horse spookieness???

Question

My thoroughbred racehorse, is usually awesome, in the summer, spring and fall, but as soon as winter roos around she becomes very spooky, nervous and has started taking off and bucking. ANY SUGESSTIONS???

i dont think she is cold, i ride in a heated arena in winter.

she has been at this barn for over 2 years now . also....she seems to be better when there aren't other horses around.

she is outside with 3 other horses for 12 hours daily but since she has been in the us for most of her like she doesn't grow a winter coat and must be kept inside in the winter.

i tried her outside one night when it was about -5 outside with a stable blanket and a very eavy turnout blanket on top but and in the morning she still came in shaking. that is why she is inside at night.

i've tried lunging her before riding, but since it is icy and wet and snowey and slippery outside i have to do it inside...it seemed to make her more tense so i have stopped doing it .

she is out for the whole day...only in at night...and NO she is not raced...i meant to say EX-RACEHORSE

right now she is being fed hi-fat hi-fiber with a scoop of flax and msm in the mornings and just the grain at night. i am thinking of adding greenline vitamin B1(thaimine)to her feed as well...good or bad idea???

she is 9 and raced for 3 years in philidelphia then 2 at woodbine...she stopped racing because they sonsidered her"crazy"and un manageable

Answer 1

Most horses tend to be a lot more high-strung and spooky in the winter. The weather has a lot to do with it. The cold makes them jumpy and ready to go. Think about it - you'd feel a lot more lethargic on a hot summer day than on a cool day. Also winter is such a big change in atmosphere, it takes some time for the horse to adapt. I'd also suspect she's 'feeling her oats' when you ride her because she's kept inside more often, and her feed is increased. The feed is going to give her extra energy, and her being kept inside is going to give her extra energy. So when can all that energy get out? When you're riding her.

My horse is the same way, except I live in Florida so it's a little different lol. When it's windy and cool outside, he gets full of himself and a bit spooky sometimes. The best way to fix this is to get her full attention. Lunging is not going to do a thing except get her even more excited.

Before you ride her, it's best to get her focus on the ground. You can tell when she barely even knows you're there. She's looking around everywhere else except you are. Her head is held high, ears perked, and nostrils flaring sometimes. You want her attention on YOU. This way, she'll forget about everything else and therefore won't have the chance to spook at anything. Start with some 'games' on the ground. It's best if you do this in a round pen, but if an arena is all you have available to you that's fine.

Take her halter off and most likely she'll run away from you. Your goal is not only to get her to follow you at liberty, but WANT to follow you at liberty. Check her out before you attempt anything. Is she mellow or is she high-strung? I'm assuming she'll be full of energy, so you'll have to be a little softer with your body language. If she's lazy, you'll have to be stronger.

With her halter and lead rope in hand, approach her gently. Do not walk straight at her - this is telling her to go away. Instead, zig zag a little to her, and don't look her straight in the eye. Kind of make yourself deflate. When you walk up to her, if she chooses to walk away from you, then make her work. Use your rope to get her going - make her trot. Send her one direction and only let her change directions if you allow her to. After awhile let her stop and try approaching her again. If she chooses to walk away, make her move again.

Eventually she'll let you come up to her. Pet her and reward her. Ask her to follow you by facing away from her and walk. If she doesn't, try to get her "unstuck" by walking towards her hind end. If she still refuses to move, make her trot/canter again. Soon enough she'll get the idea and will follow you around at liberty. Now she's totally focused on you and what you're going to ask next, and has forgotten about all the other scary things in the arena. Have her do some exercises such as side passes, disengaging the hindquarters, flexing at the poll, backing up, etc. with her halter and lead on.

Now you can tack her up and get on her. You should feel a noticable difference. Get her attention by having her do the same exercises (i.e. sidepass, disengage hindquarters....)Her head will be lower, her ears flickering back to you, and she may sigh or lick/chew her lips ocassionally. If you ever lose this, put her to work. Most importantly though, make sure you aren't nervous. Are your hands low? Are you relaxed and loose? A good way to ensure this is to do some stretches before you get on, then breathe deeply while you ride.

I hope this helps. This method is a great way to strengthen you and your horse's relationship. I hope all goes well :DD

Answer 2

You are leaving out pertinent information. How old is this horse? How long did she race? Where did she race? You have snow but she may have been raised, trained and raced entirely in Florida. The snow and ice probably is all new to her and the weather is much colder than anything she has ever experienced. If she was raised, trained and raced in Florida, you can bet she has no clue what the frozen ground is all about.

It is a common practice for ex- racehorses to be trucked to another part of the country to be sold at a public horse or farm auction. Kentucky horses are shipped to Florida or Texas for sale while Florida horses are shipped to Kentucky or Pennsylvania. It is done this way so owners of horses that just aren't making the grade are not sold to other local thoroughbred farms where another trainer might be able to turn the animal into a champion. Vanity and shame runs deep in the thoroughbred racing industry.

Answer 3

Go back to the lunging. You probably aren't doing it long enough. Lunge her until she is tired. If the area you have to work in is small, throw some polo bandages or boots on for additional support.

Initially you may have to lunge her a lot to get her tired. However, should you keep her ridden and lunged daily, then the time you spend on the end of the line will decrease.

Also, when you are riding, try not to anticipate the spook. Relax. "Easy Pumpkin." When she does spook at something, don't force her upon it, or show it to her - instead, work in a circle which gradually gets closer and closer to the boogie man.

Thoroughbreds are sensitive in the mouth department. Make sure you pull and let go intermittantly to slow it down - when you let go, really drop the contact with the mouth. Imagine how horses race - the jokeys pull on the mouth constantly, until they pass the finish line, at which time, they loosen the reigns and the horse does what? Slows down and relaxes. Keep this in mind.

Answer 4

. the ultimate feeling in the international might come after... b. Getting your first horse 2. Which of those horses sounds maximum such as you: f. An Appaloosa - paintings is my element, and that i like to be resourceful. 3. one element you have continually had to do once you grow previous is... b. Be a veterinarian 4. Your prevalent horse colour is... b. Dapple gray 5. Your prevalent discipline is... g. None - I merely savour spending time with my horse out in the rustic 6. you like horses that are... e. sort and affectionate 7. Your prevalent delusion creature is... a. Pegasus - A flying horse 8. in case you grew to become right into a horse in one day and wakened in a very good, you may... e. properly, first i might attempt and choose how in the international I have been given right here in the 1st place. Being the brainy and resourceful guy or woman - uh, horse - i'm, I in all threat won't determine it out, so i might march around my stall and are available up with a answer to interrupt loose. yet in the past i pass with the aid of with my plan i might calculate how many days i could stay to tell the story in the wild and spot if i could arise with a potion of a thank you to alter back. sturdy element I researched approximately poisonous plant life in the wild for horses in the past this got here about! 9. in case you have been sucked into your prevalent horse action picture, you may... d. pretend i'm a clean character and pass alongside with the set, making up my lines as i pass - i've got continually had to be an actor/actress! 10. which variety of horse sounds maximum such as you: d. A Mare - content textile, candy and cozy

Answer 5

Many horses become much more flighty and difficult to manage when taken in for the winter. It's largely to do with the concentrated feed they need to be given to prevent loss of condition, both because of the colder weather, and the reduced nutrients in hay compared to fresh summer grass, as well as the restricted exercise because of standing in so much.

I would advise examining the amount of hard feed and the nutritional content thereof. A thoroughbred will reauire a good deal of feed to keep condition, but, unless you are actually racing her, it shouldn't be too high in protein, or she will become unmanageable.

If you want to feed a ready-mixed feed, there are plenty which have a lower protein percentage. These are mainly marketed for children's ponies, but should be fine as a less heating feed for your TB.

Alternatively, soaked sugar beet pulp, boiled barley, boiled linseed or grass cubes are very good for keeping condition on without the heating properties of, for example, oats or performance cubes. You would also want to feed as much good-quality hay as possible.

If you are racing your TB, as you do say TB racehorse, or you aren't happy about changing the feed, well then you can expect very high-strung behaviour when stable-kept, and must simply give her way more exercise. It seriously sounds as though she is going stir-crazy, and if kept like this will need at least 2 hours of strenuous exercise per day, provided she is fit.

In any case, perhaps she could be given a couple of hours out at pasture during the warmer part of the day, or even to be allowed loose in the arena to romp about? Any free exercise would give her a chance to work off some of her boundless energy.

Good luck with her!

Answer 6

It might be something in the arena that is spooking her. She may have had a bad experience in a arena or she might have seen or heard something in there that she didn't like and is afraid that it will happen again? And maybe she had a problem with the cold. Maybe the rug inst thick and warm enough for her try and get two or one REALLY thick one

Answer 7

She could just be being nappy i guess altho you could try giving her some selenium, its been proven as a calming substance, although im not sure whether its classed as a performance enhancing drug so if you're competing it may be safer not to use it.

Just like to add that horses can survive outside in the snow. With thoroughbreds and other light types they obviously need to be rugged up but going for a ride in brisk temperatures shouldnt trigger nerves and bad behaviour.. :)

Answer 8

During winter, your atmospheric pressures change. The quality of the air changes, noises are sometimes increased and sometimes decreased. You sometimes have wind that distorts sounds. Sometimes it is hard to pinpoint where sounds are originating. During winter, there is less activity during the night which sounds tend to magnify themselves. Animals that are sound sensitive tend to spook more in the winter because of this.

If you think about it, in horror shows, the scenes are generally nighttime and/or stormy.

Answer 9

Horses are herd animals, and need companionship. A good choice is a donkey, as they are very calm animals, and they calm the horse. Basically, your horse needs a friend. I suspect in winter the horse is inside more? Has less contact with other horses?

Answer 10

Maybe the season changes upset her, summer,fall, and spring are alike but winter is so different. Maybe some bad times happened in Winter. I hope your horse is fine and I hope you two are happy 4ever!