After all this I finally figured it out with my barn owners help. Thank god!
She normally was so quiet except for every once in a while. I just couldn’t figure it out. Talking to barn owner last night she asked what I fed for supplements. I feed a vitamin mineral and weight builder by Farnam. I added weight builder a month ago. I guess it’s just taken this long to have full effect. Two ounces a day and she’s a nut. I am pulling her off ASAP. I am so happy. She is just normally so quiet I was mystified. Never underestimate the power of supplements/feed on a TB. I think they are super sensitive to feed. Small concentrated feed seems to make her insane. I will have to post on the eventing forum to see what others feed. Hay alone won’t do it.
[QUOTE=meupatdoes;6959585]
Do you take regular lessons on this horse?
It can make all the difference.[/QUOTE]
I do take lessons. Every other week.
The other thing I figured out is I am not afraid. My lesson lady pointed out all the things I had been doing with no problems. Including cantering on trail. My fear has only been lately. It’s her sending me signals she is high as a kite. I guess I have self preservation. I can sense when she’s not ready to work and high. It was making me afraid. Her normal disposition doesn’t make me afraid. Damn weight builder!
Try Quiessence. Simkie has an OTTB mare who was very hard to work with under saddle and she’s found that Quiessence has helped enormously.
If you’ve already cut out the weight builder, I’ve had really good success with Triple Crown Senior.
Ahhh, the joys of Storm Cats 
Yes, they are “opinionated” and have their moments, but if they have good knees then you will have an incredible horse with a ton of heart and determination. The problem comes with channeling that heart and determination into a controllable position.
First, SCs and most TBs thrive on routine and they get into their groove and get all out of sorts when taken out of that routine. I really do not like lunging most SCs and it seems to give them the idea they can get a case of the sillies. I either put them on the hot walker for 20 mins or hand walk them (I also ask them to do patterns, step over poles, disengage the hindend/front end, get that brain warmed up) I then ride then tack them up, walk the shedrow for 5 mins or a few laps, then once I’m mounted we trot for about 20 mins. While trotting I ask for circles, changes of rein, serpentines, figure 8’s, clover leafs, trotting poles, just a chance for them to find a rhythm and get their bodies and mind working together. THEN we start working on our goal for that ride, then I like to finish them off with a nice hack.
I’ve had 1 or 2 OTTBs than needed a little hand gallop to get those cobwebs cleared, but most after a blow settle down. Again, once you establish a routine with a TB try to stick to it and change it gradually if possible.
I would look really close at the feed tub, most TBs cannot handle sweet feed and I’ve had great luck with changing feed and putting all horses on ulcer meds for a minimum of 30 days.
Good luck, with Storm Cat’s passing, all of his babies are now even more special, good luck!!!
Another vote for tc senior. It’s great stuff for the tbs
Hey, just wanted to say here, so glad you found an answer for her behaviour. She does sounds like a nice mare, I do hope you get to enjoy her!
[QUOTE=Idrivetrotters;6961278]
Ahhh, the joys of Storm Cats Yes, they are “opinionated” and have their moments, but if they have good knees then you will have an incredible horse with a ton of heart and determination. The problem comes with channeling that heart and determination into a controllable position.
First, SCs and most TBs thrive on routine and they get into their groove and get all out of sorts when taken out of that routine. I really do not like lunging most SCs and it seems to give them the idea they can get a case of the sillies. I either put them on the hot walker for 20 mins or hand walk them (I also ask them to do patterns, step over poles, disengage the hindend/front end, get that brain warmed up) I then ride then tack them up, walk the shedrow for 5 mins or a few laps, then once I’m mounted we trot for about 20 mins. While trotting I ask for circles, changes of rein, serpentines, figure 8’s, clover leafs, trotting poles, just a chance for them to find a rhythm and get their bodies and mind working together. THEN we start working on our goal for that ride, then I like to finish them off with a nice hack.
I’ve had 1 or 2 OTTBs than needed a little hand gallop to get those cobwebs cleared, but most after a blow settle down. Again, once you establish a routine with a TB try to stick to it and change it gradually if possible.
I would look really close at the feed tub, most TBs cannot handle sweet feed and I’ve had great luck with changing feed and putting all horses on ulcer meds for a minimum of 30 days.
Good luck, with Storm Cat’s passing, all of his babies are now even more special, good luck!!![/QUOTE]
This is my mare exactly. I need a routine, if I change the routine suddenly she gets “opinionated”. I always warmed up slowly, did the big trot around with all kinds of circles, figure 8’s,ect. Cantered a few small circles and if all went well then a laps around. THEN we hacked out. I reversed it one day to hack out first and she was not bad but clearly I didn’t follow her routine and I shook her up. She does have the big heart, and totally bonded to me. I am happy to report we actually just did a lovely ride on Sunday out and about with all kinds of scary objects and challenges and she did her normal HO HUM. Still energetic but nothing like what I faced before. So happy!
