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The tack room

Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Original poster

my horse is having a mild mental breakdown :o(

82 replies

MitchyInge · 03/03/2009 10:52

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?

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Original poster
MitchyInge · 08/04/2009 11:34

I won't take the hump! I'm not the one with the Quasimodo withers , seriously, he's not the most comfortable to sit to, and I don't think anyone has ever had a lunge lesson on him although I do try to spend a few minutes each day trying to sit to his trot and watching my fingernails while doing big circles with one arm out to the side - it's helping

glad you got your wintec sorted owls, good luck for weekend - going to visit my parents and would like to take my horse but have probably left it a bit late to see if he will load or not and organise transport

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Original poster
MitchyInge · 08/04/2009 11:50

only fallen off own horse once though, the first time I rode him - just in case anyone is thinking off I fall off every day

unless you count the time HE fell over on a hack and I went into a hedge?

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Nekabu · 08/04/2009 16:16

He didn't sound that comfortable to sit on, it must be said! Definitely a hefty sports bra job!

Pixel · 13/04/2009 21:01

Mitchy, after my efforts today I think I need to join you in the no stirrups thing. I was bouncing about and losing my stirrups left right and centre. My sister took some pics and I was sitting crooked too. Oh the shame

Original poster
MitchyInge · 14/04/2009 09:29

hi pixel! I feel your shame

are you riding today? I hope I can squeeze a short session in later

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Pixel · 14/04/2009 20:08

Didn't manage to ride today, just popped in to feed and clean the field. It's still the school holidays and I had to take ds to the childrens' hospital to get some x-rays done. We took the bus there as is it's almost impossible to park and it took ages!

I'm having a lesson in the morning which I definitely need! the kids can stay in the car if it's cold and my mum has the day off so she can keep an eye on them. One good thing about our field is that those of us balancing horses and children can drive our cars right in where we can keep them in sight, and lock the gate behind us.

The main problem I'm having is that dhorse is lazy in the paddock so I'm working to keep him going, but at the same time I'm having trouble absorbing his enormous bouncy trot so I'm losing my balance quite easily. My old pony had quite a choppy action which suited my little legs, and I'm used to being secure in the saddle. I feel very incompetent atm and my sister's pics confirmed my fears! (plus I look fat )

MookySpinge · 02/10/2009 22:44

oh to attempt to rug this year or not - would hate to put him through all that again, but he is already getting skinny and hairy and sweaty after slightest exertion

plus am desperate to know what he looks like clipped

Pixel · 03/10/2009 01:02

Just skimmed down this thread trying desperately to remember what it is about, and Oh! the cute little bunny ears! I'd forgotten about them .

Why don't you just have a grass clip (chest and underneath neck) for the next few weeks. You can do that without rugging and it should be enough for now to stop him sweating weight off. It'll give you time before his coat comes through properly to decide what you want to do.
I know what you mean though, we once hunter-clipped my mum's horse just to see what he looked like. He was gorgeous.
(he was stabled and rugged up to the eyeballs, we aren't that cruel!)

MookySpinge · 03/10/2009 10:50

you are a STAR - that's what I'm going to do, perfect

plus even I could do that in the few minutes available under heavily-fought sedation

Pixel · 03/10/2009 17:54

Glad to be of help .

If you haven't clipped before it's a good way of getting used to handling the clippers before attempting anything more ambitious, especially if your horse is likely to object!

I bought some little trimming clippers at Windsor (they were a bargain - couldn't resist ) and I just tried them out on dhorse a couple of days ago. All our other horses were brilliant at being clipped but I wasn't sure about the Big Fool as he can get himself in a real state. We still have trouble brushing his face and he flatly refuses to have a sponge near his head. Anyway, surprise! he loved them. Stood there with a dreamy look on his face while I trimmed his jaw, and when I was tidying his feathers he kept getting his nose in the way because he was so fascinated LOL.

MookySpinge · 03/10/2009 18:42

he actually and completely without exaggeration nearly killed someone when they tried to clip him before yard owner is absolutely not budging on the necessity of having vet there to sedate him, but that's ok, could do a low trace pretty quickly

I wish I didn't make my horse sound like some kind of crazed killer because he's really gentle and lovely normally, we think he might have been twitched v inhumanely in the past or something but he has a serious issue with clippers!

Pixel · 03/10/2009 20:06

These little cordless clippers I've just got are really quiet, not at all like our old Stablemate ones that were so loud and clattery you had to shout above them.

If dhorse had been afraid of them I was just going to get into the habit of having them running while he ate his feed so he'd learn to ignore them and associate them with something good. I thought if I started off with them a long way away and very gradually over time moved them nearer he would eventually be ok. As it happened I didn't need to do that, but would it work for your boy do you think?

MookySpinge · 06/10/2009 08:35

I could give it a go, with them switched off at first! He just bolts if he hears them running but maybe this quieter sort will be better? Good excuse to go shopping!

Owls · 07/10/2009 09:14

That's a good idea of Pixel's to de-sensitize him, but as you want it done sooner rather than later, I think I'd go with the yard owner and have him sedated this time. Presumably the yard owner witnessed his reaction herself last time?

Then if you start doing what Pixel did, by next winter he'll be so chilled he'll practically clip himself!

Pixel · 07/10/2009 09:33

Oh yes, I meant it as a winter project, not a quick fix. Definitely sedatives this time, and not only for the horse.

mummydoc · 07/10/2009 09:39

LOL at mental picture of horses clipping themselves, can jsut imagine group of vain show ponies brandishing clippers " oohh do you think this one makes my tail look big"

MookySpinge · 07/10/2009 18:30

Just have to get the rugs sorted first, then we'll have him clipping himself and making the coffee in no time.

2nd night in so far and he couldn't wait to come in, typical! Hunt is on for a full neck, no seam, stable rug. Am about 93% confident the NZ is ok, but will check daily. Obviously we are screwed if we clip and then have rug related back problems again, yikes!

Original poster
MitchyInge · 30/11/2009 19:16

oh dear, and it starts again - no rugs and no stallion to blame

I wonder (but irrationally) if it is connected to the Incident last week - or can horses have Seasonal Affective Disorder?

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Owls · 30/11/2009 22:21

Oh no what a pain, is he scraping and kicking again? Can he be kept out or is that not an option at the yard?

Original poster
MitchyInge · 01/12/2009 09:08

oh he does that anyway, it's a recurrence of sore bits on his back - not quite the same as last year but can't be ridden and is in a foul stinky mood. Thought it was a bite from another horse but not sure, it's perfectly round and the size of a 5p piece - where the saddle flap goes.

I'd keep him out all year if I could but he is losing weight so piling the feed in, does get turn out all day though. Joey lives out thankfully, and on fresh air - all ponies should be so easy!

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Original poster
MitchyInge · 01/12/2009 09:10

(am not being hypchondriac-by-proxy, this little sore really bothers him)

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Original poster
MitchyInge · 01/12/2009 09:19

hypochondriac grrr

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frostyfingers · 01/12/2009 09:33

Could it be ringworm.....?

Original poster
MitchyInge · 01/12/2009 11:21

that would spread quite quickly wouldn't it, sore has been there since before Saturday but only since then has it been bothering him

has cheered me up thinking of last time there was a serious threat of ringworm and someone had to go to Tesco and buy 50 tubes of canesten - how mortifying

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Original poster
MitchyInge · 03/12/2009 23:45

vet says is infected horse bite - box rest for a week and antibiotics

shall I get him a portable tv, some books and an ashtray? I would go nuts if I was stuck indoors for a whole week

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