Some background–I’ve owned my OTTB for 3 years. He’s currently 14 and came off the track at 9. For the two years post track he was reportedly in a pasture. I’m an experienced amateur, he’s the second OTTB I’ve restarted. Due to family and work constraints, it’s been slow going on getting him started in his new career path, eventing (slow is fine with me). My goal with him is to get to novice, max. We did a couple of low key CTs and dressage shows last year. I’ve also taken him off property to school and for lessons. Mostly I just want to ride for fun, and lately it has been anything but that!! He’s mostly a puppy dog on the ground and u/s too. Definitely a push ride, until he isn’t. We can be going along with a loop in the rein, not a care in the world, and then BAM. He’ll spook and balk at something. Usually things he sees EVERYDAY! Like my dog! I also don’t have an arena and ride in a field between my barn and house. There is a clump of trees and a fire pit. These things are apparently terrifying, although like I said, he sees them daily. I’ve made a point of not fussing or getting upset when he spooks and encouraging and praising him when he “calmly” walks past. This is a daily ritual. Lately however the spooks are getting more violent, including bucking and bolting. Yesterday he reared. He has never reared with me before. It’s like after his spook, game is on, he tightens up and goes in to powder keg mode. If ask him to go forward, he blows. Sometimes I can get him back down, sometimes not. Yesterday I ended up getting off after a few tense walk circles and put him on the longe. Where he lunged and kicked and tried to bolt. After trotting two semi-civilized circles, I called it a day…ugh. I’m so frustrated. I love him dearly, but I cannot afford to get injured. I’m riding to relax at the end of a long day and it’s just causing me stress! I’ve treated for ulcers, he’s on a twice daily GI supplement. He lives in a pasture with tons of grazing with other geldings. The vet has checked his eyes, his back his hocks have been injected. He has seen a chiropractor and his saddle is fitted to him. He also on a magnesium supplement. Anything I’m missing!? TIA! :no: 
(cross posted)
i would be x-raying his back… dollars to donuts he’s backsore. could be maybe the saddle doesn’t fit as well as you think it does, maybe it’s KS, maybe he has old SI trauma, or SI injury from being crooked… could be he rolled funny on a rock, tweaked it with more work, or just plain uncomfortable in the saddle set up you have now. BTDT, got the t-shirt - horses don’t lie about being hurt.
IME they don’t do jekyll & hyde for fun… especially not TBs, who generally love work – until it hurts them.
To preface this my horse is sound and there is nothing pain related. I would rule that out first.
I have a recreational spooker, also a TB. He will spook at nonsense because he is bored. Have you tried making him work past the things he looks at? I cannot trust mine on my own property at certain places on a loose rein/casual stroll or I will get a spook spin and run. And he is 18 going on 19 so I doubt he will change.
How relevant! My guy’s 12, and by his looks, you’d think he was a fieldhunter rather than a retired racehorse.
He had six starts in 2 years, then retired at 5 to live his life in large pastures. He’s never really had a bad day. When he came to me, I contacted his breeder/owner to let them know he was fine, fat, and sassy. His reply, oh yeah, I remember him, we named him due to his attitude.
That name? Justice Rambo.
Which I changed to Ferdinand due to his preference for shade trees and flowers.
Months go by when he’s Ferdinand, a sweet, sensitive soul. A willing partner. A wonderful dressage pal, sometimes enthusiastic jumper, fantastic trail boss. But once summer and hot weather roll in, he reverts to Justice Rambo. His move, leap forward, attempt to bolt, then buck. With this week’s weather in the low 90s, he’s been full on Rambo.
During Wednesday’s lesson, my instructor, who knows the horse well, had me yell at him after the first incident, then make him go back to work. Did that. Things got some better. So at the halt, I asked for a turn on the forehand to make him cross behind. BA-BAM! He bucked at the halt. More growling and verbal threats. All’s forgiven, let’s try that move again, shall we. Suddenly he understands move from the leg.
Main takeaway, he has to work. He can’t decide to use his brawn against me (he’s quite big, I’m quite small), but neither can I hold his antics against him by tensing my body.
FWIW, we have addressed some hock issues (injections, back shoes, stretching before rides). The vet has checked his back which is fine, he’s had both saddles fitted. So, I agree pain can be an issue, and most be looked into first thing, but sometimes, some horses can be expressive in their opinions.
Definitely rule out pain first. If it’s not that, my guess is that he’s getting overfed and underworked - which happens when the rider has a busy life.
My gelding is a pretty chill dude but if he’s not in regular, consistent work heaven help you for the first ride back after a few days off. Suddenly everything is terrifying! Seriously, he will spook at rocks on edge of arena. Or standards. Or rails on the ground. I just try to ignore it and keep him working. My mantra is ‘bad horses work harder’. By day 2, he’s improved. Day 3 he’s over wasting energy being dumb. He is a gigantic beast but the thing I have going for me is that he’s not very fast so I can feel what he’s going to do and be prepared. The thing that drives me truly insane is that if I lead him past these ‘scary’ things, he’s not afraid but if I’m on him and we’re working, suddenly he’s never seen anything so terrifying. :rolleyes:
I totally get time constraints with riding - that’s why mine gets more days off in a row than he needs. Can you at least lunge him for a few minutes on the days you don’t ride so he’s getting some exercise? If you’re a little worried about his antics, I would lunge before you ride too and try to get some of the stupid out before you get on.
Are you in an area where Lyme is common? Behavioral changes can be a symptom of Lyme. Definitely rule out pain first!
All the above advice is solid, & the advice on the other thread. Additionally, you could consider having your vet check for respiratory problems. I’ve known a couple with warm-weather seasonal bad behavior which was eventually attributed to breathing/oxygen problems. Medication fixed one; the other is on one of the SmartPak respiratory supplements I believe, and is much improved.
Thank you all! I will ask the vet about Lyme as well, although it’s not prevalent in this area I’ve been told.
I have one who gets like that if he is given alfalfa. Didn’t used to be that way but he got worse about it over time. Others can react to the sugars in the grass. So tend to be bad spring and fall in this area.
Or he may may just need more work. But the extreme reactions just sound like pain. I have one I’ve treated for ulcers…and even though he is on supplements and the right diet…they keep coming back. Bugger may end up living on Gastro guard.
I agree with ruling out pain (which it sounds like you’ve been working on), testing for Lyme, and treating for ulcers. How did you treat the ulcers previously? With Ulcergard? Because that will not address the hind gut, and may even make it worse if the problem is there. Experiment with sucralfate, ranitidine, or a combination of the two and see how that helps. My guy also likes a handful of mint flavored Tums before rides; they seem to calm his belly. Lyme can increase spooking behavior and can also impact vision, contributing to more spooking.
It’s difficult to make any riding or training recommendations without witnessing it first hand, but I’ve found a middle ground been ignoring the spooking and making them work is usually the most productive. Also, if there is pain present, especially belly pain, escalating the situation will quickly escalate the pain. I’ve had good luck with employing the hands forward, move forward, if they run, make them circle approach. Basically it ends up being on them to stay upright and balanced so they focus on that instead of the “scary” thing, and they have no reason to “blame” you if you aren’t yanking or banging on them.
Good luck!!
I just went through this with my TB over the spring/summer. My normally wonderful horse was an absolute nut case starting April. Same thing as yours. All is fine and then BAM I have whiplash. It was so bad at one point, it wasn’t even safe to ride him no less fun. With my horse, treating for ulcers and changing his food to an ulcer prevention regimen did the trick. Just yesterday, we rode around calm as could be in gale force winds in a field I could not even get him near a month ago. You’ve already treated for ulcers, so my next bet is Lyme. Can I ask how did you treat the ulcers?
If it’s neither of those, you might just have a horse who likes to work hard or be told what to do all the time. The smarter ones tend to grow concerned or make their own decisions if they know their rider is tuned out. Next time you’re walking along on a loose rein, (if you dare to do so at this point) pay attention to his ears. This may sound silly, but stay with me on this. Think about him and only him and watch his ears. They will most likely stay forward. Switch your thoughts to anything not to do with him, your shopping list, your job, etc. If he’s the type who wants you there 24/7, one or both of his ears will turn around toward you. It’s him saying, “hello back there. where did you go?” Then switch back to him and see if they go forward again. I swear, the clever ones know if you’re tuned out or not. If he is one of those, he either needs much more stimulation or more hand holding when you’re in the saddle. I know you like to go out on relaxing rides, but you may need to put him to work for a good 20 or 30 minutes in the ring before heading out for some down time?
Mine was a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde also. After a bad lesson or clinic I’d say-" He’s not always like this" to the friends who said I didn’t look like I was having fun. UNTIL… I started him on Purina Outlast!! Since June he has been a new horse- Dressage score went from a 52 in May to a 23.9 in Sept with the same judge. AND I can warm up for show jumping now! I had him on countless other products- smartcalm, Mg of all brands, Omneprazole, Nupafeed, Rescue remedy, etc etc. I have my good horse all the time now 
But I did go through back xrays and lots of groundwork prior to finding my miracle!!
Good luck!!
Thank You all! My vet was out this evening and was at a loss after I told him about all I’ve already tried. He palpated his back again, and all was negative except for a little sensitivity around the withers which I’ve been aware of. He’s already on Outlast after being on ulcergard. I’m starting to think the problem may be in part to lack of a steady schedule. He was a lot better when I was able to ride him consistently. There’s just no way I can ride him everyday for the time being :(. Would lunging help? He’s a smart boy, and apparently needs more from me. I love this giant goober and want to do right by him :love-struck:.
I had one that turned out to have GI tract cancer. The abdominal pain was the source of his behaviour. Never figured it out till it was too late
Yes…lunging will help. I have one that if he is not in 6-7 days a week work…ugh. First day back after a day or two off…and I put him on a lunge line before getting on him.
Sure longing will help. So would in hand work. Anything that he sees as steady work will do the trick. You’re lucky. He has a fantastic work ethic. He’ll most likely be receptive to whatever you want to teach him.
I know he tries hard to be a good boy. It’s just so deceptive when he starts out quiet and half asleep and then yikes…lol! I will try harder to put him a schedule. I have a lead on a new trainer as well. I think we both need new homework!
Your vet said Lymes is not prevalent in your area, and I don’t know where you are, but I’d still ask for high-level testing for Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, whether your vet thinks they’re in your area or not. This is not about respect or disrespect of your vet, it’s about the health of you horse!
I agree 100% and will add that I’ve had a couple who just must be lunged before riding every time. It’s a PITA if you’re in a hurry but if it makes the difference between bonkers and sanity, well… it is what it is…
Also, I would NOT end any session with bad behavior so if he is bolting and kicking out on the lunge, lunge his butt until he is calm and submissive.
I have a TB who can be prone at times to erratic behavior. I started to get very nervous about riding him and he knew it. Thoughts would randomly pop into my head dealing with the athletic things I knew he was capable of doing and I became a more timid rider.
In addition to the suggestions above, I would highly recommend Rescue Remedy for you if you get anxious before riding him.
I use the pastilles ( no alcohol in them and they are the consistency of gummi bears). I have found that it doesn’t affect my mind as much as it allows my body to relax instead of tensing up. I’m turn, my horses behavior has been much better as well.
It might be worth a try!
