my horse is having a mild mental breakdown :o(

[MitchyInge]

he's really upset about being temporarily housed next to a new horse - a stallion

new one is only going to be there a week but have never seen my boy so agitated and unhappy, he's always been prone to scraping the ground and kicking the door and so on - doesn't do well when stabled too close to other horses and has broken a few doors in his time

what can I do to help him a feel a bit more settled for the next few days until the stallion goes and his normal next door neighbour moves back in? (not that he likes him either but it's nothing like this bad)

was even wondering how he'd fare living out for a few days, maybe with an extra rug? he prefers that anyway but not sure if it is still a bit cold?

I think he'd be fine outside Mitchy ...although I know colder weather is forecast in UK... is there shelter in the field?

should be fine rugged up I would imagine - better than sustaining injury from kicking a door - and it sounds as if he gets generally quite restless indoors

is he clipped or does he still have winter coat?

I always favour keeping horses out where possible tbh - makes em less neurotic all round - although it means more mud & brushing and good foot care ...

Failing going outside, can you give him anything to distract him? Stable mate - goat for example or mineral lick/horse ball???

I would agree with Countingthegreyhairs and be inclined to put him outside if it's possible.

Otherwise, do you have a spare stable in the yard you could stick him in temporarily that is usually used for something else? Only thinking that as we have a box with a sunken floor we can fill with water to ease leg problems but I have been known to shove a load of straw in it and keep a horse in it temporarily when needs must.

well he went into the woodshed today (away from the stallion) but freaked out severely when being tacked up and tried to bite someone (he NEVER does that) and also went for another horse - then bucked during a lesson, crashed into the fence, refused to trot - only wanted to walk or canter, really grumpy

fields are just not up to it yet, maybe by the end of the month? it's a sea of mud and there's already one case of mud fever on the yard

for first time ever I feel a bit unsafe in the stable with him, normally can snuggle up for ages but I don't feel comfortable in there with him at all - he is turning his back on me, ears back etc

have found a pressure sore again (recently had saddle reflocked but it is getting a bit 'flat' again), he has been bucking lately but I put it down to high spirits or some weirdness in my position (I am a bit rubbish ) but am going to get his back checked as think there is more to this than just 6 months in a stable and not liking the new boy!

as luck would have it we have the use of a better saddle so hopefully a few days off and the back man and then the 'new' saddle will be a big help

Oh that's not too good Mitchy ...horrible for you if you don't feel comfortable around him and he's obviously out of sorts . Agree it definitely sounds as if it's more than just a bad case of cabin fever ...

How old is he? Our old boy used to get really stiff over winter ... turned out it was arthritis ...

Or .. maybe he's cast himself and got injured that way ...??

On the bright side, a lot of back probs sort themselves out with gentle lunging

Hope you manage to find the cause anyway ...

he's getting on for 16 at least, could be a year either way - thanks though, am hoping he settles without needing the vet but time will tell

he's dropped a bit of weight recently too, nothing major but upped feeds a bit and fingers crossed

to be honest they are ALL behaving a bit oddly at the moment, not quite so extreme but lots of rodeo lessons

Sounds like stress and anxiety plus he'll know they it's a stallion and will be "competing" and this instinct overrides his normal nature
If he is prone to kicking Walls and doors he may well have a back problem esp seeing as he is older.
What's he eating?

ah good question, he's not on anything 'heating' afaik (I know I should know but he's on full livery) but I'll have a look and see what has been increased - he ticks over nicely in the summer on little more than sugarbeet and nuts once a day

I think this probably all ties in with my other thread about running out at jumps and so on, well it would be nice to attribute that to his back rather than fess up to being rubbish at riding

Don't forget it was a very, very long winter ... the worst in ages... that's bound to have an adverse effect and is a much more likely cause than your riding skills Mitchy!! It's been bad enough trying to get outside to walk never mind ride.

I'd check out the weight loss... is he peeing OK? Just maybe verify he hasn't got a kidney prob which could explain his rejection of the saddle ...or maybe he's just a bit bored and depressed. Do horses get depressed? Dunno!

It's good he's got a bit of fight in him at 16 ... though !! That's a testament to your care and attention.

ahhh thank you!

well not really my care and attention because I've only had him for a year, maybe not even quite that long? but I do my best!

he's on 1/4 barley with chaff, pony nuts, sugarbeet in quantities that I can't remember!

Hi Mitchy, how is your boy feeling? Better I hope. It sounds to me like he's going a bit stir-crazy and any weight loss is due to fretting. I bet in a few weeks when he can get some decent turnout he will be a different horse!

Since you haven't had him long I was wondering if you know anything about how he was kept with his last owner? Perhaps he is just used to being out more.

I agree with Pixel, 6 months in the stable is a long long time, evee worse if he has not been getting that much excercise. Add to that a sore back and a new stallion and I would say he is probably sore, fed up and cross!

Mud fever can be prevented by good husbandry. There is no reason for a well cared for horse to get mud-fever unless they have very thin or sensetive skin on the heels. Perhaps you should try letting him out more and make it clear that his heel need to be dried and brushed every time he comes in?

A horse going stir crazy can be dangerous, they don't really know what they are doing, just need to let out frustration, which makes them unpredictable.

thanks

I keep him at the yard I bought him from, when they bought him he was a bit mental, banned from Pony Club, and had to be hacked from his previous home - but being in regular work has done him the world of good. He's my first horse and though I'm plodding slowly towards my stage 1 I really don't know what I'm doing half the time

Anyway back man did his stuff, I couldn't be there but he did whatever it is they do and we're giving him some equivite (my horse not the back man ) and in another week or so he should be able to sleep out again. The stallion will have moved on now, he was only there for a week and my lad can have his usual neighbour back (not that he likes him either but they enjoy their mutual contempt).

I think what we really need is a new saddle, doesn't seem five minutes ago that I had ours reflocked and it just hasn't lasted

Is he turned out during the day? I have a TB with 4 white socks and he's terribly prone to mud fever. I've had him for donkey's years and have tried pretty much a different remedy each year with varying results but none of them that impressive but I'd heard Thermatex leg wraps spoken highly of for mud fever a couple of years ago and bought a set. GODSEND!!!!! No more mud fever since! Unless his legs are thick with mud they just go straight on when he comes in without any hosing or faffing and if they are thick with mud I hose the worst of it off and pop the wraps on. Take them off in the morning before turnout and Bob's your uncle!

When you say 'back man' - what field is he qualified in? Was he an osteo or a chiro? If you're unsure, what professional body is he a member of? Were you there during the treatment and what did he do/have to say?

I don't really know what his credentials are, and I wasn't there but he's the one everyone calls - apparently he did something . . .

he is turned out just about every day, although has just stood about miserably, by the gate when the weather (and mud) was bad - but it's getting nice now and the grass is coming back! those leg wraps sound good, off to have a Google . . .

You ought to check about the 'back man'. Just to mention it; it's illegal for someone who isn't a vet to treat an animal without veterinary permission. I have a chiropractor treat mine but I have informed my vets of it and so it's fine. She wouldn't treat my horses if I hadn't let my vets know though so I just wonder how your vets have given permission if you don't know the back man's name or which organisation he is a member of?

What happened about your saddle?

Totally recommend the Thermatex leg wraps - worth every penny! Plus it's coming out of winter now (fingers crossed!) so you may find some good prices around.

Have you thought about putting a calmer in his feed? (you can get chaff with it already in now if that's easier). My sister's pony was quite a grumpy so-and-so when he first came and that seemed to help him chill out a bit. He's lovely and friendly now except when there is food around, it's his one weakness. [grin}

well the vet was there at the time, they had a few horses to see between them and vet had to sedate one - it didn't occur to me to consult him about the back man, unless maybe the yard manager did? because barney lived there before and belonged to the riding school there I rely on them to sort out most of these things and I just pay the bill - apart from change of bill payer his life carries on as it did before really. I suppose I really should find out about all this, I was thinking earlier that if I ever moved yards I'd be really stuck/lacking confidence when it came to things going wrong or even just adjusting feeds and so on.

the saddle just doesn't fit at all anymore, it's like before it was reflocked only worse - we tried one or two other ones (just for fit) but none of them are fully clearing his withers, which are still a bit swollen. I feel pretty miserable about it, especially as his shape is unlikely to improve with age, but I suppose I'll just have to find the money for a new one

I could look into a calmer, in fact I asked about them in the shop at the vets the other day but couldn't really get a straight answer from the lady there.

If the vet was there at the time and sedated one then it sounds as though he must have been aware that the 'back man' was there and I presume was OK with it or he'd have said?

What a pain about your saddle. I think you should go back to the saddlers and let them know that it's not fitting. BTW your horse isn't very old at all and his shape will change with correct work and care, so please don't feel despairing of it!

What sort of livery is your horse on? Working or are you on DIY or part? How easy do you think it will be for you to learn how to look after Barney at your current yard? Is the yard manager nice and willing to teach you or are there other people on your yard you would trust to give advice? If not, maybe you could look into doing a BHS stable management course (not ideal but it's a good place to start)?

I'm plodding slowly towards my stage 1! Some of it feels a bit remedial, some ridiculous but mostly interesting and helpful. Also doing the NVQ and might just stick with that and not do any exams as the assessments are much easier and less pressured

He's in working livery, (on hay not haylage) everyone gives different advice there so I tend to go with the owner's advice (owner of the riding school) nine times out of ten, the weight of her years of experience. Although it's confusing, the fact that everyone has their own way of dealing with things but all seem to have healthy horses reassures me that there is room for a variety of approaches. I need to get a bit more involved though. I might have a go at lungeing him this morning, if there is time before work and the school is not busy.

forgot to say thanks for 'talking' to me about it

MitchyInge, I know what you mean about some of the stuff in Stage 1! As you say though, some bits are helpful. Good luck with it and the NVQ.

With the calmer, is this for his behaviour in the stable or for when he's ridden or being handled?

It's good to hear that your yard owner is helpful and that you can trust her advice. The only thing I would say is to try to take more of an interest yourself. I don't mean that in any kind of a 'funny' way but a horse that's been bought from a riding school and is still there, on working livery (how many days a week/sessions do they use him for?), living the same life as he did before he was bought; well there's just a tendancy there for all concerned to sort of carry on as before with the actual purchasing bit being almost just an incidental. I'm not suggesting you go stomping in there overturning everything she says or does (as you don't sound like that sort of person anyway!) but do stuff like ask about the 'back man', his name, which organisation he's affiliated to, what he found when he treated your horse, get his phone number and maybe give him a call to ask him yourself. Maybe see if you can be there when the farrier next comes. That kind of thing. Just start to build up a picture of how things are with your horse and start getting some experience in dealing with this sort of thing under your belt whilst you have a kind yard owner to help.

Agree with Nekabu. I did the same when I bought my first horse as an adult (20 years plus ago). Bought her from a lady at a livery stables then kept her there as it was easiest.

Sometimes felt like it wasn't my own horse although it was good in a way to have all the help on tap. Mind you, a real shock when I moved them to home.

Nekabu - what calmers are you referring to? Just that I have a three year old who is scared of his own shadow. So jumpy. My other three year old who I got at the same time is really laid back. Any suggestions?

That's really good advice, thanks both, ultimately I'd like to take him out of working livery - when I'm confident that I can keep him in regular work because he really needs that to keep him level, if that makes sense? The maximum they will work him for is 3 hours a day, 6 days a week - but that includes however much time I spend on him, a sort of medium level of work I guess (without consulting my stage 1 handbook)

He's always been extremely calm both on the ground (unless you are trying to clip him) and ridden, it's just recently with the arrival of the new horse coupled with the pressure sore. I think it will help my confidence enormously if I get stuck in, maybe even go DIY for a few weeks - if I can fit it around work (where I should be now if I hadn't had another puncture and needed to recover from the trauma with a coffee and a bit of mumsnet)

Owls, I wasn't referring to a calmer, I was asking MitchyInge what she wanted one for - riding/on the ground/in stable/etc. I do have a anxious spooky horse and feed him magnesium oxide and that helps with his anxiety, though he's still fairly spooky!

MitchyInge, 3 hours a day, 6 days a week is quite a lot so I expect he's fairly fit! If he's been in his stable without that much turnout for a while then I'm not surprised if he's a bit fidgetty. I hope he's not being ridden if the pressure sore is where the saddle goes though.

Rather than going straight in at DIY, how about doing him at the weekend or something so you can have a go and see how you get on rather than committing to doing him solidly for a few weeks?