|
|
Discussion on Pacing gelding
|
| Author |
Message |
Member:
digger89
|
Posted on Sunday, Oct 2, 2016 - 11:15 pm:
I have a 17 year old TBXQH gelding who has been retired for 8 years since a stifle injury 1 month after his purchase. Dually lived out before we bought him but we do half day turnout. He is always willing to go out but would pace for an hour or 2 along the fence line when it was close to time to come in. We had to put front shoes on him because he wore his feet so badly. The fields have great grass plus we put out hay to amuse him but this behavior has never improved over the years. When we switched to day turnout last week he ramped up this behavior, he started pacing the entire day, stopping very briefly to eat the wonderful grass but immediately goes back to pacing or running. He is turned out with his usual friend and there are no other horses. He has never paced so badly before. We have tried giving him Ace to settle him when he first goes out, and it works great, but as soon as it wears off he is pacing non-stop. When he gets back to his stall he is happy again. I hate to see him so upset and I worry that he will injure himself as he has done in the past when we had to make temporary changes in pastures. It doesn't matter which field he is in, he paces along the fence nearest the barn. I am considering trying Quiessence; any other suggestions?
|
Moderator:
DrO
|
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 5, 2016 - 8:09 am:
Hello Sarah,
These types of repetitive behavior can be very difficult, have you considered putting an enclosed run-in shed in the pasture?
DrO
|
Member:
digger89
|
Posted on Wednesday, Oct 5, 2016 - 9:17 am:
Thank you Dr. O. I do have an enclosed run-in shed, he has been walking into it to turn around at the end of the fence line and start pacing to the other end. He can't stay on Ace forever so I am going to switch him to a calming supplement with valerian in the hope of easing some of this excessive behavior. This is physically hard on him, he has worn his toes so short that I had to shoe him, and he has lost some weight (not truly a bad thing) since he paces instead of eating. He was retired 8 years ago do to poor recovery after a caudal cruciate tear. I worry that his tight turns may stress this area too.
|
|
|
