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hot horse

2K views 11 replies 5 participants last post by  countrylove 
#1 ·
Anyone else's horse get hot on pasture? My mare is especially bad in the spring but its only when she's on fresh grass. She is like a kid with to much sugar lol she runs around bucking, spooks at silly things, gets very vocal, in your face, wants attention but runs when I bring her in. She has so much pent up energy lol once under saddle or on a lead line she's quiet again but is a bit spooky still, not bad though. Its not an issue for us at all so I'm not looking for advise on that. I'm just curious if anyone else has a silly ADHD horse come spring or pasture time? Over the nearly 2 years I've owned her we have discovered it is most definitely the grass that causes this change in her. I usually keep her dry lotted with free access to grass hay but to save on hay costs I decided to pasture her again. The silly behavior is quite funny but kind of annoying too lol she's seriously like my kids :) I'm probably pulling her off pasture but I'm also curious if anyone had a hot horse who eventually adjusted to the sugar in the fresh grass? Like I said we don't have any issues with it since she's fine under saddle and on the lead, its just so polar opposite of how she normally is on dry lots. She never kicks up with the other horses. Put her on pasture and she'll kick up all on her own. So let's hear your stories about silly pasture horses :)
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#2 ·
Well it makes sense, since spring pasture is high on sugar. My old BO used to warn people about their horses getting hot when they first started grazing each spring (they were dry lotted in the winter).

My mare has been out on pasture all year, but now that I think about it, she has been full of piss and vinegar often this last month or so...
 
#3 ·
I've heard stories about horse's getting hot in spring usually because they had the winter off plus its breeding season and getting back into regular work but I hardly hear about the grass being the issue. I took equine nutrition and I would automatically consider the grass for the cause of spring crazies. It makes sense to me but most people I talk to don't even consider it. In spring the grass is at its highest sugar content and that's when everyone complains about silly horses. Seems to directly correlate to me. I'm curious of other opinions on this topic?? As well as experiences with spring crazies and silly horses jacked up on too much sugar lol :)

Of course other factors will play into things like getting back into work, the sudden warm weather, heat cycles, etc... But to keep things simple I'm curious about the pasture/sugar aspect.
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#4 ·
It could be just being in more open space that causes the excitement. Mine are dry lotted overnight and every morning when put on pasture they run around acting silly for the first 15 or 20 minutes and this is before they bury their heads and start eating grass.

The dry lot has plenty of room for them to run and play but they don't.
 
#6 ·
I'm only giving her 5-6 hours in the evening from 5pm to 10-11pm depending on when I go to bed. So far no saddle issues but if she gets hot under saddle she's back to the dry lot for sure. My area is 50/50 on pasture and dry lots. With all the property around here I always wondered why people would dry lot. Now I know lol where I'm originally from everything was on pasture until the pasture died off usually mid summer from 120°F days. You only got a few good weeks there so everyone took advantage of it. 99% of the year they are dry lotted and not necessarily by choice.
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#8 ·
I just got back from riding mine. Got a little broncy three times. I'm working out of town. He needs more work than I have time to give him if I take him with me.

I think I'm going to farm him out to Team USPA. They have some players up here for the summer. Between the riding they can put on him and what I can do, he'll be ready for fall works.
 
#10 ·
Well despite her hot attitude in the paddock she was perfect yesterday! My uncle rode her until she softened up and was willing to work. He's been wanting more hands on with the "troubleshooting" aspect of riding so I've been letting him ride while I give lessons from the ground. Hes got a natural touch with spirited horses. Well she was being so good my hubby decided to climb up. He's only sat on a horse once in the 9 years we've been together so this shocked me lol he knows how to ride but hasn't ridden since his first marriage. Ex got the horses in the divorce. He rode for a minute and then I climbed on and we worked at the trot for 15-20 mins. But then my 7 year old wants to ride so up he went and I gave him a lunge line lesson on balance. Not one spook or hot headed moment.. Im pretty proud :D 4 riders, 1 green and 1 way out of practice plus a child. I'd say she's earning her keep quite well. And its all from hard work :D
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#11 ·
Both of my mature stallions and my two year old stallion prospect are kept in small pens they are hyper too and its not the grass but spring and breeding season. My mares are on pasture 24/7 and I have noticed little difference in them.
IMO it is the change in the weather and spring is time for mares and stallions to mingle in nature. Shalom
 
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