Smokey

He got it!
Day 3 of our experiment and he actually was already behind me in the barn when I tied up Minnie.
He was standing still for haltering and ready to go grazing with us.
Let's hope this lasts. If it does then this was a surprisingly easy fix
 
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Well, he seems to be a smart cookie. And certainly starting to trust you. In a while you can start to sneak in activities other than grazing once the halter is on!
 
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No grazing today! These updates will be boring but I'm adding them because the reactions are so interesting to me.
A good learning experience.
So today he didn't come to the barn and walked away when I tried to halter him.
So we walked out with Minnie. Let him see her eat grass.
He actually fit the first time made a sound.
We moved towards the front away from the gate and nickered after us
He got quite upset and even ran back and forth along the fence line.
Considering he was supposed to be not herd bound this was unexpected.
After awhile we came back. I was leading Minnie back to the barn and he actually started with my daughter closing the gate and then walked closely to her.
He seemed happy she was there and not too concerned about Minnie.
So that was interesting.
We petted him for a bit. I think he's still holding the equine dentist thing against me since his head went up when I petted him but not my daughter.
He's an interesting boy for sure.
 
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So I thought about this in Mark Rashid terms. I think I have been missing the pressure release part.
Once caught I always give him to my daughter so I can take Minose.
That means I always catch him but I am never the one to release him.
Since the halter worries him I guess in MR terms that means I am never the one to give a release.
So we tried again this evening
This time he came to the aisle to get his halter. I put it on and we immediately left to go graze
He is really munching now! I am glad he got his teeth done and molars #9 and no longer so long but bummed it destroyed what trust he had in me.
While out grazing we swapped horses and I led him back in and took off his halter.
Let's see if that makes a difference
 
Good thinking.

I understand that the dentist sucks. I didn't like my mum much when she took me to the dentist, either. But I am sure he will forgive you, as long as you go on being quiet and consistent!
 
He's doing well. I can't wait to see where we are when we get the 2 months mark.
He's been gaining not just weight but also confidence and he's learning what we do.
He sweats a lot more than Minnie but he doesn't eat his feed if I put electrolytes in powder form on it
I ordered some pelleted electrolytes.
Of course they also have free choice salt
He's starting to get used to being a girl's horse. Getting kisses and hugs and having his mane braided.
 

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Chiro cancelled due to storms.
Just as well. Smokey scared me today.
He didn't eat all of his food and seemed to be borderline colicky.
We're not at ideal weight yet but I'm feeding at the top of recommended senior feed amount.
I think I'm going to back off on that a little bit. It will take longer but I don't want to stress his system and chance him getting sick
 
Ooh, I hope he is better tomorrow.

Sid doesn't eat all his food if there's hay available, it's the hay he wants. But I don't worry because he is borderline fat!
 
I'm not sure what caused. Is it possible to stress him into colic?
Minnie just gets hay pellets and she finishes sooner. Then she bangs on the stall door. I yelled at her to stop it because I don't want her to damage the wood.
Smokey stopped eating and left his stall.
He hung his head and then laid down in the sand near me. Very unusual as he's not that trusting normally.
He got back up but didn't eat anything anymore. Not hay or feed. He felt hot to the touch to me but he always seems sweatier than Minnie.
 
Some horses are sensitive to bad weather coming in, or perhaps it was just coincidence, we so rarely understand what brings on a colic. Jess has had more colic's that I can count on my fingers, she's just one of those horses.
 
From what you have told us of his history he has had some abusive handling. Is it possible that your shouting at Minnie upset him? I'm not blaming you, I yell at Sid whenever he is a tit (quite often!). Sid doesn't mind, he just tosses his head at me and (sometimes) desists. But we have a rescue dog who will go and creep under the bed if anyone, human, dog or cat, gets shouted at. and she shakes afterwards. Just a thought.
 
I think three things converging.
Massive diet changes over the last month.
Big weather change
Me yelling
I think he'll continue gaining even if i cut back a little on the grain.
Nothing I can do about the weather.
I started putting a buffer on Minnie's stall door this morning so I'll just ignore her from now on.
 
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Dang it. Another tummy ache.
I didn't do anything this time. Just quietly sitting.
The endearing thing is the first thing he does is come to me as if i could help him.
I'm wondering if it's the flax seed?
I added that recently. It's just a small amount.
I was already thinking of cutting out the lunch time feeding.
I think I'll just do morning and evening feeding going forward and skipping the flax
 
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Poor guy. Is it while he’s eating grain? If so might be worth considering ulcers, from going without for so long before he came to you. Or perhaps the volume of the feed is too much in one go?
 
Jessey said:
Poor guy. Is it while he’s eating grain? If so might be worth considering ulcers, from going without for so long before he came to you. Or perhaps the volume of the feed is too much in one go?
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He's actually been getting three meals a day to make the portions smallish. But yes definitely huge changes.
He's been on buffers from the start to prevent ulcers including u guard.
I feel like this issue started when I added the flax seed. Have you ever heard of a horse colicky after flax?
 
I’ve not heard of it, I’ve fed it to many horses without any tummy issues. Having said that it can cause some funny things, Monkey wanted to itch his skin off when on it! So never say never.
 
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