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 Warrior Mom
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| I recently put my normally laid back, almost lazy gelding back on Bluebonnet Omega Force. He was on the nature's blend performance formula for a while and I just wasn't impressed with it and how much I needed to feed. Well, he's always been a little spooky, nothing out of control but he'd spook at stupid things every now n then, but he's gotten so much worse and only thing I've changed was the grain. He only gets 4lbs a day of it. He was like a total hot head the last time I rode him, prancing and spooking at every little thing... now, it doesn't help my next door neighbors have started shooting their guns every afternoon behind my pasture where I ride... I'm chalking some of that up to his change as well... but I was wondering if that feed could also be contributing to his extra spook and nervous energy... I was watching him the other day and he was watching something in the bushes and then he spooked so hard and tried to turn and run and he tripped or slipped and fell down all the way, rolled over and jumped up and took off bucking like a fool. I'm about to go buy more feed and I'm thinking maybe this isn't the right feed for him.. I don't really want to go back to the nature's blend again, it's really high in starch IMO but that never seemed to affect him. He looks fantastic on the omega force but I can't deal with this extra garbage from him.. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| Bird season is a big deal at my house, the dove are always thick around the house, so the guys shoot everyday very close to the barn. The horses are a spooky mess the whole hunting season. You'd think they would get used to it, but nope, they don't. When bird season is over it takes them about a week to quit freaking at loud noises. |
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Expert
Posts: 1314
Location: North Central Iowa Land of white frozen grass | The gun noise should not bother him. How do you think that people get horses to do mounted shooting. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| Depends on the horse I guess. It sure bothers our horses and the dogs. I hate the sudden loud noise, too. I have noticed if I ride in the middle of the day, the horses are not too bad, but if I try riding while they are shooting, then, yes they are spookier. Of course, my horses are only exposed to gun shots during dove season, if they shot at the house year round they probably wouldn't have a problem. |
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 Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | Just out of Curiosity, what caliber of guns are we speaking of? We were recently purchasing a gun and was told that a .22 has a higher pitch that horses don't tend to do well with. I'm no mounted shooter or anything, so not sure what is typically used, but that's just what we were told. |
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Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| ~BINGO~ - 2017-03-01 10:49 AM
Just out of Curiosity, what caliber of guns are we speaking of? We were recently purchasing a gun and was told that a .22 has a higher pitch that horses don't tend to do well with. I'm no mounted shooter or anything, so not sure what is typically used, but that's just what we were told.
.22 I believe. ... they seem to have a whole arsenal over there and maybe an unlimited supply of ammo! They shoot targets. This just started recently so the horses aren't use to it... I can barely get him to walk near that side of the pasture, even when they aren't shooting, he just knows that's where it is. We did get caught off guard the other day and they started shooting right when I was walking by. He jolted left and I went right, I recovered and stayed on, thank goodness! But I really need to desensitize this horse! They aren't slowing down and I can't move. Maybe I can try the cotton balls in ears trick we use to use on my jumpers in loud crowds . |
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Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| BS Hauler - 2017-03-01 9:50 AM
The gun noise should not bother him. How do you think that people get horses to do mounted shooting.
At this rate, my horse would flunk out of mounted shooting school. |
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 Ms. Poutability
Posts: 2362
Location: In my own world | I don't know if it's the feed or not. But I will tel you that my mare started acting very spooky. Way out of the norm for her. I took her to Oakridge Equine and they said she had some neuro issues. Treated her for EPM and she calmed back down. |
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Veteran
Posts: 276
| What is the rest of your feeding program like? How much and what kind of hay do you feed? Is your horse on pasture or dry lot or stall?
How often do you ride? I'm sure many will disagree, but unless you are using your horse very frequently, riding several days per week, if not every day, he probably doesn't need all that grain. Try less grain and more forage, pasture if you can, or hay. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 678
Location: Canada | Yes your feed can affect attitude. I have one that is sweet as pie and quiet enough for a kid but if you give her grain she is wide eyed, spooky and crazy. Two days on some concentrates and she's a very different horse. We have her on a cool energy program with ulcer prevention and it works well for her but it took us a while to find a feed plan that didn't make her crazy.
If you like how he looks on the Omega Force ask your feed dealer if they have a comparable feed that won't make him as hot. |
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Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| SpaceCowboy - 2017-03-01 11:18 AM
What is the rest of your feeding program like? How much and what kind of hay do you feed? Is your horse on pasture or dry lot or stall?
How often do you ride? I'm sure many will disagree, but unless you are using your horse very frequently, riding several days per week, if not every day, he probably doesn't need all that grain. Try less grain and more forage, pasture if you can, or hay.
They are turned out majority of the time on pasture.. nothing special.. with a roundbale available, again, nothing special quality wise... they get brought in 2x a day for a flake of alfalfa (good quality) and he gets 2lbs of the omega force am/pm.. alfalfa flake is just once a day.... he also gets 1oz of forco in his grain.. I agree with you on him probably not needing much grain while he's not in a lot of work, right now he's ridden 2-3 times a week... however I plan on riding daily starting next week, today was my last day on a job so I'll have the time now to put the wet saddle pads. He's just been so goofy since they started shooting. It's like he's just looking for something to spook at lately. We've sacked him out before, probably needs it again and we've tarped him too |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 898
Location: Idaho | I too just started feeding Blue bonnet about a month an a half ago!! Except I feed BB Intensify, granted my gelding one will get 1 lb a day as I mainly use it as a health benefit and dressing for his Formula One. Honestly, he has never acted better. His cool and calm and collected, even at competitions. However the one thing I have noticed is that he is a bit more gassy then usual. I have also noticed he is started to paw when he is getting cinched up, and he has never done that before! So I am thinking it is irritating his hind gut. I spoke with my vet and he said that BB has a lot of yeast in it to help with digestion, so he suggested a probiotic to help and something with saccharomyces in it.
But yes, feed can definitely have an impact! I used to feed my guy COB, and woo, which was high on starch! He would get so flighty and stupid. Once I took him off of it, about a week later he began to turn back into his calm, relaxed self.
Maybe you should look into Intensify? And maybe feed less?
Edited by DashNDustem 2017-03-01 12:36 PM
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | Imo..your horse is getting way to much grain for his work load....your basically feeding him 6 pounds of sugar. .what do you expect....cut out all grain..good hay and a mineral / salt block would probably be plenty.....i wont say anything on the tarping.....m |
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Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| mruggles - 2017-03-01 12:35 PM
Imo..your horse is getting way to much grain for his work load....your basically feeding him 6 pounds of sugar. .what do you expect....cut out all grain..good hay and a mineral / salt block would probably be plenty.....i wont say anything on the tarping.....m
6lbs of sugar? He's only getting a total of 4lbs of omega force, I don't think it's High in sugar at all. He was on 6lbs of the nature's blend performance before and it's a blend of oats, cracked corn, veggie oil and a pellet. His behavior was fine on that, but then again, they started shooting guns right about the time I put him on omega force .... I'll add that he's been on omega force before, a few years ago and he was totally normal. I'm going to cut his portion in half and up his hay in the evenings and see how he does on that for a while. |
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Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | want2chase3 - 2017-03-02 11:49 AM
mruggles - 2017-03-01 12:35 PM
Imo..your horse is getting way to much grain for his work load....your basically feeding him 6 pounds of sugar. .what do you expect....cut out all grain..good hay and a mineral / salt block would probably be plenty.....i wont say anything on the tarping.....m
6lbs of sugar? He's only getting a total of 4lbs of omega force, I don't think it's High in sugar at all. He was on 6lbs of the nature's blend performance before and it's a blend of oats, cracked corn, veggie oil and a pellet. His behavior was fine on that, but then again, they started shooting guns right about the time I put him on omega force .... I'll add that he's been on omega force before, a few years ago and he was totally normal. I'm going to cut his portion in half and up his hay in the evenings and see how he does on that for a while.
In your 1st post you said 4lbs and then in another comment you said 2lbs..so im guessing your mixing it together....so 4 +2=6....and imo anything that has added this and that is mostly sugar...and you did ask for opinions that just happens to be mine....:)...m |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | want2chase3 - 2017-02-28 5:22 PM I recently put my normally laid back, almost lazy gelding back on Bluebonnet Omega Force. He was on the nature's blend performance formula for a while and I just wasn't impressed with it and how much I needed to feed. Well, he's always been a little spooky, nothing out of control but he'd spook at stupid things every now n then, but he's gotten so much worse and only thing I've changed was the grain. He only gets 4lbs a day of it. He was like a total hot head the last time I rode him, prancing and spooking at every little thing... now, it doesn't help my next door neighbors have started shooting their guns every afternoon behind my pasture where I ride... I'm chalking some of that up to his change as well... but I was wondering if that feed could also be contributing to his extra spook and nervous energy... I was watching him the other day and he was watching something in the bushes and then he spooked so hard and tried to turn and run and he tripped or slipped and fell down all the way, rolled over and jumped up and took off bucking like a fool. I'm about to go buy more feed and I'm thinking maybe this isn't the right feed for him.. I don't really want to go back to the nature's blend again, it's really high in starch IMO but that never seemed to affect him. He looks fantastic on the omega force but I can't deal with this extra garbage from him..
Omega Force is 5% sugar and 10% starch and that is a great feed I would feed less, but I think with all the shooting and your horse cant see whats going on is what is making him so nervous, when the ding dongs start shooting off their guns out here it makes me a bit nervous, but my horses have gotton use to it. But since your horse is out on pasture and the new spring grass is coming up and the new grass is loaded with sugar so I would cut down on the feed, I have, Bluebonnet is the only feed I trust and like. |
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Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| mruggles - 2017-03-01 12:59 PM
want2chase3 - 2017-03-02 11:49 AM
mruggles - 2017-03-01 12:35 PM
Imo..your horse is getting way to much grain for his work load....your basically feeding him 6 pounds of sugar. .what do you expect....cut out all grain..good hay and a mineral / salt block would probably be plenty.....i wont say anything on the tarping.....m
6lbs of sugar? He's only getting a total of 4lbs of omega force, I don't think it's High in sugar at all. He was on 6lbs of the nature's blend performance before and it's a blend of oats, cracked corn, veggie oil and a pellet. His behavior was fine on that, but then again, they started shooting guns right about the time I put him on omega force .... I'll add that he's been on omega force before, a few years ago and he was totally normal. I'm going to cut his portion in half and up his hay in the evenings and see how he does on that for a while.
In your 1st post you said 4lbs and then in another comment you said 2lbs..so im guessing your mixing it together....so 4 +2=6....and imo anything that has added this and that is mostly sugar...and you did ask for opinions that just happens to be mine....: )...m
I'm sorry, I meant 2lbs am, 2lbs pm... totaling 4lbs a day. I did ask and want all kinds of opinions on this because I'm totally frustrated lol! I'm missing my lazy horse! |
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Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| Southtxponygirl - 2017-03-01 1:25 PM
want2chase3 - 2017-02-28 5:22 PM I recently put my normally laid back, almost lazy gelding back on Bluebonnet Omega Force. He was on the nature's blend performance formula for a while and I just wasn't impressed with it and how much I needed to feed. Well, he's always been a little spooky, nothing out of control but he'd spook at stupid things every now n then, but he's gotten so much worse and only thing I've changed was the grain. He only gets 4lbs a day of it. He was like a total hot head the last time I rode him, prancing and spooking at every little thing... now, it doesn't help my next door neighbors have started shooting their guns every afternoon behind my pasture where I ride... I'm chalking some of that up to his change as well... but I was wondering if that feed could also be contributing to his extra spook and nervous energy... I was watching him the other day and he was watching something in the bushes and then he spooked so hard and tried to turn and run and he tripped or slipped and fell down all the way, rolled over and jumped up and took off bucking like a fool. I'm about to go buy more feed and I'm thinking maybe this isn't the right feed for him.. I don't really want to go back to the nature's blend again, it's really high in starch IMO but that never seemed to affect him. He looks fantastic on the omega force but I can't deal with this extra garbage from him..
Omega Force is 5% sugar and 10% starch and that is a great feed I would feed less, but I think with all the shooting and your horse cant see whats going on is what is making him so nervous, when the ding dongs start shooting off their guns out here it makes me a bit nervous, but my horses have gotton use to it. But since your horse is out on pasture and the new spring grass is coming up and the new grass is loaded with sugar so I would cut down on the feed, I have, Bluebonnet is the only feed I trust and like.
I absolutely love bluebonnet, and I'm so glad I can buy it locally now! I think I'll just cut him back to 2lbs a day .... I believe the max is 4lbs on the omega force. . I could be wrong... heck I might even cut to 1lb till I think he needs more. Yep, they are out there pigging on the grass coming up ignoring their roundbale. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | want2chase3 - 2017-03-01 1:33 PM Southtxponygirl - 2017-03-01 1:25 PM want2chase3 - 2017-02-28 5:22 PM I recently put my normally laid back, almost lazy gelding back on Bluebonnet Omega Force. He was on the nature's blend performance formula for a while and I just wasn't impressed with it and how much I needed to feed. Well, he's always been a little spooky, nothing out of control but he'd spook at stupid things every now n then, but he's gotten so much worse and only thing I've changed was the grain. He only gets 4lbs a day of it. He was like a total hot head the last time I rode him, prancing and spooking at every little thing... now, it doesn't help my next door neighbors have started shooting their guns every afternoon behind my pasture where I ride... I'm chalking some of that up to his change as well... but I was wondering if that feed could also be contributing to his extra spook and nervous energy... I was watching him the other day and he was watching something in the bushes and then he spooked so hard and tried to turn and run and he tripped or slipped and fell down all the way, rolled over and jumped up and took off bucking like a fool. I'm about to go buy more feed and I'm thinking maybe this isn't the right feed for him.. I don't really want to go back to the nature's blend again, it's really high in starch IMO but that never seemed to affect him. He looks fantastic on the omega force but I can't deal with this extra garbage from him.. Omega Force is 5% sugar and 10% starch and that is a great feed I would feed less, but I think with all the shooting and your horse cant see whats going on is what is making him so nervous, when the ding dongs start shooting off their guns out here it makes me a bit nervous, but my horses have gotton use to it. But since your horse is out on pasture and the new spring grass is coming up and the new grass is loaded with sugar so I would cut down on the feed, I have, Bluebonnet is the only feed I trust and like. I absolutely love bluebonnet, and I'm so glad I can buy it locally now! I think I'll just cut him back to 2lbs a day .... I believe the max is 4lbs on the omega force. . I could be wrong... heck I might even cut to 1lb till I think he needs more. Yep, they are out there pigging on the grass coming up ignoring their roundbale.
Edited by Southtxponygirl 2017-03-01 3:29 PM
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Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| Makes sense. I may start stalling them up at night |
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Veteran
Posts: 276
| I know our grass has started to come on here in the last couple weeks too, which is more nutrients for them. Just a suggestion, but I would cut the grain out completely or at least by a lot. Full feed grass hay, plus some pasture grass, plus a flake of alfalfa and a little grain, should be plenty to maintain even the most used performance horses. Our horses get full feed prairie hay and two flakes dairy quality alfalfa morning and night and they are fit and have plenty of weight and energy. They are ridden 6-7 days a week and hauled/competed on at least once if not 2-3 times per week. You could try it and see how it goes. My guess is that is a LOT of energy going in with not much means to burn it, which gives you the change in attitude.
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Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| SpaceCowboy - 2017-03-01 2:26 PM
I know our grass has started to come on here in the last couple weeks too, which is more nutrients for them. Just a suggestion, but I would cut the grain out completely or at least by a lot. Full feed grass hay, plus some pasture grass, plus a flake of alfalfa and a little grain, should be plenty to maintain even the most used performance horses. Our horses get full feed prairie hay and two flakes dairy quality alfalfa morning and night and they are fit and have plenty of weight and energy. They are ridden 6-7 days a week and hauled/competed on at least once if not 2-3 times per week. You could try it and see how it goes. My guess is that is a LOT of energy going in with not much means to burn it, which gives you the change in attitude.
I didn't even factor in the pasture grass coming in. Didn't think about it! But it's making sense... seems like overnight we went from dormant to bright green out there.
Thanks for the replies |
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 Expert
Posts: 2258
| I couldn't see the label on it but it is fairly low in sugar and starch it listed at 5% sugar and 10% starch I think . Does it have any soy? I have one who is a total nut if she gets any soy. She is never super quiet but if soy is in her feed she turns into the devil. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | cutnrunqhmt - 2017-03-01 4:01 PM I couldn't see the label on it but it is fairly low in sugar and starch it listed at 5% sugar and 10% starch I think . Does it have any soy? I have one who is a total nut if she gets any soy. She is never super quiet but if soy is in her feed she turns into the devil.
The label on the Omega Force? |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Omega Force is very concentrated and was designed to be fed in smaller amounts then the traditional feeds. I didnt see any Soy in it. |
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Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| I just looked at the label, there is soybean meal and soybean oil in it. I know my horse doesn't have a problem with soy though... I've fed him soy before. I rode this evening and other than a plastic bag stuck to the barb wire flapping in the wind he was pretty well behaved and focused on our workout. No shooting today, it's been a few days since I've heard it. I only gave him 1lb tonight and I'm keeping them stalled tonight with a net full of hay. Riding thru the pasture I hadn't realized how thick the grass was coming in. |
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | want2chase3 - 2017-03-01 6:16 PM I just looked at the label, there is soybean meal and soybean oil in it. I know my horse doesn't have a problem with soy though... I've fed him soy before. I rode this evening and other than a plastic bag stuck to the barb wire flapping in the wind he was pretty well behaved and focused on our workout. No shooting today, it's been a few days since I've heard it. I only gave him 1lb tonight and I'm keeping them stalled tonight with a net full of hay. Riding thru the pasture I hadn't realized how thick the grass was coming in.
Glad to hear he rode better tonight, I just bet between the guns going off and the good grass coming in had to do with him being silly.. I guess I over looked the soy, but the soy I have no problem with either.  |
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Expert
Posts: 2258
| Southtxponygirl - 2017-03-01 4:04 PM
cutnrunqhmt - 2017-03-01 4:01 PM I couldn't see the label on it but it is fairly low in sugar and starch it listed at 5% sugar and 10% starch I think . Does it have any soy? I have one who is a total nut if she gets any soy. She is never super quiet but if soy is in her feed she turns into the devil.
The label on the Omega Force?
For what ever reason I was having trouble getting to the labels so I never saw it. It is a feed we don't have in our area. |
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Expert
Posts: 2258
| want2chase3 - 2017-03-01 6:16 PM
I just looked at the label, there is soybean meal and soybean oil in it. I know my horse doesn't have a problem with soy though... I've fed him soy before. I rode this evening and other than a plastic bag stuck to the barb wire flapping in the wind he was pretty well behaved and focused on our workout. No shooting today, it's been a few days since I've heard it. I only gave him 1lb tonight and I'm keeping them stalled tonight with a net full of hay. Riding thru the pasture I hadn't realized how thick the grass was coming in.
I only have one who we have issues with soy. I fought her goofy attitude for a year finally made a feed change and she is better. Glad your horse was doing better . |
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Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| Southtxponygirl - 2017-03-01 6:25 PM
want2chase3 - 2017-03-01 6:16 PM I just looked at the label, there is soybean meal and soybean oil in it. I know my horse doesn't have a problem with soy though... I've fed him soy before. I rode this evening and other than a plastic bag stuck to the barb wire flapping in the wind he was pretty well behaved and focused on our workout. No shooting today, it's been a few days since I've heard it. I only gave him 1lb tonight and I'm keeping them stalled tonight with a net full of hay. Riding thru the pasture I hadn't realized how thick the grass was coming in.
Glad to hear he rode better tonight, I just bet between the guns going off and the good grass coming in had to do with him being silly.. I guess I over looked the soy, but the soy I have no problem with either.
He was a good boy! I made him stand by flapping plastic bag for a good while till he understood it wasn't going to kill him and that I wouldn't let it kill him lol! Then we did some figure 8s in the "danger zone" he was a little nervous but least I had him focused on me instead of what was behind those trees |
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Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| I just found out this evening that our other neighbors had a 3 day old calf killed by a pack of coyotes last week... we share a fence line as well.. could be another reason why he's been a little on edge. |
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Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| Well, he was back to his ol normal lazy self today when I rode him. He didn't even give the plastic bag a 2nd look lol! I lowered his feed last night and kept them stalled till after breakfast this morning. Granted I haven't heard any shooting going on this whole week, maybe they ran out.  |
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| want2chase3 - 2017-02-28 3:22 PM I recently put my normally laid back, almost lazy gelding back on Bluebonnet Omega Force. He was on the nature's blend performance formula for a while and I just wasn't impressed with it and how much I needed to feed. Well, he's always been a little spooky, nothing out of control but he'd spook at stupid things every now n then, but he's gotten so much worse and only thing I've changed was the grain. He only gets 4lbs a day of it. He was like a total hot head the last time I rode him, prancing and spooking at every little thing... now, it doesn't help my next door neighbors have started shooting their guns every afternoon behind my pasture where I ride... I'm chalking some of that up to his change as well... but I was wondering if that feed could also be contributing to his extra spook and nervous energy... I was watching him the other day and he was watching something in the bushes and then he spooked so hard and tried to turn and run and he tripped or slipped and fell down all the way, rolled over and jumped up and took off bucking like a fool. I'm about to go buy more feed and I'm thinking maybe this isn't the right feed for him.. I don't really want to go back to the nature's blend again, it's really high in starch IMO but that never seemed to affect him. He looks fantastic on the omega force but I can't deal with this extra garbage from him..
IMO - the issues your experiencing sound like a textbook case of magnesium deficiency. Iron competes with mag for absorption so I would be mindful of this when selecting any feed/supplement that has added iron. The Omega Force has 300ppm of iron, plus uses Mag Oxide which is said to be the least absorbed form of mag (only a 4% rate for humans)-citrate and malate forms are much better choices for absorption. Horses use their magnesium stores for any "stress" so you may be seeing the symptoms show up now because for every shot fired, your guy is using magnesium and he has run dry. |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | It IS springtime; he's probably feeling good.
Although if that feed has a lot of sugar....we'll there you go. |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | Chandler has pond guns going during the cold months to help with the blue herons and water turkeys. And of course one of them is in our pasture. It took our herd several weeks to get used to the gun (it's set to go off every few minutes for three consecutive shots, from about 7:30 am to 7:30 pm), but now they will graze right up to it and eat. I feel for you, because I can't imagine trying to ride when all that is going on. Hope you get it all worked out soon. |
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I need some input on feed & behavior