I have noticed a pattern develop in my mare which I am going to refer to as the winter blues.
I brought Daily in August last year and throughout the winter she was quite grumpy and often tried to nip / bite when putting on tack and rugs etc. Then when summer arrived and the nice warm weather was back (hurray) she was a totally different horse - I put this down to getting to know each other and thought we had become a great new partnership. But....as the cold weather has started again she has become grumpy again. Has anyone else had this problem? Is there such a thing as winter blues for horses?
I have had the vet look at her recently and her back checked so I am sure there is not a physical problem and riding is fine.
Could it be to do with the fact that when the cold weather starts so does her food. (she is on horse and pony cubes and soaked sugar beat - last year she was on a course mix)
Any comments?
I brought Daily in August last year and throughout the winter she was quite grumpy and often tried to nip / bite when putting on tack and rugs etc. Then when summer arrived and the nice warm weather was back (hurray) she was a totally different horse - I put this down to getting to know each other and thought we had become a great new partnership. But....as the cold weather has started again she has become grumpy again. Has anyone else had this problem? Is there such a thing as winter blues for horses?
I have had the vet look at her recently and her back checked so I am sure there is not a physical problem and riding is fine.
Could it be to do with the fact that when the cold weather starts so does her food. (she is on horse and pony cubes and soaked sugar beat - last year she was on a course mix)
Any comments?