Well, I'll put this in health since it's his emotional health I'm worried about! We moved Danny to the new barn on Saturday. Since then, he's been turned out in a round pen with a buddy, but hasn't been able to get into a pasture with all the snow mess we have. He's on a different feeding program now too. He was on 2-3 lbs of strategy 2x per day, with a half cup of vegetable oil, plus about 4-6 flakes of hay per day. Now, he's getting a mix of alfalfa cubes, beet pulp, and a handful of a 10/10/10% feed 2x per day, with about the same amount of hay, possibly a bit more since it's more or less free choice hay.
So, since the new barn doesn't have an indoor, he hasn't been worked much in the last week. Monday was the best day, since it got above freezing and the ring was ridable. It was my first time riding Danny outside and he was a fireball! He's usually completely lazy and dead but Monday he was ready to take off. He was almost uncontrollable at the trot and wanted to run the entire time, even let out a little buck as we trotted through a giant puddle. I spent most of the time walking, or doing transitions hoping to get his attention. Tues the ring was frozen again, but last night I was able to lunge him. He spent the whole time bucking and trying to gallop. I've been over to see him at least once a day, even if we just groom and can't get out in the ring. Even on the crossties he's been wired. Of course I realize that this is a huge change for him this week, the snow is out of control, the round pen isn't big enough for him to get his energy out during the day, he's on a new feeding program, new people handling him, new surroundings, new horses, and I'm working him outside for the very first time. I'm just worried about him being so high strung since he's typically so mellow and affectionate and lazy! I hate to think he's scared or unhappy and of course I always worry about him colicing when he's under stress.
Any suggestions?
So, since the new barn doesn't have an indoor, he hasn't been worked much in the last week. Monday was the best day, since it got above freezing and the ring was ridable. It was my first time riding Danny outside and he was a fireball! He's usually completely lazy and dead but Monday he was ready to take off. He was almost uncontrollable at the trot and wanted to run the entire time, even let out a little buck as we trotted through a giant puddle. I spent most of the time walking, or doing transitions hoping to get his attention. Tues the ring was frozen again, but last night I was able to lunge him. He spent the whole time bucking and trying to gallop. I've been over to see him at least once a day, even if we just groom and can't get out in the ring. Even on the crossties he's been wired. Of course I realize that this is a huge change for him this week, the snow is out of control, the round pen isn't big enough for him to get his energy out during the day, he's on a new feeding program, new people handling him, new surroundings, new horses, and I'm working him outside for the very first time. I'm just worried about him being so high strung since he's typically so mellow and affectionate and lazy! I hate to think he's scared or unhappy and of course I always worry about him colicing when he's under stress.
Any suggestions?