I'm a worrier

[Foxtrot's]

My gelding is l4 months old. When he was a baby his tongue stuckout to the left and we made a joke that he didn't have enough teeth to hold it in. Recently he has started doing it again. When he is fed in his stall (instead of outside as in summer) he is rude when the grain is taken in am and pm. I have to be quite strict with him, but he pins his ears.

Any of you people who have had a lot of babies know why it might be. He did have ulcers and was treated. Seemed to get better. . . put him back on GG. No difference.

He does not seem nervous, is normally very friendly and calm. He is kept out with his big sister who, while she is the boss, is nice to him, has pasture for several hours a day, kept at home where I can tend to him.

He is an accident on hooves and has had more than his share of a/b's his entire life.

I always feel these signs are a sign of something an not to be ignored. He does not grind his teeth. Vet said it may be just behavioural - I dunno.

I've taken to putting hay in first, and also spending time petting him while he eats, theorizing that he is being protective and 'wins' when I put the feed in and leave.

[Simkie]

Have you checked his teeth? Has he ever been floated? Perhaps he has some sharp points or caps that need help to come out.

[fourmares]

Have a chiropractor look at him.

[mvp]

Can you possibly find him a foal pasture?

I think babies learn a lot and avoid turning into Felix Unger when they are allowed to grow up outside with other young horses.

I know not everyone can do this, but many of your gelding's physical and mental issues (as small as they are now) may really straighten out with some good, old fashioned "live like a horse" time.

[Foxtrot's]

I was planning to send hin up country, where it is colder and drier, to tough it out in a herd environment - but then backed off the idea because I worried he would not get noticed if something was wrong.
Forgot to mention he had colic about three weeks ago, too. If I could find a place here that would be great, but most places where horses are kept out down here turn into mudpits. I've done that for my other youngsters and it was great for them. It would still be a good idea, but as it gets colder he has to go soon. I know a racehorse place, but, wow, it is costly for my poor, beat up pocketbook.

[Foxtrot's]

The little brat has had a complete reversal. We decided to take the position that it was not health related. We set some boundaries, became very consistent and he has come around to the usual sweet little man he always has been. I think it was just a case of 'terrible two's" and his attempt to readjust the pecking order. I think I can send him away with a clear conscience to grow and play.

[Mozart]

Sounds like a plan. I think sometimes the young ones go through little testing stages along the way. Like kids, they try out a new behaviour to see if they like it and see if it has "legs".

My now two year old colt went through a little cocky phase this summer, he thought it was cool to sneak up on you in the pasture and give you a little nip. We reminded him of where he stood in life and he is back to his usual well behaved self.

His now three year old full sister filly went through a terrible two phase last winter where she decided to show some grumpiness in the a.m. as I picked her stall. Fixed that too and now she is all sweetness and light in the a.m again (unlike me, I might add...I have not had enough coffee yet at 6:00 a.m.)

[rustyspurranch]

GG is a great product. Expensive as well....First off I would get my horses teeth floated.....he maybe sticking his tongue out to avoid some sharp edges.... beyond that... have you thought of something more cost effective and a long term prevention of ulcers... if a horse had a ulcer he is proned to get them in the future... Finish line make a great product that I used with my ulcer proned horse called u-7. its a gastric aid formula, and unlike GG it is good on thoses horses with ulcers in the hind gut...something GG does NOTHING for. Plus the thing I love about Finish line is their money back guarantee. But start with the basics... get his teeth looked at.

[Foxtrot's]

I'll look into the U-7. And before he goes away will have him checked for teeth, etc. and his big knee. He has always tended to stick his tongue out since a baby. It never ends. The knee has been looked at extensively and is a haematoma and the joint is not implicated.
He is already on a non-grain pellet that has lots of bio-moss and probiotics in it formulated for guys like him. Out of sight, out of mind will be good for me!

[Mozart]

He has always tended to stick his tongue out since a baby. It never ends.

The tongue habit did not seem to hamper Richard Spooner's Robinson!