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My horse has been off for a month but we have been turning him out-is it normal for him to be acting this way?
My horse is three years old and off the track so generally he is always very excitable and tensed up. However, he was recently off (for about a month) and now is sound. The first day my trainer gave him something to calm him down and we have been turning him out every day (and I ride him after I turn him out) but his manners on the ground have been awful.
As soon as I started working with him when he was sound again, simple tasks like taking his blanket off became extremely difficult as he nipped at me constantly and walked around in circles in his stall, and lifted his head high on cross ties while pacing around. Also, on the lead, he has started to rear and trot forward whenever I have contact on him.
Will he grow out of this soon--is it just because he was off? Or is this a really serious issue that will last his lifetime if I don't work with it intensely? Please help. Thank you!
He does sound stir crazy - too much energy, not enough exercise.
HOWEVER! Yes, if you let this go on, it can easily become a serious issue (actually, it already is!). Biting and rearing can never be tolerated. Once they start, they don't "grow out" of them.
Safety first! I suggest getting someone to work with him on the ground until he's safe for you to handle again, and to work with you to teach you how to handle this behavior. If you feel up to it on your own (I don't know your experience level) then yes, work with it intensely now before it becomes an ingrained behavior.
I'd also suggest more turnout and less feed. He's burning the feed off fretting, not putting weight on, so you need to change the type. Lots more hay; lots less grain.
If he was getting steroids for whatever his problem was, he may also have a case of 'roid rage - some horses are extremely susceptible to this. It will most likely wear off, but you can't let him learn this behavior is acceptable or it will go on.
For leading him... put a chain over his nose. This is standard procedure at a racetrack, so he's used to it and you won't have to teach him what it means (it means you're in control!). Don't just haul on it; use a quick jerk and release action. Tiny jerks for trotting will probably slow him down, but a rear needs a humdinger. Remember, racehorses have been taught that a steady pull means go faster, not slow down; pull and release and pull and release means stop.
Good Luck with him!
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