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  Discussion on Incident on a trail ride
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New Member:
Tamyslat

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 1, 2003 - 6:35 pm:

Last weekend I went out on the trails with my TB who last year got fairly used to the trails, but hasn't been out since Dec. We went with another rider and her Trakkener/TB cross who is pretty nervous. Both horses were relunctant about going along, partly because of the wind and a storm was coming. We got to one point in the trail and my horse just stopped and refused to do anything. Then he started backing all over, he also started shaking and my friend said his eyes seemed to be rolling like when someone disassociates. She jumped off her horse and came over to hold him so I could get off. His shaking really scared me. I gave him some treats and talked to him and tried to reassure him and we walked back to the barn. Someone told me this could be tying? I don't know what this is. He seemed ok once we were back in the pasture but I would not like to ignore anything that might be more serious. Are these syptoms of a horse that is so frightened they are going to bolt? Or could it be more serious?
thanks
Member:
Hwood

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 1, 2003 - 9:10 pm:

Tamy,
Do you have moose, bear or cougar around your area? I know that some horses react violently to moose and to predator animals. I have seen it in some of my own horses. Just a thought.
I don't know about the tying up symptoms, but it doesn't sound like what I have understood to be tying up.
Holly
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 2, 2003 - 6:15 am:

Unless there was stiffness present, it sounds much like a remarkable fear reaction to me. However excitement is one of the things associated with tying up. If you feel there may have been some stiffness present on the walk back there are blood tests that could still be run to check for tying up (see the article for more).
DrO
Member:
Tamyslat

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 2, 2003 - 11:44 am:

Thanks. He seemed ok on the walk back, nervous but more relaxed that we were returning to the barn. Later I rode him in our pasture and he seemed ok, just a little quick and also out of practice. However we haven't been out all winter due to the bitter weather we had in Mass. I will check the article. Thanks.
Member:
Tamyslat

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 2, 2003 - 11:52 am:

Oh, I forgot to say that I don't know of any of those animals around us. I think sometimes some small cats get this far south and occasionally a bear but we've never seen anything but deer in this park. He knows the trails well enough to know we were going away from the barn. He actually has a very good sense of direction and can be counted on to get us home when we get lost. My first thought was that I just pushed him too far on that day and he didn't have a companion that made him feel more relaxed. He is off the track and worked in a show barn, but is still kind of new to trails. Plus he is much "hotter" than any of the other horses in the barn, although he is also usually very careful and tries to be a good boy. He can be nervy. I will check the article on tying since I would like to learn more about it. Thanks again
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