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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 325
 
Location: Florida | Hi All:
Will try to make this as short as possible ! Bought a new 9 year old mare July 5. Brought her from FL to GA - she sat back HARD on the trailer and cut her foot 3 days after arriving needing 12 staples at the pastern. 3 days of stall rest - lightly buted - then in stall during the day and out at night - her normal routine from FL. She came from small acreage (but this mare has been VERY WELL taken care of) to here in GA with large gorgeous pasture - knee high bermuda grass. Didn't change her routine - put her on a less HOT grain - kept her on minimal alfalfa hay. Tried to ride her after vet OKd and you could not get near her with the saddle. REARING, EYES WIDE, BODY STIFF AS A BOARD. I have known this mare the last 4 years - this is a total attitude change. Had chiro out - he worked on her twice in 2 1/2 week span - she had some issues - he released her - said she was good to go. Same thing with trying to saddle - but not as dramatic. I did find out where she is the barn was on city water with extremely high chlorine content. That has since been fixed - about 3 weeks now. I am leaning towards gut/ulcers. Have been treating her with Gastrogard, heavy Probiotics, just started FORCO (1 week) and SmartPak Ultra GI (1week). Took her off all grain - she is now on a scoop of alfalfa pellets 2x day and no stall - 24/7 turn out. I am so frustrated/disgusted - i have been on this mare 20 mins since I bought her almost 4 months ago. When I was able to saddle her and felt comfortable getting on her - she was stiff as a board - flightly - scared of everything - flipping her head (with a light hackamore and I am light handed) , lightly trotted and the mare had her head turned outside and over the rails of the round pen. This mare went from winning to not being rideable at all. !
Former owner no help ! and again I KNOW this horse. Any suggestions ???
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| I know this will sound crazy but I would contact some one who is very knowledgable about essential oils. She sounds like my gelding when he had a personality change due to some things that were going on with me and some very popular therapies I tried with him. Long story short we both lost confidence in each other. After getting his poll adjusted twice, me making sure I was always calm and confident( I used the oils on myself for this) alot of just hanging out together, wearing a helmet to ride, and using the oils on him and we now are back where we were. I love this horse, he is a hoot! |
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 I don't speak Portuguese
Posts: 4883
Location: West River - SoDak | Round pen and confidence. |
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10D Crack Champion
 
| Since all this started (acting crazy), what did the vet say after an exam?
Also, anything out in that pasture that might cause this horse to act adversely? An allergy to something there? Still act the same after being put in a dry lot for a couple days?
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| Makes you wonder if the previous owners kept the horse medicated to keep calm. However, try spending as much time as you can just being around the horse, talking, brushing, maybe taking it for walks and letting it graze, and learn to be relaxed and comfortable with you before riding. I have known of horses that mourn their previous owners. Or maybe the horse is having difficulty relating to another person's energy/vibe, whatever you call it.
Good luck. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 499
Location: ARKANSAS | ULCERS ULCERS ULCERS!!!!!!! Your horse has developed ulcers!!!!! she has changed homes, cut herself, been buted, been stalled, then acts like a maniac for no reason!!!! this horse is hurting from ulcers!!! it only takes a short time for a horse to develop ulcers in stressful situations...if you want to be sure ask your vet to scope, but i would get some omeprizole paste in her asap
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 Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
Location: Opelousas, LA | Grass can be very bad for some horses, the sugar content can be very high and that will cause major issues if your horse is PSSM.
Since your horse came from small acreage, she may not have had access to such nice grass. I would take her off the grass and either pony or roundpen her every day and see if that helps. If she is PSSM she needs daily excercise, the stall rest plus the grass could have caused your problems. If she is PSSM, you should see a change in her after a few weeks.
There is a very good (and long) thread on PSSM somewhere on here, lots of good info. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Barnmom - 2014-10-25 9:39 AM Grass can be very bad for some horses, the sugar content can be very high and that will cause major issues if your horse is PSSM.
Since your horse came from small acreage, she may not have had access to such nice grass. I would take her off the grass and either pony or roundpen her every day and see if that helps. If she is PSSM she needs daily excercise, the stall rest plus the grass could have caused your problems. If she is PSSM, you should see a change in her after a few weeks.
There is a very good (and long) thread on PSSM somewhere on here, lots of good info.
The stiffness you describe makes me wonder about this too. Couldn't hurt to try dry-lotting. |
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 Horsey Gene Carrier
Posts: 1888
Location: LaBelle, Florida | ladyelbert - 2014-10-25 10:29 AM ULCERS ULCERS ULCERS!!!!!!! Your horse has developed ulcers!!!!! she has changed homes, cut herself, been buted, been stalled, then acts like a maniac for no reason!!!! this horse is hurting from ulcers!!! it only takes a short time for a horse to develop ulcers in stressful situations...if you want to be sure ask your vet to scope, but i would get some omeprizole paste in her asap
I feel a lot of people over use the 'ulcer' excuse but in this case I would agree. Also, being that she is a mare and climate change, I would have a good reproduciton check on her, just to be on the safe side.
You already know that something is hurting due to the behavior change. Your job is to find an correct it. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2604
Location: Texas | Magnesium deficiency?
http://www.performanceequineusa.com/MagRestore.aspx
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 Expert
Posts: 1969
Location: Texas | Neurological problem |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | HaleyT - 2014-10-25 10:57 AM
Neurological problem
I would agree with the Neurological, I would have her tested for EPM. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 325
Location: Florida | sodapop - 2014-10-25 10:19 AM Since all this started (acting crazy), what did the vet say after an exam?
Also, anything out in that pasture that might cause this horse to act adversely? An allergy to something there? Still act the same after being put in a dry lot for a couple days?
I did have the vet out after the Chiro adjustments - he couldn't find a thing wrong with her physically and said she just needed to "settle in" longer. All this while she was trying to get out of the round pen as he was watching her on a lunge line. ! I DO NOT agree ! This mare has been hauled everywhere !!! Super Shows, World Show, etc. etc. etc. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 325
Location: Florida |
She was on Magnesium from Performance Equine since the day I brought her home. She stayed on 2 scoops 2 x a day with NO CHANGE to her behavior or manure as they say it should get soft; then to back them off the dosage. I took her off everything when I started the Forco and the other stuff as stated in my original post. It is like NOTHING I give her gets absorbed so leading me to gut/ulcers.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 325
Location: Florida | I am calm and confident around her and try to spend as much time as possible with her - she is not in my backyard but i am there almost everyday with her. It does make me wonder if previous owner had her on something to keep her calm. But she was on some "high" stuff. Race Ready by Purina - rich alfalfa 3 x per day - T&A at night barn check.
The very next day after I brought her home I couldn't catch her in the pasture. She was very stand offish - spent sometime just being with her then the sit back and cut her foot; been down hill ever since; but again I feel it was almost instant from her coming here. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 678
Location: Canada | I agree you can try to change feed and see if that helps. Ulcer treatment wouldn't hurt either. Your horse may just need to settle in more. I have one (he's special  ) that I can ride day in and day out with no issues but if anyone else tries to handle him you'd think he was wild and crazy. If anyone else tries to handle him he spooks at everything, bolts when you try to get on, forgets how to work under saddle. Basically acts like an unhandled colt on his first ride.
If I didn't know his entire history I'd think something happened to him but as it stands... that's just him and his crazy quirks. He's the type of horse that needs one rider and one handler. Your horse may have only been handled by one owner/rider for a while and after a somewhat traumatic trip to you she's really nervous with all things. Some horses who have never been herd bound meet a new horse and suddenly are glued to them so that may not be helping you if she's got a "friend" somewhere she's looking for.
I agree with previous posters either round pen her or pony her to expel some of the energy she has and then try to ride her. You're going to take a bit to get together and currently she's got your number. A few solid rides even if it's just a walk trot light ride where you feel good at the end will likely turn everything around for you so I'd work her till she's a bit tired then ride her on the rail for a bit. If you have a good ride when you get off give her lots of love, a treat (if you feed treats) and a good brush. Hopefully soon you'll both be feeling much more confident.
Wishing you best of luck!
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| chin up!! This is almost my exact story when I bought my mare 5 years ago -
First - reduce the carbs in her diet - ie pasture. Let her out but reduce the carbs.
Next, daily exercise, and lots of it!
Followed by making sure she isn't PSSM or EPM (vet can test).
Lastly - TIME is your friend - Honestly, the turn around point for me was squatting down in the corner of my mare's pen, biting into a granola bar, and crying because I freakin' couldn't catch her. Long story short, she came over and sniffed my hands. I offered some granola bar and she decided I wasn't the devil.
It sounds like you have a handful and then some (just like I did) - you'll figure it out but don't discount ulcers or something major.
Good LUCK and please don't give up on her!! |
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I Need a Xanax!
Posts: 2774
| Three 4 Luck - 2014-10-25 10:03 AM
Barnmom - 2014-10-25 9:39 AM Grass can be very bad for some horses, the sugar content can be very high and that will cause major issues if your horse is PSSM.
Since your horse came from small acreage, she may not have had access to such nice grass. I would take her off the grass and either pony or roundpen her every day and see if that helps. If she is PSSM she needs daily excercise, the stall rest plus the grass could have caused your problems. If she is PSSM, you should see a change in her after a few weeks.
There is a very good (and long) thread on PSSM somewhere on here, lots of good info.
The stiffness you describe makes me wonder about this too. Couldn't hurt to try dry-lotting.
Me three. I'd get her off that grass. I would dry lot her and not overfeed her hay either then see if she changes in 2 months. I'd also make sure she was on a good mineral supplement. Whatever you decide to do please let us know and how it turns out....this has my curiosity up. I can't imagine how frustrating that must be. |
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 Lady Di
Posts: 21556
Location: Oklahoma | Barnmom - 2014-10-25 9:39 AM
Grass can be very bad for some horses, the sugar content can be very high and that will cause major issues if your horse is PSSM.
Since your horse came from small acreage, she may not have had access to such nice grass. I would take her off the grass and either pony or roundpen her every day and see if that helps. If she is PSSM she needs daily excercise, the stall rest plus the grass could have caused your problems. If she is PSSM, you should see a change in her after a few weeks.
There is a very good (and long) thread on PSSM somewhere on here, lots of good info.
This is what I thought of immediately as well. I would certainly be having her checked for PSSM. You can pull mane hair and send it off to check for PSSM2, but you will need a muscle biopsy for PSSM1. If that's what it is, she CANNOT be on lush pasture. Many of the symptoms you are describing are typical of a horse with it. Put her in a lot on grass hay and switch to a low starch feed and see if it makes a difference in her behavior....it will take about 2 weeks before you see a difference. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| The first thing I would do is contact the person that you bought her from. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 926
| You said she sat back hard...did the vet check her neck? any xrays done? |
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  Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | I think the prudent thing to do would be test for the PSSM & Ulcers and neck injury first just to rule that out. Only then can you really have a management plan for your mare. Otherwise, you're just guessing. Once those are ruled out, then you can look at whether she just needs to settle in or not.
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 Certified Snake Wrangler
Posts: 1672
Location: North MS | sounds like regumate dosage stopped abruptly after being on it a while. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 422
Location: Fort Bragg North Carolina | I think of drugs...u knew the horse for 4 years but the owners could have kept her medicated? This is a huge personality change sounds very suspicious |
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Veteran
Posts: 291
| I tend to agree with the PSSM theory. If it is the case, she needs to be taken off of all Alfalfa too and only fed a grass hay and a very special diet low in sugar. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 325
Location: Florida | streakysox - 2014-10-26 10:04 PM The first thing I would do is contact the person that you bought her from.
I have done so several times. She told me to get a Parelli trainer !! WTH ! I am a mature adult ...have had horses my entire life .. Trained quite a few of every discipline and fixed some problem horses in my time..don't get me wrong I am open and willing to learn and do so every day with horses !
She swears the mare wasn't on anything except Animal Element , Race Ready and tons of alfalfa and T&A. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 325
Location: Florida | Tinker - 2014-10-28 8:26 AM I tend to agree with the PSSM theory. If it is the case, she needs to be taken off of all Alfalfa too and only fed a grass hay and a very special diet low in sugar.
I say "stiff" to ride because she is so unattentive..like riding a guitar string ! It's like she is on guard that something is out to get her constantly. Her former owner had her for 4 years with supposedly no problems and a quite "high" diet!
i did take her off the alfalfa and put her on Triple Crown Low Starch for about 3 weeks and grass hay. She actually got worse which is what led me to believe that it is gut issues as the alfalfa is soothing . |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | GoTreeless - 2014-10-28 9:41 PM Tinker - 2014-10-28 8:26 AM I tend to agree with the PSSM theory. If it is the case, she needs to be taken off of all Alfalfa too and only fed a grass hay and a very special diet low in sugar. I say "stiff" to ride because she is so unattentive..like riding a guitar string ! It's like she is on guard that something is out to get her constantly. Her former owner had her for 4 years with supposedly no problems and a quite "high" diet!
i did take her off the alfalfa and put her on Triple Crown Low Starch for about 3 weeks and grass hay. She actually got worse which is what led me to believe that it is gut issues as the alfalfa is soothing .
I have not read all the posts on your thread, but did you see this horse run? And did you know this horse when she belonged to the other lady? |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 325
Location: Florida | chicks2 - 2014-10-26 10:37 PM You said she sat back hard...did the vet check her neck? any xrays done?
The vet did ... No X-rays however ... Chiro worked on her neck and poll 3xs and each time I could see a change in her ... Just not to ride. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 325
Location: Florida | Yes I have several times through the last 4 years ....and tons of videos when I didn't see her in person.
That is why this has been soooooooo frustrating !!! This is a super super nice mare !!! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 325
Location: Florida | charlenenh - 2014-10-28 7:22 AM I think of drugs...u knew the horse for 4 years but the owners could have kept her medicated? This is a huge personality change sounds very suspicious
It is huge and was pretty much instant ... Not sure if I already posted but the very next day after I bought her we couldn't get near her !! Not even with feed.
Previous owner keeps blaming me ... Believe me I would take responsibility for everything just to have an answer !! LOL |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Hummm, could you maybe get the past owner to come see her and ride her for you to see how the mare would do for her? Or haul her to the lady and see if they still click? |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 421
Location: Texas!! | I sold a mare that did the same thing to her next owner! Within a couple of months they said she was completely crazy. Couldn't catch her, had to sedate her to do her feet, scared when she was rode. Luckily it was not too far, I drove over to see for myself. I went to catch her, they told me no way I could catch her in the pasture, I did. I tied her to their trailer, brushed her, picked out her feet with no problem, then I rode her, still loved her, she did everything I asked. When the young lady walked over to her, she started trembling. I know she had not been abused, but she just didn't trust the lady. She had always been a little stand offish. Needless to say I ended up buying her back later on. She went on to win again for us. And I feel like I could never sell her again. She is just too settled here. Also I bought her the first time when she was 2, sold her when she was 6, and bought her back at 8. Now she is 12. And I think she would do the same thing if I sold her again. She is just weird, lol. I wish you the best, but just wonder if she relates her pain, from cut foot, to you. especially if you had to doctor it, and that may have been a little painful too. Since it happened right off the bat. Sorry for the book, but I would try and figure out some way to work on trust. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | rodeodelux - 2014-10-28 10:10 PM
I sold a mare that did the same thing to her next owner! Within a couple of months they said she was completely crazy. Couldn't catch her, had to sedate her to do her feet, scared when she was rode. Luckily it was not too far, I drove over to see for myself. I went to catch her, they told me no way I could catch her in the pasture, I did. I tied her to their trailer, brushed her, picked out her feet with no problem, then I rode her, still loved her, she did everything I asked. When the young lady walked over to her, she started trembling. I know she had not been abused, but she just didn't trust the lady. She had always been a little stand offish. Needless to say I ended up buying her back later on. She went on to win again for us. And I feel like I could never sell her again. She is just too settled here. Also I bought her the first time when she was 2, sold her when she was 6, and bought her back at 8. Now she is 12. And I think she would do the same thing if I sold her again. She is just weird, lol. I wish you the best, but just wonder if she relates her pain, from cut foot, to you. especially if you had to doctor it, and that may have been a little painful too. Since it happened right off the bat. Sorry for the book, but I would try and figure out some way to work on trust.
She was meant to be your horse, glad that shes back with you  |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 325
Location: Florida | rodeodelux - 2014-10-28 11:10 PM I sold a mare that did the same thing to her next owner! Within a couple of months they said she was completely crazy. Couldn't catch her, had to sedate her to do her feet, scared when she was rode. Luckily it was not too far, I drove over to see for myself. I went to catch her, they told me no way I could catch her in the pasture, I did. I tied her to their trailer, brushed her, picked out her feet with no problem, then I rode her, still loved her, she did everything I asked. When the young lady walked over to her, she started trembling. I know she had not been abused, but she just didn't trust the lady. She had always been a little stand offish. Needless to say I ended up buying her back later on. She went on to win again for us. And I feel like I could never sell her again. She is just too settled here. Also I bought her the first time when she was 2, sold her when she was 6, and bought her back at 8. Now she is 12. And I think she would do the same thing if I sold her again. She is just weird, lol. I wish you the best, but just wonder if she relates her pain, from cut foot, to you. especially if you had to doctor it, and that may have been a little painful too. Since it happened right off the bat. Sorry for the book, but I would try and figure out some way to work on trust.
Thank you for all the help/response ! I thought the same thing that she associates me with pain. I had my friend/barn owner try to just mess with her - brush her, pet her...etc... same thing - and she feeds her more than I do as I have to board her at her place !! I am hoping that treating her gut will help the situation. I was at the barn yesterday and she actually was a tad better. I lunged her before getting on her (which I hate to do especially on a made horse) and she actually paid me some attention.
Saddling was a nightmare however !! I started singing a song that was playing on the radio and just totally ignored her antics...she got worse before I was done. Figured since I can't sing a lick she would behave so I would shut up !! LOL |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 325
Location: Florida | Southtxponygirl - 2014-10-28 10:55 PM Hummm, could you maybe get the past owner to come see her and ride her for you to see how the mare would do for her? Or haul her to the lady and see if they still click?
I would LOVE that !! However she is 10 hours away. When I contacted her about helping me possibly sell her - she was more concerned about how much I was going to pay her rather than the horses welfare; so dead end there. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | GoTreeless - 2014-10-29 2:24 PM Southtxponygirl - 2014-10-28 10:55 PM Hummm, could you maybe get the past owner to come see her and ride her for you to see how the mare would do for her? Or haul her to the lady and see if they still click? I would LOVE that !! However she is 10 hours away. When I contacted her about helping me possibly sell her - she was more concerned about how much I was going to pay her rather than the horses welfare; so dead end there.
This just too bad that you have to go threw all this to try to enjoy your mare. Have you checked all your tack to make sure nothing is brothering her in any way, check saddle, cinch, pad not to stiff. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 325
Location: Florida | Southtxponygirl - 2014-10-29 3:30 PM GoTreeless - 2014-10-29 2:24 PM Southtxponygirl - 2014-10-28 10:55 PM Hummm, could you maybe get the past owner to come see her and ride her for you to see how the mare would do for her? Or haul her to the lady and see if they still click? I would LOVE that !! However she is 10 hours away. When I contacted her about helping me possibly sell her - she was more concerned about how much I was going to pay her rather than the horses welfare; so dead end there.
Yes - I have done it all ! Ride in an Original Bob Marshall (which she was ridden in by previous owner also) and a 5 Star pad. The mare was ridden in a Wade pad. I even tried my friends Bob Marshall with a different girth; same thing !
Believe me I have lost a TON of sleep over all this....she was not a cheap mare which makes it that much worse. :(
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | GoTreeless - 2014-10-29 2:33 PM Southtxponygirl - 2014-10-29 3:30 PM GoTreeless - 2014-10-29 2:24 PM Southtxponygirl - 2014-10-28 10:55 PM Hummm, could you maybe get the past owner to come see her and ride her for you to see how the mare would do for her? Or haul her to the lady and see if they still click? I would LOVE that !! However she is 10 hours away. When I contacted her about helping me possibly sell her - she was more concerned about how much I was going to pay her rather than the horses welfare; so dead end there.
Believe me I have lost a TON of sleep over all this....she was not a cheap mare which makes it that much worse. :(
Oh I understand, I have bought a gelding a few years back nice horse that was suppose to be a good fella, but the more I rode him the worst he got, talked to an owner that had him befor I bought him from the last owner and she was thinking he had EPM in his younger days but was never treated so he got pasted around a few times befor I bought him, so now hes in my back pasture with my retired horses, I need to take him in to have tested to see for sure, but he seems really happy where hes at now, I do know that he had his legs ran off at some point in his life so thought I would leave him along for a while but that has turned out to be a few years now. Sorry that you are going threw this mess wish I could be of help to you.  |
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Regular
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| Curious, did you pick the horse up or use a transporter? |
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I Need a Xanax!
Posts: 2774
| cstone - 2014-10-29 2:53 PM
Curious, did you pick the horse up or use a transporter?
I was wondering that same thing too. This might sound pretty crazy BUT....is it possible you somehow ended up with the wrong mare? Sounds crazy I know, but if she's solid sorrel or bay with no other markings it could happen quite easily. Actually if she has a star and socks it could happen quite easily too. Do her markings match the mare you have known for years and do the markings match her papers? Just throwing this out there....please keep us all updated. If you figure out what's going on it could be good info to learn from for the rest of us. Hang in there and keep trying different things...I know how frustrated you must be though. |
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 Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | GoTreeless - 2014-10-25 9:11 AM Hi All:
Will try to make this as short as possible ! Bought a new 9 year old mare July 5. Brought her from FL to GA - she sat back HARD on the trailer and cut her foot 3 days after arriving needing 12 staples at the pastern. 3 days of stall rest - lightly buted - then in stall during the day and out at night - her normal routine from FL. She came from small acreage (but this mare has been VERY WELL taken care of) to here in GA with large gorgeous pasture - knee high bermuda grass. Didn't change her routine - put her on a less HOT grain - kept her on minimal alfalfa hay. Tried to ride her after vet OKd and you could not get near her with the saddle. REARING, EYES WIDE, BODY STIFF AS A BOARD. I have known this mare the last 4 years - this is a total attitude change. Had chiro out - he worked on her twice in 2 1/2 week span - she had some issues - he released her - said she was good to go. Same thing with trying to saddle - but not as dramatic. I did find out where she is the barn was on city water with extremely high chlorine content. That has since been fixed - about 3 weeks now. I am leaning towards gut/ulcers. Have been treating her with Gastrogard, heavy Probiotics, just started FORCO (1 week) and SmartPak Ultra GI (1week). Took her off all grain - she is now on a scoop of alfalfa pellets 2x day and no stall - 24/7 turn out. I am so frustrated/disgusted - i have been on this mare 20 mins since I bought her almost 4 months ago. When I was able to saddle her and felt comfortable getting on her - she was stiff as a board - flightly - scared of everything - flipping her head (with a light hackamore and I am light handed) , lightly trotted and the mare had her head turned outside and over the rails of the round pen. This mare went from winning to not being rideable at all. !
Former owner no help ! and again I KNOW this horse. Any suggestions ???
this wont help all matters but I would put her Bakc to her routine she was used to and back on a high fat diet . not alfalfa pellets.. if anything give her hay instead.forage is better then the pellets.
also some horses like to be stalled and feel more secure . a routine she was in might help her feel more secure.structure is a good thing. I dont care that shes been hauled everywhere. she was always returned home to her safety zone.. home.. and her stall..
shes been thru hell it sounds like coming from a routine she was used to and a owner she was used to.
I agree on other things but I would also change my daily plan with her as well..did someone say she was on regumate and removed suddenly? i couldnt find that on your posts.. if so hormones could be a culprit.
Edited by Bibliafarm 2014-10-30 8:54 AM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 325
Location: Florida | Southtxponygirl - 2014-10-29 3:47 PM GoTreeless - 2014-10-29 2:33 PM Southtxponygirl - 2014-10-29 3:30 PM GoTreeless - 2014-10-29 2:24 PM Southtxponygirl - 2014-10-28 10:55 PM Hummm, could you maybe get the past owner to come see her and ride her for you to see how the mare would do for her? Or haul her to the lady and see if they still click? I would LOVE that !! However she is 10 hours away. When I contacted her about helping me possibly sell her - she was more concerned about how much I was going to pay her rather than the horses welfare; so dead end there.
Believe me I have lost a TON of sleep over all this....she was not a cheap mare which makes it that much worse. :(
Thank you ! I appreciate your compassion and advice !!
This mare has been VERY WELL taken care of and not ran to death ! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 325
Location: Florida | Used2B - 2014-10-30 9:41 AM cstone - 2014-10-29 2:53 PM Curious, did you pick the horse up or use a transporter? I was wondering that same thing too. This might sound pretty crazy BUT....is it possible you somehow ended up with the wrong mare? Sounds crazy I know, but if she's solid sorrel or bay with no other markings it could happen quite easily. Actually if she has a star and socks it could happen quite easily too. Do her markings match the mare you have known for years and do the markings match her papers? Just throwing this out there....please keep us all updated. If you figure out what's going on it could be good info to learn from for the rest of us. Hang in there and keep trying different things...I know how frustrated you must be though.
GREAT thought ! Yes, I did meet her and picked her up....so I know I got the right horse....except in my case it isn't the same horse at all !! LOL
I should have known though - she didn't want to leave the mare she traveled with (the girl only had the 2 horses) though she is definitely not buddy sour ! She didn't want to load into my trailer - come to think of it she almost acted the same way she is now for me to saddle and try to ride her....hmmmmm.! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 325
Location: Florida | Bibliafarm - 2014-10-30 9:52 AM GoTreeless - 2014-10-25 9:11 AM Hi All:
Will try to make this as short as possible ! Bought a new 9 year old mare July 5. Brought her from FL to GA - she sat back HARD on the trailer and cut her foot 3 days after arriving needing 12 staples at the pastern. 3 days of stall rest - lightly buted - then in stall during the day and out at night - her normal routine from FL. She came from small acreage (but this mare has been VERY WELL taken care of) to here in GA with large gorgeous pasture - knee high bermuda grass. Didn't change her routine - put her on a less HOT grain - kept her on minimal alfalfa hay. Tried to ride her after vet OKd and you could not get near her with the saddle. REARING, EYES WIDE, BODY STIFF AS A BOARD. I have known this mare the last 4 years - this is a total attitude change. Had chiro out - he worked on her twice in 2 1/2 week span - she had some issues - he released her - said she was good to go. Same thing with trying to saddle - but not as dramatic. I did find out where she is the barn was on city water with extremely high chlorine content. That has since been fixed - about 3 weeks now. I am leaning towards gut/ulcers. Have been treating her with Gastrogard, heavy Probiotics, just started FORCO (1 week) and SmartPak Ultra GI (1week). Took her off all grain - she is now on a scoop of alfalfa pellets 2x day and no stall - 24/7 turn out. I am so frustrated/disgusted - i have been on this mare 20 mins since I bought her almost 4 months ago. When I was able to saddle her and felt comfortable getting on her - she was stiff as a board - flightly - scared of everything - flipping her head (with a light hackamore and I am light handed) , lightly trotted and the mare had her head turned outside and over the rails of the round pen. This mare went from winning to not being rideable at all. !
Former owner no help ! and again I KNOW this horse. Any suggestions ???
this wont help all matters but I would put her Bakc to her routine she was used to and back on a high fat diet . not alfalfa pellets.. if anything give her hay instead.forage is better then the pellets.
also some horses like to be stalled and feel more secure . a routine she was in might help her feel more secure.structure is a good thing. I dont care that shes been hauled everywhere. she was always returned home to her safety zone.. home.. and her stall..
shes been thru hell it sounds like coming from a routine she was used to and a owner she was used to.
I agree on other things but I would also change my daily plan with her as well..did someone say she was on regumate and removed suddenly? i couldnt find that on your posts.. if so hormones could be a culprit.
I did start out with her exact routine, hay, feed, stall - everything - she was BAT **** crazier !!! Then I took her off the alfalfa hay - thinking too high with the grass here. She got even worse...I started trying calming things - magnesium - ultra calm from Smart Pak - raspberry leaves - you name it....
She seemed to be very very anxious in the stall - she would sweat from the anxiety - behind her ears - above her eyes - in her flank area....
It was suggested that she was possibly on Regumate by a fellow board member - but previous owner swears she was never on anything for calming, mare issues, etc. etc....I am at a loss..
I worked her yesterday - put the pad on her - went to get saddle - finally got it on her and cinched - very loose just so it doesn't fall totally off - all this after dancing around like a lunatic for 5-7 minutes - then she tried to buckle her knees in the center of the aisle like she was going to lay down twice...I just ignored her.... Got the lunge line and S hack - went to the round pen and worked her for a good 30 minutes...she responded alot better; actually kept one ear on me lunging and riding - licking and chewing. But her movements are tense, jerky and just a general OMG !! I can't ever see me getting out of the round pen with her - let alone a barrel race !!
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Veteran
Posts: 180
| I have a really calm mare. One day last summer she kicked up while loping. I thought she was just fresh. Next day went out and rode on mesa at the same place as always. Became a maniac.
Walked on foot back to trailer. Then the sun hit her ears just right and I saw something in there. Good thing she let me put my finger in there. I bet I pulled at least 20 ticks out of each ear. Treated and back to normal.
I now check. My vet explained they can really effect a horse neurologically. I am just glad she is easy to treat.
She is back to her dependable self as long as I keep a handle on this.
Just a thought. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 742
| Hang in there with her and scope her for ulcers or just go ahead and treat her. I had a mare I got a few years ago that was pretty sweet and laid back but when I sent her for barrel training she came back a total spook and did a lot of the things you're saying your mare is doing. It took a good solid month before she was ok. I have a barn helper and even he was shocked at how spooky she came back. I did turn her out for a while, a couple of months, before I started to really ride and work with her. She is 90% better today. She does have her spooky moments on rides but she's very manageable. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Go treeless have you started treating her for ulcers?
Cinching up and a horse going down to knees is a big red light this horse is in pain.
I also don't agree with working a horse in pain, as you are just reinforcing negativity, therefore the negative cycle continues, and it will me even more difficult to cure the ulcers as pain can exacerbate ulcers even if it is ulcer pain. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | cheryl makofka - 2014-10-30 7:41 PM Go treeless have you started treating her for ulcers? Cinching up and a horse going down to knees is a big red light this horse is in pain. I also don't agree with working a horse in pain, as you are just reinforcing negativity, therefore the negative cycle continues, and it will me even more difficult to cure the ulcers as pain can exacerbate ulcers even if it is ulcer pain.
Agree with the pain issue, to me theres pain from being cinched up to fast and tight or she does have uclers, going down on her knees does mean something to me. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 325
Location: Florida | cheryl makofka - 2014-10-30 8:41 PM Go treeless have you started treating her for ulcers? Cinching up and a horse going down to knees is a big red light this horse is in pain. I also don't agree with working a horse in pain, as you are just reinforcing negativity, therefore the negative cycle continues, and it will me even more difficult to cure the ulcers as pain can exacerbate ulcers even if it is ulcer pain.
Yes, I have been treating her for ulcers. She has the same behavior if you are trying to brush her, going to get the brushes, saddle, etc. etc. etc.
Even just sitting the saddle on her - no girth. I have worked her lightly 5 times this week. Starting with easy lunging and just walking and trying to slow trot in the round pen.
She has basically been doing nothing since I bought her the 1st of July - as all this started really immediately and of course she needed time off for the cut to heal.
She appears fine in the pasture.
She has been on heavy probiotics since day 1, Forco and Gastrogard almost 3 weeks now - and SmartPak Ultra GI.
If I can explain this right - her eye goes between a deer in the head light worried look to a mean look with heavy wrinkling above her eyes. Rarely is her eye nice, soft and kind like the horse that I know she is ! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 325
Location: Florida | royaldimple - 2014-10-30 3:41 PM
I have a really calm mare. One day last summer she kicked up while loping. I thought she was just fresh. Next day went out and rode on mesa at the same place as always. Became a maniac.
Walked on foot back to trailer. Then the sun hit her ears just right and I saw something in there. Good thing she let me put my finger in there. I bet I pulled at least 20 ticks out of each ear. Treated and back to normal.
I now check. My vet explained they can really effect a horse neurologically. I am just glad she is easy to treat.
She is back to her dependable self as long as I keep a handle on this.
Just a thought.
Thank you for the idea ! I was rubbing her ears the day before....she wasn't bothered but I will for sure take a closer look. |
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Warmblood with Wings
Posts: 27846
Location: Florida.. | check saddle to and Id check her ovaries.do a blood workup. grabbing at straws but id do it.normally you can say attitude but the fact she buckled when cinched and on crossties .. makes it differant .. |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | you have had this mare for 3 months or close to it..and tried a lot of different things..but have you actually given them any time to work, some of the things you are trying take more than a month to actually work..........maybe slow things down for her a bit..pony her take her out and about....if she were mine, id take her off all the stuff you have her on, except hay.......and give her a good honest round of ulcer cure and go from there.....
good luck
m |
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 Having Smokin Bandits
Posts: 4572
Location: Woodstown, NJ | One time I bought a horse and came home and told my husband he would be proud of me--I made a good, sensible buy. Meaning I didn't get a flashy flame-breathing "horse with a little spirit" like I usually did and who were usually trouble. This time I was being sensible. Plain, ordinary, well-behaved little sorrel ridden by a kid. As soon as I got her home, she went nuts. A lot of the same stuff you describe. She used to do what I call a "combo"--a rear, buck, and whirl all at the same time. One time she pulled back and reared when I was cinching her up (and believe me, I go SLOW) and she fell over backwards onto the saddle. We also tried everything. I even hired someone to come over and help me because I was losing my confidence. Finally I sold her to someone back at the boarding stable where she had come from. He knew her and was glad to get her. She never gave him an ounce of trouble. We went over and over it. She lived her whole life at that stable. I didn't have any other horses on my property when I got her but she could see my neighbor's horses. Maybe it wasn't close enough. And she missed her herd. That's all we can think.
Another time I bought a large pony who was perfectly fine at home and at some shows but one day at a show she acted crazy. Everytime we took her to this particular place, she'd go nuts. Someone told us that someone else on the grounds was riding a stallion. Maybe it was that. I don't know. Could either one of these situations be a possibility?
I also thought of the Regumate.
I also can't help thinking the prior owners had her drugged. Even if you knew the horse, you don't always know what people are doing behind the scenes. When I used Ace on a horse one time, no one else knew it.
I'm sure it's not you. You sound like you know what you're doing. The good news is you know she has the potential to be good because you've seen it. Now you just have to figure out how to get it again. |
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Common Sense and then some
Location: So. California | If she were mine, I would send in hair samples to test for PSSM1 - cost is only $40.00 Animal Genetics.
I would also quit trying to ride her and just spend time with her: in her stall/dry lot, walking around with a halter and lead, just meandering. Sounds to me like she is picking up on your frustration and irratation and she feels rushed or pushed and she is not trusting you at all. She may be equating you to her pain issues (leg, ulcers, whatever), which is only escalating the her problems. Her flight instincts are in overdrive.
You'll have to show her a lot of patience to turn this around. Last resort, you may want to call an animal communicator if you believe in that would help.
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 878
Location: "...way down south in the Everglades..." | Maybe this is already in here and I overlooked it, but curious, did you ride her at a show or at the lady's property before you purchased her and brought her home? How long had that lady had her prior to you purchasing her? |
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 Knowledge is Power
Posts: 4051
Location: wherever my daughter's running | I feel for you. I know this is very flustrating. I do agree with mruggles. Go back to square one and give things a chance to work. I have done what you are doing out of sheer flustration and finally realized that by throwing several different things at the horse at one time - if there was improvement I really had not idea if it was something I tried - or which one of them it was. Treating for ulcers will ceratinly not hurt the horse and it is cheaper in the long run to treat than to scope if uclers are the problem. Having said that - it is also cheaper in the long run to take the horse to a vet and try to get the bottom of the problem. If you decide to try to solve the issue yourself I would contact the owner of Sliver Lining Herbs and talk to him about your horse and her behavior. I really like their products. Best of luck to you. |
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 Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4557
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | She seemed to be very very anxious in the stall - she would sweat from the anxiety - behind her ears - above her eyes - in her flank area....This sentence bothers me. and the fact she went down when being saddle. I would have blood drawn and go from there. It seems your horse is having a reaction( possibly) feed or a parsite causing it. If your over dosing any of the feed products it could be toxic to your horse and it could cause the problems you are having.You need to bond with this horse she is probably associating you with a badly cut foot. |
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Member
Posts: 9
| Did you have her undergo a vet exam before you bought her? Mod importantly did you get a blood test done? Bought a horse and had something similar happen. Ended up she was on a long acting sedative (one shot every 30 days) that I didn't know about. (I never got the blood test done.) Also, invest maybe in a companion. Like a goat. My horses all love their goat. |
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NEED ADVICE: LONG POST - NEW HORSE ACTING CRAZY !