Equine Behavioural Problems
Coping With Confinement
My 16.2hh gelding has started to display a number of equine behavioural problems. He has been confined to his stable since November 2009 (not due to injury) and I have ridden him as much as I can during that time. He has just started going out in a field again from 14/03/10. When I ride him he is absolutely scared of everything that moves or makes a sound. He "spooks" violently and tries to chuck me off in his tantrums even though I am very calm/relaxed. He is 13 years old this year and I bred him myself. I even thought of ringing the vet to see if there is something wrong with him medically. He is currently on a calmer supplement-Steady up. Should I be using something else? He is making me feel so scared that I don't want to ride him even though I have 30+ years experience. Groundwork is a bit of a nightmare as he is very strong & tanks off - no one can hold him if he gets scared or something frightens him. I ride every day - can't even hack him out at moment.I am getting to the point where I think I should be getting him a new home? Maybe I am not cut out for this partnership? Shelley
Hi Shelley, thanks for submitting your question. Equine behavioural problems such as that displayed by your gelding are very common and the key may lie in his response to confinement. From time to time it can be the case that a horse has to be confined to a stabled environment for reasons such as loss of grazing or injury. This requires a significant change in management of feed and handling to ensure the horse does not become bored, frustrated and even dangerous.
First - Rule Out Pain
The first area to consider is whether your horse is actually in any physical pain. Pain creates a diverse range of responses in the domesticated equine from mood swings to lashing out. We would advise that you get your gelding checked over by a Vet to rule out pain being the motivation for the problem. Once this has been done, we suggest the following as a process of elimination.
Equine Behavioural Problems -
What Is Your Horse Telling You?
Unfortunately, without daily turnout and the chance to let off steam, even a very placid and well mannered horse can literally become a total lunatic having been confined for a period of even a few days at a stretch. Putting yourself in your horse's shoes will help you to empathise with his current behavioural difficulties. By this we mean that it is not natural or good for the horse to be shut in for any length of time. They are herd animals and need the companionship of other equines to thrive - often our horses have no way to express pent-up energy other than by exploding when given a tiny bit of freedom and this is a natural response to them. He is likely not meaning to hurt you he just does not know what to do with himself - think of it like a coiled spring. Perhaps this is the first time in his life that he has been confined for such a length of time. Although you are riding regularly, he is not getting the opportunity to be truly free and run his energy off without a rider on board. The fact he is spooking at anything and everything is evidence that confinement has affected his confidence and ability to think for himself - please also refer to our article
Rebuilding Your Horse's Confidence
which contains some practical tips to help you and your horse rebuild your bond and encourage him to think for himself. We would advise that you don't ride your horse at all while you feel he is gaining the upper hand as his behaviour could put you both at risk of serious injury and riding anywhere near traffic could be potentially catastrophic. You mention that groundwork is not a feasible option due to his over-excitable attitude. Therefore, providing there are no recent injury problems, we would recommend turning the horse out every day for a good few hours for at least a week to burn off excess energy before you try and work on the ground with him. If this is not possible, lunge or loose school him for 20 minutes every day in a safe enclosed area (wearing your hard hat in case of flying hooves). Once you feel able to resume riding, continue to lunge him before you set out on a hack to take the edge of his energy. Always ride in company if at all possible and we suggest a calm and steady hacking companion to help restore his confidence in the outside world.
Is a Feed Supplement The Best Solution?
You mention that you are feeding a calmer supplement to your horse. While these are definitely useful in helping to deal with nerves and balance your horse's attitude, they should really only be considered once the possible pain and adequate exercise have been addressed - otherwise you risk masking the true cause of equine behavioural problems. Look carefully at his diet - if he is not in regular work, feeding ad lib quality haylage or hay with a small handful of non-heating mix / sugar free chaff should suffice, adjusting this accordingly to increase energy levels as his workload develops. Equine behavioural problems frequently stem from large quantities of energy-rich foods which a horse in limited work finds hard to handle.
Equine Behavioural Problems
Perseverance Pays Off
You mentioned that you have a long history with your gelding - having reared him since birth, it is understandably sad that you feel you are beginning to question the strength of your partnership. However, we really hope that our suggestions above help you to re-establish your bond and tackle equine behavioural problems head-on.You have persevered over the hardest time of the year for any horseowner and sometimes taking the relationship back to basics is the best way to re-evaluate whether your future lies together. Don't let anyone tell you what to do for the best - that part is up to you. You know your horse better than others - this may just be a temporary glitch in an otherwise very happy 13 year history. We wish you all the very best. Thanks from the team at Total Horse Expert.com
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