tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post2243146196197568809..comments2024-03-01T06:49:59.106-05:00Comments on Behind the Bit: Harvey's high anxietyStacey Kimmel-Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08498926535389535263noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-61779791148372300182012-10-07T22:24:53.458-04:002012-10-07T22:24:53.458-04:00I think it's the combination of things. . Sen...I think it's the combination of things. . Senior feed has too much energy, he needs more chopped hay product. Old horses like their daily schedule "on schedule". He needs more exercise, like a nice hack and trot. Lunging is boring.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-16003538763298977672012-09-26T13:51:02.583-04:002012-09-26T13:51:02.583-04:00Perhaps a bit of a work schedule will help? I kno...Perhaps a bit of a work schedule will help? I know you sold his saddle, but what about a bareback hack (I used to use a surcingle/western pad for my sharp withered TB)? Or some lunge sessions? Might help keep him more fluid physically and more occupied mentally--full retirement can be hard on a horse that has worked all his life.McFawnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-78460701189560690142012-09-26T13:50:53.033-04:002012-09-26T13:50:53.033-04:00Is there any way you can put him in a 24-hour turn...Is there any way you can put him in a 24-hour turnout situation, or even a stall with access to a small paddock? At my barn, we have a stall that opens up to a dry lot, and we put both our 32-year-old Morgan and our 4-year-old mini (suffers from intermittent upward patellar fixation) in this stall/run situation, and it keeps them both limber and happy. If there's any way you could do Lizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09684184753149395077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-17521880034698933272012-09-25T23:08:00.679-04:002012-09-25T23:08:00.679-04:00My guess is he feels better and his joints feel be...My guess is he feels better and his joints feel better when he can move around. My mare came to us at age 23 and we have never stalled her for that reason. She stocks up and gets stiff if she doesn't get out and walk. She does hang out in her stall during the heat of the summer days, but she will periodically take walks out to the water trough (even though there are buckets in the barn), billiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18187141867284800597noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-30359255889451755902012-09-25T21:53:26.413-04:002012-09-25T21:53:26.413-04:00I have decided to move my 16yo gelding to a facili...I have decided to move my 16yo gelding to a facility where he can have 24/7 turnout. We do ride so we need good riding facilities and he needs to get grain and beet pulp and supplements. The reason is that he too is getting intolerant of being in. As long as he is warm enough, has water, shelter and companions I think he will be fine. I think we mostly keep them in barns for our convenience. Mary Louhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09369843518823655377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-28132883981105756022012-09-25T21:24:46.599-04:002012-09-25T21:24:46.599-04:00Have you looked into feeding something like alfalf...Have you looked into feeding something like alfalfa or hay-blend pellets, soaked to mush, for Harv to eat since hay is an issue? Maybe the senior feed is too "rich" for him and is causing the anxiety. My Huey is 18 years old and doesn't have dentition issues, but he does enjoy the alfalfa pellets made by Secate Mills (Arizona). They soak to mush very quickly, but Huey enjoys them &TBDancerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03889066602819359591noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-27938534362635810382012-09-25T21:21:01.447-04:002012-09-25T21:21:01.447-04:00Instead of just Senior you could supplement with s...Instead of just Senior you could supplement with soaked timothy forage cubes. More roughage, less sugar. I have a 33 yr. old QH doing great, going strong. Does Harvey quid his hay if he tries to eat some?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-87101349515530363612012-09-25T19:49:21.294-04:002012-09-25T19:49:21.294-04:00My Toby has gotten more anxious about things as he...My Toby has gotten more anxious about things as he's aged too. Not sure why. I am wondering if he feels a little less physically able to handle things as he wants to and needs to know what's going on much ahead of time. He has 24/7 turnout, but if one of the other horses disappears from view, he often gets upset. <br /><br />Wonder if that's typical of older horses? Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10029423500476995817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-48321188332823712892012-09-25T18:02:50.384-04:002012-09-25T18:02:50.384-04:00It sounds to me as though he is saying he really, ...It sounds to me as though he is saying he really, really wants to go outside. <br /><br />I have been having some interesting discussions lately around the idea that stalling is actually unnatural for horses, and much more stressful than we humans (natural cave dwellers) realise. Obviously they need shelter from the weather sometimes. Would it be possible to organise his stall so he can come Clancyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00349843561587332639noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-5732365193413833332012-09-25T17:57:27.321-04:002012-09-25T17:57:27.321-04:00Does he lie down outside? I can't imagine feel...Does he lie down outside? I can't imagine feeling the need to rest and being afraid to bed down. English Riderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01712384532126551307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-11872967485494603312012-09-25T17:29:46.135-04:002012-09-25T17:29:46.135-04:00Can you give him hay at all, even if it's just...Can you give him hay at all, even if it's just to give him something to do? I have a 28 year old gelding who is missing every molar up top; he can't eat hay to support his nutritional needs anymore (he was an EASY keeper in his youth, so this is quite a change for us). I feed him Equine Senior and alfalfa pellets twice a day and he gets turned out for about 10-12 hours daily. His stall Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-61522019351916156492012-09-25T16:34:27.469-04:002012-09-25T16:34:27.469-04:00Do you have the option of keeping this horse in a ...Do you have the option of keeping this horse in a paddock rather than a stall? I don't like to keep old horses (or any horses, really) in stalls. Harv's behavior is pretty typical of a horse that doesn't like being in a stall. In my opinion its so much better for older horses to be able to move around in a paddock, rather than be confined to a stall, but I know this isn't always Laura Crumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15200878892304748308noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-3158410865862541512012-09-25T16:31:44.463-04:002012-09-25T16:31:44.463-04:00Poor guy. I am glad that he is still fiesty, thou...Poor guy. I am glad that he is still fiesty, though.<br /><br />I think that you have a good list there. One to add might be that he wants to get out and move to ease joint stiffness.<br /><br />I think the sleeping lying down one is a really good point. It would be very frustrating to not be able to get REM sleep. Horses only enter REM while lying down.Valhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07335385366138424092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-11946691576095296672012-09-25T15:43:48.271-04:002012-09-25T15:43:48.271-04:00What about feeding him a forage product (something...What about feeding him a forage product (something like these http://lucernefarms.com/feeds_forage.shtml) My old guy has transitioned to this as he can no longer chew long stem hay. This stuff he sucks right down. Maybe with that added you could back off the grain?questomatichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00069712667564487312noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-53182281247493295462012-09-25T15:35:52.898-04:002012-09-25T15:35:52.898-04:00I have the same issue with my 24 yo. The SLIGHTEST...I have the same issue with my 24 yo. The SLIGHTEST change in routine can precipitate a meltdown. I try to cater to him as much as possible (which is a lot, since he is at home with me), but sometimes you just can't. <br /><br />Having his BFF with him at all times helps too. Also not always possible, but I try. At his age I figure I can bend the rules a little bit and cater to his whims. He&#jenjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01737679332792618499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-30707431561183808922012-09-25T14:22:57.199-04:002012-09-25T14:22:57.199-04:00It could be that he likes his routine. The older h...It could be that he likes his routine. The older he gets, the more he likes to keep his routine consistent. Maybe he's just being a cranky old man ;)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-58723941048853351772012-09-25T13:27:13.149-04:002012-09-25T13:27:13.149-04:00All of the above! Plus, without a job, retirees ge...All of the above! Plus, without a job, retirees get more focused on their turnout time. I let mine tell me where they would like to spend their time and most choose full-time turnout. With spendy blankets, of course.spotz58https://www.blogger.com/profile/09924034532557607333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-14620221524362937732012-09-25T13:21:49.065-04:002012-09-25T13:21:49.065-04:00That's what my TB is like when he has an ulcer...That's what my TB is like when he has an ulcer flare-up. What kind of hay was Harv getting before? It's very possible the change in diet is affecting his tummy...Nethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08817230186352688525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-51999182623621495642012-09-25T11:55:05.088-04:002012-09-25T11:55:05.088-04:00I wonder if in his retirement turnout has become h...I wonder if in his retirement turnout has become his mental activity, and he's simply looking forward to his "job" for the day? When my horse has had extended time off from riding for various reasons he's become very much like this, though not quite as energetic.Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16071037752920853786noreply@blogger.com