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Suddenly Spooky

Horse Care
#1

15 yr old TB mare typically calm and relaxed suddenly spooking at things she has seen a million times.

  • Currently being treated for ulcers with Nexium (started 2 weeks ago). Also started double dose of Uckele GUT a week ago after noticing she was leaving grain behind occasionally and looks like she has dropped some weight (likely from not always eating - she prefers to nibble on the nubs of “grass” than eat hay sometimes).
  • Free choice alfalfa
  • 24/7 turnout
  • Low NSC feed (Coolstance at 11%)
  • In light to moderate work
  • Up to date on vaccines, deworming, teeth and shod every 6 weeks by equine podiatrist
No routine/ diet/ turnout or other change happened within the last few months. Horse is spooking at things she sees all the time but not always the same things. Her spoons are small (always have been) and totally ridable but certainly out of character. Any thoughts?
#2

Check eyes

9 Likes
#3

Mine does this for 2 reasons I’ve identified:

  1. 14 days after starting Previcox (has happened 3 or 4 separate times, resolves totally when put on omeprazole, so we have moved to other treatments)
  2. Something is hurting somewhere. We just resolved the most recent thing and he’s had 3 back-to-normal rides in a row after acting exactly like your mare (small, rideable spooks at everyday things but definitely not normal). I’ve had this horse for 9 years and know his problem areas, so I’m usually able to pinpoint the issue pretty easily and have the vet out to treat.

I agree with checking eyes too - in my horse’s case, he had a more obvious cause this time but it would have been on my list otherwise.

#4

Any chance she’s on MSM or a supplement containing MSM? My hot but generally level-headed mare turns into a reactive nightmare on MSM, especially when ulcers are involved.

2 Likes
#5

not sure where you are located, but any chance she’s eating lots of fresh new grass? Have a friend whose horse is having this issue.

#6

A second vote for checking eyes. I had one with cataracts who would randomly spook.

#7

I agree with checking the eyes, and while the vet is there you might check for Lyme. It has some weird symptoms and random spooking is one of them.

2 Likes
#8

I wondered if this was the problem with my horse who has suddenly started excessive stall walking.

#9

Depending on where you live, I would check for Lyme.

1 Like
#10

I agree, check the eyes. My 26 y.o. gelding has a corpora nigra cyst in his left eye and I can see it in normal light. The vet pointed it out a few months ago, and said it is not affecting his vision. It is just below the bottom edge of the iris and looks like a small black bean. It can be treated with a laser if necessary.

1 Like
#11

No grass and no MSM (learned about that after a different horse went a little nutso on it years ago). I will definitely have the vet check eyes. There are no visible changes, but that doesn’t mean something isn’t there. As a semi related note, any one every hear of having a grey horse develop melanoma where it effects vision? I’m sure it’s possible, just wondering how rare.

#12

In my experience, TBs and alfalfa don’t mix.

#13

My tb’s are all on 10lbs or flake alfalfa or more a day and aren’t spooky. My one that did turn suddenly spooky was successfully treated for EPM and was no lomger spooky after treatment.

1 Like
#14

My generally laid back Standardbred turned into a spooky mess and was later diagnosed with EPM. He had other symptoms gradually show up too, but spookiness was one of the first.

#15

Test for Lyme disease. I know of 2 case of horses belonging to friends who tested positive for Lyme and their first symptom was spookiness, not lameness…

#16

Try cutting down alfalfa

#17

Is the spooking coinciding with her heat cycle? One of my mares gets pretty distracted and spooky occasionally at normal everyday stuff when she’s in heat …also sometimes mares can have cysts or issues with their ovaries which can cause behavioral problems …that aside …any pain/ discomfort can cause spooking , eye issues, Lyme, ulcers and I have heard people report some with epm can experience that -although the one if mine with epm was extremely lethargic and just blah.

As for leaving the food behind …when that happens I usually like to dose them orally with an ulcer supplement such as Succeed or Nutracell Labs Ulceraide Liquid

#18

I am too thinking about eye issues. Check if there is a small polyp at the edge of the iris that is blocking his view. Is the eye becoming a little larger? Do you see a cataract? Nexium should not have these kinds of side effects.

#19

OP, did you determine a cause?

#20

Unfortunately I did not. She had a good bit of time off in July due to excessive heat warnings and at the end of July I purchased a second horse and have been spending most of my time and attention settling them both into a routine that works for all. The spookiness is currently being overshadowed by some extreme barn/ buddy sour behavior which we are working through. I wish I had a better answer.

1 Like

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