and she had grade 4 ulcers!
twistyizzy · 15/12/2022 19:24
I would always start with getting vet check with any changes of behaviour. Then also look at what you are feeding before buying calmers etc. Warmbloods are typically unpredictable and spooky and more so in winter with restricted turnout etc. I personally never feed anything with combined starch/sugar of over 10% as many horses just can't cope with anything higher this but also look at the energy (DE) levels of your feed. For over winter I don't go over 8-10mj/kg otherwise my horse gets stupid.
Really look at the ingredients and levels in your feed and make the adjustment there first along with a vet check.
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