I am after some ideas, very briefly 17hh WBx 6years old. Usually very cruisy happy go lucky type horse, can fence walk a little but not previously a major issue. Has had a wee bit of a personality transplant recently. Become quite irritable and nervous, little things will set off his fence walking plus he gets irritated quite quickly. Seems a little hyper sensitive as well as itchy. Fence walking has become considerably worse as well, he gets more and more wound up.
He also sweats profusely when ridden, gets WTC for 30 mins around 4x a week (lightly schooled appropriate to fitness level and capability). He ends up drenched in sweat, covers hind quarters - over the top and sides, flanks, eyes (he has even gotten foam on his eyelids) over back / everywhere really. Any ideas? Gets fed a plain diet and have vet coming out to pull some bloods. But in the meantime any suggestions?
No suggestions but your description of the “problem” leaves out so much of what could be key to your horse’s apparent anxiety and response to exertion.
Company: does he have any? Horses are herd animals and want to be with others of their kind. They form attachments and can object when these are interrupted.
Are you in a cold or hot climate? Even northern locations are “unseasonably” warm just now- is your horse clipped?
Daily routine- horses are creatures of habit. If you bring a horse to a new location and change up his routine, it can take quite a lot of time before they adapt and settle into the new setup.
A fencewalking horse that sweats excessively is obviously anxious, and anxiety can produce or be a cause of ulcers…your description of his diet as “plain” gives no clue as to what it is or whether it’s apporopriate, but diet is a key component of management, and overall the impression you give is that this guy isn’t happy with the management he’s getting he just now.
You are in the northern hemisphere right? So the horses would have winter coats. Is he clipped at all? My friend’s draft cross was like that with the sweating even with a trace clip. His chin would be dripping after a light flat. They wound up re-clipping and taking a lot more off and he stopped the excessive sweating. Some are just like that. My horse on the other hand isn’t clipped and sometimes gets a little girth mark after a ride like you describe, on the warmer days.
As for the personality change, have you considered ulcers? Is he itchy all over or biting at his sides?
Hi thanks for the replies! We are in the Southern Hemisphere, so it is Summer however it really isn’t that hot (about 25degrees). He lives outside 24/7 and there are three other horses on the property and they are all paddocked next to each other. Have tried him in with a buddy, but it doesn’t make a difference .
He’s fed beet, oaten chaff, equijewel, oil as well as a quality vitamin and mineral supplement plus toxin binder. Ulcers are on my list, I have been adding an ulcer sup to his feed as well as started him on omaprazole, however I haven’t noticed any difference as of yet. He seems to be itchy all over his body, and has lost a little hair on the top of his tail. I have had him now for nearly two years, the change in behaviour has only been recent over the last few months.
