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Discussion on Impending storm, nutty ladies...
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Member:
adriaa
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 16, 2008 - 5:26 am:
Here in the Northeast we just got this wicked ice storm, I know some of you are from here. I hope all is well. Do anyones horses go nuts when a storm is coming? Starting on Tuesday, storm still just whooshing up the mid-atlantic states and is pretty far away, my girls just started to go nuts!!! They paced the fence, Rosie did her passive aggressive thing and planted her butt at the gate and DrOve Monty nuts, they were kicking, running around, Rosie would rear up at Monty. As soon as I put them out Monty was pacing the gate, they had plenty of hay but were more interested in being crazy than eating. This happened all week until the storm was over on Friday night, then Saturday they were back to themselves. Monty being the boss and Rosie hanging back calm as can be. I suspect that the storm created a big low as it came up north. Could they have felt it when it was so far away?
Rosie definitely was posturing to be boss on those days, by planting herself at the gate. Both of them are really non-dominant and in a larger herd would both be pretty low in the hierarchy. With just the 2 of them they seem to have a hard time deciding who's boss. Usually it's Monty, she seems to own the fence line and gate, and generally Rosie stands back, non-confrontational, but... sometimes, like last week she decides she wants to be first at the gate, she just stands there, while Monty runs in a frenzy around her trying to get her position back. She gets really frustrated because Rosie just won't move. So I lead Rosie in first on those days.
Just wondering if anyone elses horse were affected by that storm.
I'm already through with winter and it's just begun, rain, ice, melt, freeze solid, thaw, muck, then do it all again!!!
stay warm, dry and sane
Adria
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Member:
scooter
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 16, 2008 - 6:46 am:
Adria, don't live in the NE but we have our share of those type of storms. My horses personalities do change when the storm is blowing in especially if it is windy/cold. My 2 geldings don't quite know who is boss, but when a storm blows in there is way more bickering and "posturing" the old girl doesn't get involved in the "fights" but she is way more "up". I watch my back on those days...they don't bother me, but got to be careful not to get in the middle of a "spat" 
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Member:
kathrynr
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 16, 2008 - 7:54 am:
Adria,
One of my guys reacts this way also. Here in NJ we had alot of rain, thank goodness not all the ice you had. The day before when the wind was blowing he barely ate and spent most of the day worried and trying to instigate the other into action, which is normal for him. My other gelding never picked his head up from eating, a tornado could blow thru and he would keep eating...
My fingers are crossed for an early spring!
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Member:
adriaa
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 16, 2008 - 10:46 am:
Diane, I know what you mean by watching your back on those days, I make myself big and bold and made sure one stayed back while I haltered and collected the other, I have my carrot stick to poke with, they do respect me but Monty goes off head snaking, snorting telling me she'll stay back but not pleased about it! Rosie will go off and then look forlorn. If she's not in her boss mood.
Kat, where I am we were actually spared the worst but all around us was really bad, go up a few hundred feet from me and it's a disaster area. So I consider myself lucky. I would not have fared well with no power for days, with all the animals.
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Member:
muffi
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 16, 2008 - 9:55 pm:
when we get storms - especially cold COLD fronts come in yea the boys (two geldings) go nuts. espceially the alpha younger one. he turns in to an absolute nut case. Unless I run his butt off in the round pen there is no being around him. so for me it all seems normal.
I just know about it now and well am leary if I ride them on major weather days. Cold, wind, Rain & Snow. all apply add up to nutty horse.
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Member:
jowidner
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Posted on Tuesday, Dec 16, 2008 - 10:13 pm:
My horses react to the wind, and I presume, to sudden pressure changes more than anything else. And you guys are right, they can become real handfuls when the weather gets them going. When its warm and calm my horses behave sooo nicely, just little angels! But when its blowing, their horns suddenly appear!
Every time that happens I think: "Boy, I've got to work on their ground manners." But then the weather improves, they go back to being their sweet cooperative selves, and I forget all about it until the next front moves in.
Adriana, I've been looking at the weather reports for NE and my heart goes out to everyone who is without power, and as you say, especially to those who are caring for animals. Its tough going, that's for sure. I'm sure glad we've just got wet and dreary stuff here, although I think that I may go mad if the sun doesn't make an appearance soon! 
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New Member:
csantucc
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Posted on Wednesday, Dec 17, 2008 - 8:02 pm:
Just chiming in with something I heard years ago, don't know if it's true or not but it makes sense to me. The theory is that horses get nervous/skittish when it's windy because they are prey animals, and if it's windy they can't smell predators that may be stalking them. So I try to remember that they are just doing what comes naturally when they are completely bonkers in the wind!
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Member:
adriaa
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Posted on Thursday, Dec 18, 2008 - 10:11 am:
I do agree it's probably the wind more than the low pressure, though the low pressure sure affects my sinuses
Carolyn, the not being able to smell makes sense, and their hearing is also probably affected as well. Plus, since their ears are so sensitive maybe the wind rushing around them bothers them.
I know wind bugs me too. I live in a pretty windy spot and the wind howling and whistling at night keeps me awake.
As for ground manners, since Rosie spun off one day and kicked me in the wrist, nobody gets away with anything and I have taken the advice of someone on a post about taking off when undoing the halter and am working with treats and making her stay. It works great, no more squealing and peeling off, she just bugs me for treats all the time now! So when they are wild I'm doubly careful.
A
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