I'm at my wits end- need help with a super-reactive horse

[Real_Rush]

Back in June, I adopted a 10 year old thoroughbred mare from a reputable, well-known rescue. I was able to ride her before making my decision, and she was an angel. I was told she is sensitive to new things, and sometimes just needs a few seconds to look at something and will then carry on like nothing’s wrong. Please note this mare never raced, I don’t think she even went to the track, she was simply used as a broodmare. (She’s micro-chipped but not tattooed)

Since bringing her to the barn I’m boarding my other horses at, she has only gotten more and more reactive to everything, to the point of the barn manager doesn’t even want to handle her without a chain, or even by herself. Go to take her fly mask off? As soon as she hears the velcro even beginning to rip, no matter how slow you go, she freaks out and flies backwards. Every single time. We put her in a small corral for a couple days when she first arrived so she could settle in and touch noses with horses across the fence. One small section of the fenceline had a strand of hotwire, and of course at some point she got zapped. Now anytime she’s standing near a fence, if she hears a noise of any kind (another horse kicking a rock while walking, hitting a ground pole with a foot, you name it) she freaks out and flies backward. The first time the farrier came, she was an absolute basket case- kicking out and cow-kicking at the farrier. She’s convinced the farm’s resident potbelly pig is a demon from hell and absolutely will not go anywhere near it. If I try to walk her past an area where she’s seen the pig in the past, she’s snorting the entire time and sometimes will just plant her feet and refuse to move.

I started her on a dose and a half of SP’s Smart Calm Ultra soon after bringing her home and noticing her increasing reactiveness. So far it hasn’t done jack squat to help her nerves. To add to everything, she started cribbing from being so stressed out. I’ve tried everything I can think of to work with her and make her feel more comfortable, but even doing things repeatedly, like making her walk past a scary object several times every single damn day, she is just not getting better. It’s always stop and balk or immediately fly backwards as fast as she can. Today when I went out, she still came right up to me, but didn’t even want to leave the pasture. I guess its the one place she feels safe, is out with her buddies. (she much prefers outside to being in a stall, so I’ve been happy to oblige.)

She was absolutely not like this at the rescue. When I initially arrived, they thought I was interested in a couple of geldings, and all the mares had already been turned out, so they couldn’t have drugged her or anything in anticipation. She’s a beautiful, sweetheart mare- when she’s not freaking out over something. She’s quiet standing tied or in crossties, quiet for fly spray, and loooves being curried and brushed. But as much as she’s having complete meltdowns, I’ve been too hesitant to ride her (I ain’t getting any younger, and my body reminds me of this daily). But I also feel like I’m failing her by not figuring out how to help her. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions I can try, or should I just take this as a sign, take her back and walk away?

For anyone interested, she gets 1.5 scoops of the new TC Diamond Senior from TSC twice a day. In addition to the SmartCalm Ultra, I had her on Smart GI Ultra for the first few weeks she was here, MSM, vitamin E and Vermont Blend. Even though I’ve never had a horse react to MSM, I remembered people posting on here about their horses’ adverse reactions to it, so took her off it- no change. As stated, she’s currently out 24/7 in a drylot (the barn/farm is new and they’re not done fencing in all their pastures) and has free access to orchard grass hay that also has a bit of alfalfa mixed in it from the field it’s cut on. Help?!

[4horses]

I would try ulcer medication. Get some nexium and give 3 capsules a day for 2 weeks. See if it makes any difference in her behavior. More spooky then normal always means ulcers unless proven otherwise.

[luvmyhackney]

Give that sweet baby 30 days of ulcerguard or Nexium but I’ve had big behavior results with 1 week of ulcerguard and using this supplement:

https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=52001dbe-a5e6-4aca-9327-d2bdd239fe4b

[LCDR]

Have you had her eyes checked yet?

I can absolutely sympathize since I also have sn untattooed TB mare with a very similar behavioral history, She is a real sweetheart now, but it has taken years of steady, patient work with the right trainer and tons of consistent positive reinforcement to get there.

[Jealoushe]

I would x ray the back and check for Kissing spine.

[Amberley]

It could be the pig- some never get over their fear and just stay in a state of panic all the time. Outdoor pigs are rare in the USA, this is likely her first time seeing one.

It could also be weird mare-herd dynamics. You could try separating her from the other mares for two weeks. turn her out alone or with some more stand-offish mares and see if she settles.

[beowulf]

I agree about the ulcer medication. What are you doing regarding her nervousness with the pig? Is this pig always present?

I used to work at a barn that had a resident pig. Some horses just could not cope. Quite a few new boarders described as calm were very reactive about it.

It hasn’t been that long of an adjustment period. She may just need more time and some gut support. Is the worker familiar with young or green horses? Are they competent handlers?

I’d start on some Nexium and start pulling her out and feeding her grain near/ around the pig. Just stand there as long as it takes until it’s a non event for her and she gets a meal out of it too. Graze her in hand as much as you can too.

[CBoylen]

What was her turnout situation at the rescue? I do a lot of these former broodmares, and frankly they are the hardest. They are used to being in a herd and hate leaving it. I’ve only had success when they get into a routine of being in a stall during the day and leaving their friends to work.

[tabula_rashah]

Are you in an area where Lyme is prevalent? Being over the top reactive to everything was the biggest cue my mare gave that something was NQR. When we tested her for Lyme, her numbers where off the chart high

[Libby2563]

I agree try ulcer treatment but also that the pig might be a big part of the problem. I boarded my TB out for a month this winter due to weather, and they had a free range pig. I’ve had him for 6 years and he’s never ever been tense, spooky, and unpleasant to ride like he was for that month. Early on he saw the pig trot through the arena (while we were in the barn, and it was going away from him). The rest of the month he was hysterical about the door she disappeared into. Weirdly, he was okay about her being in the aisle outside his stall. I brought him home again and it was like he took a big sigh of relief.

That is the first moment he met her / the last moment before he disintegrated into a trembling mess. I definitely should have planned that introduction better.

[FjordBCRF]

@Real_Rush

She’s convinced the farm’s resident potbelly pig is a demon from hell and absolutely will not go anywhere near it. If I try to walk her past an area where she’s seen the pig in the past, she’s snorting the entire time and sometimes will just plant her feet and refuse to move.

Ill add another voice that the pig may not be helping. When I was in the process of buying Charlie (3yo at the time fjord), his previous owner said that the only thing that EVER got him flustered was when he was being broke to ride and they had to go past a field with big hogs in it. He said the trainer nearly had to get off and hand walk, but he did settle enough to walk past. Fast forward 5 years later, we have a pig at the barn and after I introduced them he is cool with him. The other horses that moved in look at the pig like he’s the devil though!

I will also say, that I do know a couple instances of people adopting through bigger, recognizable rescues only to find the horse they brought home was nothing like the horse they saw at the rescue. Even after a year or two. Giving ample time to settle is important, and I’d definitely echo treating for ulcers and pulling both lyme/epm titers if that’s possible in your area just to rule things out.

[ParadoxFarm]

Just how much turnout time does she get? Maybe try 24/7 for a while. Also, I have had a horse react to MSM, so try cutting that out as a test. Also, 1.5 scoops may just be too much feed for her right now with no work. I know it’s hard to find the balance with TBs of feeding enough to not make them thin versus giving too much with maybe too high of calories, sugar, and/or starch. At 1800 calories per pound, you are likely feeding around 8100 calories per meal. That’s a lot. (I’m lowballing a 1.5 scoop at 3 pounds per scoop.)

[beowulf]

Okay but that pig is awfully cute, what did he have to worry about??

Very short term, my sister needed a place for 3 (meat) pigs. That was when I learned that the five horses I thought I knew very well (having lived on our farm for ~10+ years) had a whole other side to them. I think the whole farm breathed a collective sigh of relief when those piggies went to market.

[GraceLikeRain]

Another on the pig being a really huge issue for a lot of horses. We have feral hogs in our area and often if they have been on a trail you can’t get even the most level headed horse to go down that path.

It respectfully sounds like you haven’t done much to try and address health or environment so I think you’ve got a lot of options on the table. I’d start with ulcer treatment (ideally scoping first) and if the pig isn’t leaving I’d find a new barn

[ParadoxFarm]

I also had a horse at a farm where the barn owner’s kids were involved in 4-H. When they brought the pigs in, it was not pretty. They were out in a paddock with a big feeder that was a round metal thing, like a round-bale-holder sized, and it had flaps on the individual feed compartments. The little pigs were opening and closing those metal flaps like no one’s business. Bang, bang, band. My OTTB mare (off the track maybe a year) was a basket case. It took a good while to get her used to those pigs. Also, she was afraid of the cows. We eventually got her almost nose to nose with one (fence between them), but here legs were shaking.

[steelerino]

Echoing others thoughts it could be the pig. I lived on a property where I had a camper on the back of the 11 acres w/ my horse. The neighbors had cows with a free range pig and when he got rid of his cows the stupid pig moved in with my horse. This caused lots of problems for the seasonal folk who rented the front 3 acres with the arena & barn. Hell, even my horse would freak out when I went to ride up front and the stupid pig would come walking up through the empty lot from the back and he lived with him!

[Amberley]

@ParadoxFarm

Also, I have had a horse react to MSM,

I missed the MSM, yes that stuff can make some horses crazy.

[tabula_rashah]

Adding in to the I had a horse (who is one of the most level headed can put almost anyone on her horses) turn into an absolute nut on MSM

I’ve apparently had a totally different experience with pigs than most on here. We had them on the farm where I rode as a kid and none of the horses seem to care. And we had a boarder for a few years where I currently keep my horses who had a pig that just free roamed around with her dogs when she came to the barn (she was an odd duck), none of the horses cared about him either

[Kyrabee]

She said she discontinued the MSM with no change.

I agree with the others. Ulcers, check EPM & Lyme titers and try a change of scenery (stables). My horse did not fare well at the last stable…it was giving us both ulcers .

[trubandloki]

@Real_Rush

Back in June, I adopted a 10 year old thoroughbred mare from a reputable, well-known rescue. I was able to ride her before making my decision, and she was an angel. I was told she is sensitive to new things, and sometimes just needs a few seconds to look at something and will then carry on like nothing’s wrong. Please note this mare never raced, I don’t think she even went to the track, she was simply used as a broodmare. (She’s micro-chipped but not tattooed)

Since bringing her to the barn I’m boarding my other horses at, she has only gotten more and more reactive to everything, to the point of the barn manager doesn’t even want to handle her without a chain, or even by herself. Go to take her fly mask off? As soon as she hears the velcro even beginning to rip, no matter how slow you go, she freaks out and flies backwards. Every single time. We put her in a small corral for a couple days when she first arrived so she could settle in and touch noses with horses across the fence. One small section of the fenceline had a strand of hotwire, and of course at some point she got zapped. Now anytime she’s standing near a fence, if she hears a noise of any kind (another horse kicking a rock while walking, hitting a ground pole with a foot, you name it) she freaks out and flies backward. The first time the farrier came, she was an absolute basket case- kicking out and cow-kicking at the farrier. She’s convinced the farm’s resident potbelly pig is a demon from hell and absolutely will not go anywhere near it. If I try to walk her past an area where she’s seen the pig in the past, she’s snorting the entire time and sometimes will just plant her feet and refuse to move.

I started her on a dose and a half of SP’s Smart Calm Ultra soon after bringing her home and noticing her increasing reactiveness. So far it hasn’t done jack squat to help her nerves. To add to everything, she started cribbing from being so stressed out. I’ve tried everything I can think of to work with her and make her feel more comfortable, but even doing things repeatedly, like making her walk past a scary object several times every single damn day, she is just not getting better. It’s always stop and balk or immediately fly backwards as fast as she can. Today when I went out, she still came right up to me, but didn’t even want to leave the pasture. I guess its the one place she feels safe, is out with her buddies. (she much prefers outside to being in a stall, so I’ve been happy to oblige.)

She was absolutely not like this at the rescue. When I initially arrived, they thought I was interested in a couple of geldings, and all the mares had already been turned out, so they couldn’t have drugged her or anything in anticipation. She’s a beautiful, sweetheart mare- when she’s not freaking out over something. She’s quiet standing tied or in crossties, quiet for fly spray, and loooves being curried and brushed. But as much as she’s having complete meltdowns, I’ve been too hesitant to ride her (I ain’t getting any younger, and my body reminds me of this daily). But I also feel like I’m failing her by not figuring out how to help her. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions I can try, or should I just take this as a sign, take her back and walk away?

For anyone interested, she gets 1.5 scoops of the new TC Diamond Senior from TSC twice a day. In addition to the SmartCalm Ultra, I had her on Smart GI Ultra for the first few weeks she was here, MSM, vitamin E and Vermont Blend. Even though I’ve never had a horse react to MSM, I remembered people posting on here about their horses’ adverse reactions to it, so took her off it- no change. As stated, she’s currently out 24/7 in a drylot (the barn/farm is new and they’re not done fencing in all their pastures) and has free access to orchard grass hay that also has a bit of alfalfa mixed in it from the field it’s cut on. Help?!

This sounds very frustrating. I am sorry you are going through this.

I have to agree with the thought that I would start with treating for ulcers.

Never a bad idea to have the vet out and do an exam and discuss things.