Cold Weather Craziness?

[acoustic11]

I'm posting this for a friend of mine who is new to LJ and can't figure out how to join the community. I've ridden with her my whole life and she is a very capable rider and trainer. However, neither of us can figure out what is up with her latest project. She's hoping that someone here has dealt with a horse like this before or as any ideas as

Comments

[missingkay]

I think a bunch of dressage work (rather than just jumping and going in a straight line) is in the books. My horse does the same thing, but once I started doing a lot of bending, figure 8's, work that got him thinking and told him I was on his back, he's bearable.

Good luck!

[miladyelizabeth]

Two things I would do: put him on Smartflex or some similar joint supplement, in case he is sore in the cold. Worst case scenario is that it delays future arthritis, but it certainly can't hurt him. I would also try a quarter sheet/exercise rug to keep his muscles warmer. That helped a lot for my ASB who is really lightly built and sensitive to cold.

[reiterin]

okay, lol - this is probably not appropriate - but i read your cut as "horse nuts in winter"

hahahahah

[closedcurtains]

HAHAHA I read the EXACT same thing and I just came here to add the exact same inappropriate comment :)

[celticravenwolf]

It sounds like it could just be as simple as he is being overworked after a winter off. How was he brought back into work? As in:

What are you asking him to do in a typical workout?
How long is he being ridden for?
How much of that time is beyond the walk?
How many times a week has he been working on average?
How long ago did you start riding him again?

I wouldn't jump to joint issues or anything like that right away. I'm guessing that when it's warm out it's not as difficult for him, but when it's colder and he's working above his fitness level, he's probably getting sore and cranky and is therefore objecting.

I have no clue what your regimen is like (and if you already do this then I got nuthin), I would recommend toning down his work and gradually bringing him back again, and giving him longer warm ups with lots of bendy-walk and stretchy-trot work to slowly warm up his muscles and ease him into work before jumping or cantering.

[creseis_acicula]

One of the lesson horses at my barn is like this--it's just not worth it to use him in the winter, when he is spooky and frantic, but in the summer he's really laid back and great. I find that a lot of horses are a bit different seasonally, some are better during winter, some are better during summer.