He's being so difficult!

Morganhorse321 · 08-13-2006, 05:46 PM

My horse, Jazzman, is being an absolute nutcase...and its nothing like him. He is usually as laid back as the calmest of quarter horses..and he's a tb...but all of the sudden he is spooking at everything...leaping in the air and bucking when you ride him, not listening to any aids, trying to run away with people, breaking his halters for no reason except to break them. He's usually a great ride, but now i don't think its even safe for me to ride him...he's not in a new place, not sick...he feels too good, good teeth, back, no soreness of any kind. Does anyone have any suggestions...I am so frustrated I am ready to cry

Please help

smitty · 08-13-2006, 06:11 PM

Hi Morgan
Horses that are usually laid back and sweet do not break halters just to break them nor do they act the way your horse is acting for no reason. I am saying this from experience so please know that I understand your predictament. I had a TB gelding that was a complete sweetheart....he all of a sudden started doing crazy things. First it was on the crossties, then it was when I was mounting him....dangerous things. To make a long story short, he was suffering from Lyme disease in his spine. Two weeks after diagnosis, we retired him.

Do not panic though. I am not saying it is as serious as that BUT how do you know that something is not bothering him. I tend to lean towards something is. Also, if the weather has changed abruptly as it has here he may be just feeling fresh.

In any event, I would get a vet out to check him over (blood work etc). What you are describing sounds like something is wrong rather than him just being a bad boy.

Morganhorse321 · 08-13-2006, 06:52 PM

He had a vet check him out a couple of days ago...and this has been building for about a week now..I wish i could say it was something like the weather...but...its extremely hot and humid down here...so I figured he would be a little quieter than usual...I guess maybe i should have the vet come check him again tho just to be sure.

MaggieSue · 08-13-2006, 06:58 PM

Many times vets do not look for muscle pain and soreness in horses. find a massage therapist to do an evaluation on him, he could've easily pulled a muscle and is in pain. You say he's not, but has he been checked by someone who knows how to look for pain?? I recently started working on a horse who has not been able to be ridden for a year because nobody (vets, chiros)could find out what was wrong, I found spasms in 2 muscles that were causing the problem.

Morganhorse321 · 08-13-2006, 07:17 PM

MS...yes...one of the girls who rides out there is a message therapists for people and horses...its pretty nice having her right there...She says his muscles are in great shape...no soreness, spasms, anything like that...he's not at all stiff in his movements...he's had an overall clean bill of health as of about 2 days ago..that is y I am so confused by such a great change in behavior. My barn manager just told me that he has been getting more sweet feed than pellets, but she said that pellets and sweet feed have the same ingredients and shouldn't cause such a change...what do you guys think?

ches · 08-14-2006, 07:09 AM

Has his food changed? It could be as simple as a case of too many oats. It's amazing the effect an extra scoop of food will have on a horse.

EternalDreamer · 08-14-2006, 07:11 AM

There's a small chance that he is a tad "hot" because of the sweet feed depending upon how long he has been getting that. Its got aton of sugary ingrediants and can make a world of difference in a quiet horse.
Just a suggestion..you might want to look into his feeding plan

tightpaycheck · 08-14-2006, 07:41 AM

You answered your own question. If he got nutty after getting more sweet feed that is the issue. I bought a 2 yo paint that got a scoop of pellets and a scoop of generic sweet feed for each feeding. Firecrackers couldn't make her jump. She didn't run around when you put her out, was easy to break and introduce new things to. didn't spook at anything. I couldn't get her to lope, at all, on a longe line or in the field.I cut her back on feed, but I feed a better quality feed, and it is all sweet feed. Well, this is the horse that spooked and destroyed my ankle. She runs around like a nut now, bucks and plays. She spooks when I am riding her, and has reared a few times on me. I used to just turn her loose in the yard, but now she has to stay fenced in because she is too nutty to stay safe. This all started within a few weeks of the feed change. So yes it is possible, and very likely.

Kissitgoodbye · 08-14-2006, 07:44 AM

Many of the people above me made good points... Like has his diet changed? But have you ever thought it could be his feet. Does he have shoes, or no shoes. Was he shoded differently. Just starting breaking things down to see if anything has changed in his life style.

If not, maybe you should start lunging him before you take him anywhere to he gets all is jumps and bucks out.

But good luck

GoldieGirl24 · 08-14-2006, 08:25 AM

it's the feed

08-13-2006, 05:46 PM	#1
Morganhorse321 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: South Carolina Posts: 779 Images: 41	He's being so difficult! My horse, Jazzman, is being an absolute nutcase...and its nothing like him. He is usually as laid back as the calmest of quarter horses..and he's a tb...but all of the sudden he is spooking at everything...leaping in the air and bucking when you ride him, not listening to any aids, trying to run away with people, breaking his halters for no reason except to break them. He's usually a great ride, but now i don't think its even safe for me to ride him...he's not in a new place, not sick...he feels too good, good teeth, back, no soreness of any kind. Does anyone have any suggestions...I am so frustrated I am ready to cry Please help

08-13-2006, 06:11 PM	#2
smitty Senior Member+ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 944	Some reasons Hi Morgan Horses that are usually laid back and sweet do not break halters just to break them nor do they act the way your horse is acting for no reason. I am saying this from experience so please know that I understand your predictament. I had a TB gelding that was a complete sweetheart....he all of a sudden started doing crazy things. First it was on the crossties, then it was when I was mounting him....dangerous things. To make a long story short, he was suffering from Lyme disease in his spine. Two weeks after diagnosis, we retired him. Do not panic though. I am not saying it is as serious as that BUT how do you know that something is not bothering him. I tend to lean towards something is. Also, if the weather has changed abruptly as it has here he may be just feeling fresh. In any event, I would get a vet out to check him over (blood work etc). What you are describing sounds like something is wrong rather than him just being a bad boy.

08-14-2006, 07:11 AM	#7
EternalDreamer Full Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Western Michigan Posts: 174 Images: 1	There's a small chance that he is a tad "hot" because of the sweet feed depending upon how long he has been getting that. Its got aton of sugary ingrediants and can make a world of difference in a quiet horse. Just a suggestion..you might want to look into his feeding plan __________________ If your soul wants to fly - buy a horse

08-14-2006, 07:44 AM	#9
Kissitgoodbye Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 7,933 Images: 56 Blog Entries: 4	Many of the people above me made good points... Like has his diet changed? But have you ever thought it could be his feet. Does he have shoes, or no shoes. Was he shoded differently. Just starting breaking things down to see if anything has changed in his life style. If not, maybe you should start lunging him before you take him anywhere to he gets all is jumps and bucks out. But good luck __________________ i am only one; but still i am one. i cannot do everything, but still i can do something; i will not refuse to do the something i can do

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08-13-2006, 06:52 PM	#3
Morganhorse321 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: South Carolina Posts: 779 Images: 41	He had a vet check him out a couple of days ago...and this has been building for about a week now..I wish i could say it was something like the weather...but...its extremely hot and humid down here...so I figured he would be a little quieter than usual...I guess maybe i should have the vet come check him again tho just to be sure.

08-13-2006, 06:58 PM	#4
MaggieSue Senior Member+ Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,865 Images: 2	Many times vets do not look for muscle pain and soreness in horses. find a massage therapist to do an evaluation on him, he could've easily pulled a muscle and is in pain. You say he's not, but has he been checked by someone who knows how to look for pain?? I recently started working on a horse who has not been able to be ridden for a year because nobody (vets, chiros)could find out what was wrong, I found spasms in 2 muscles that were causing the problem.

08-13-2006, 07:17 PM	#5
Morganhorse321 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: South Carolina Posts: 779 Images: 41	MS...yes...one of the girls who rides out there is a message therapists for people and horses...its pretty nice having her right there...She says his muscles are in great shape...no soreness, spasms, anything like that...he's not at all stiff in his movements...he's had an overall clean bill of health as of about 2 days ago..that is y I am so confused by such a great change in behavior. My barn manager just told me that he has been getting more sweet feed than pellets, but she said that pellets and sweet feed have the same ingredients and shouldn't cause such a change...what do you guys think?

08-14-2006, 07:09 AM	#6
ches Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 2,472 Images: 38	Has his food changed? It could be as simple as a case of too many oats. It's amazing the effect an extra scoop of food will have on a horse.

08-14-2006, 07:41 AM	#8
tightpaycheck Senior Member+ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: NE PA Posts: 1,808 Images: 2	You answered your own question. If he got nutty after getting more sweet feed that is the issue. I bought a 2 yo paint that got a scoop of pellets and a scoop of generic sweet feed for each feeding. Firecrackers couldn't make her jump. She didn't run around when you put her out, was easy to break and introduce new things to. didn't spook at anything. I couldn't get her to lope, at all, on a longe line or in the field.I cut her back on feed, but I feed a better quality feed, and it is all sweet feed. Well, this is the horse that spooked and destroyed my ankle. She runs around like a nut now, bucks and plays. She spooks when I am riding her, and has reared a few times on me. I used to just turn her loose in the yard, but now she has to stay fenced in because she is too nutty to stay safe. This all started within a few weeks of the feed change. So yes it is possible, and very likely.

08-14-2006, 08:25 AM	#10
GoldieGirl24 Full Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 32	it's the feed