horse behavior issue

Question
QUESTION: I have a 4 yr old TB gelding. He is very sweet on the ground no bad habits. When I ride him his personality changes. Ever since I got him 6 months ago he breathes pretty heavily when I ride him. I used to think it was an issue of him being out of shape but he has put on all weight and muscle. Not only does he breathe really loud, sometimes at the canter it sounds like he hyperventilates but he sweats sooo much. He sweats over nothing and in a very short period of time. He never seems to calm down. Just recently he has started to be a little girthy when I brush him and tighten his girth. He is on a full scoop per meal 3/4 hunter 1/4 trotter. He gets plenty of hay and daily turnout. He is on source hoof, apple a day, msm, calm and cool, and source complete. Could this possibly be a sign or lyme or ulcers? What is the breathing, it really doesnt sound like roaring but he just wont stop on the lunge or under saddle.

ANSWER:  I am going to hazard a guess that your horse is over supplemented and under exercised. Thoroughbreds have incredible stamina and reserve energy and while it sounds like you are conscious about nutrition and overall health, remember he is still a youngster and likely is not needing anything more then a high quality Timothy/grass hay fed to him 2 or 3 times daily.  He should always be given access to fresh water and a mineral block so he can injest all his body needs at his leisure.
Daily turn-out could mean he is locked in a stall for 23 hours and turned out to play for an hour at a time. Definately not near enough time for a youngster to burn off the endless energy they seem to have at this stage. When you ride him, you don't mention how often or how long you work with him. Your riding sessions should be kept short and positive while most of your training should be done in hand at this stage.
It sounds to me like you have a ton of ready-to-run horse under your saddle and he is likely being constantly restrained and the roaring you are hearing is him leaning on the bit and holding his head in a very upright position. This would make him mouth breathe and the added effort of carrying a rider and collecting his body in such a manner would cause him to exert more effort... the reason for the excessive sweating. Adrenaline and too much excellent food might be turning your sweet colt into quite a handful to ride.
If you can manage to find a pasture to keep him in 24 hours, beside another horse or with another horse and supplement him with only quality forage (Timothy/grass hay) I believe you will see a different horse under saddle. If that is not possible then try eliminating the additional supplements and hacking him on short trail rides for a week. Do not ask him to do more then walk and enjoy the scenery. Focus on creating a soft quiet mouth and a lower headset. In other words, teach him to relax when under saddle.
Mentally, he may be learning to amp himself up anytime he is asked to work. A Thoroughbred does not need much encouragement to want to turn up the juice. Too little constant motion and too much good food and zero interaction with other horses are not good for a youngster. They need to run with other horses and buck and play and they also need the supportive, calming interaction with their handler/rider. This is the most impressionable time of his life and what you teach him will stick with him forever.
If I am wrong with my assumptions then please write me again and give me further details on the types of feed and the amounts of time he spends in his stall daily or is turned out. I would like to know exactly what your riding schedual is too. How long do you lunge him and does he have any opportunity to live out in a big enough area for him to really exercise himself.

Good luck, Stallynrydr    

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thank you so much! Titan gets turned out at 8am and comes in at 3:30 and is turned out in a very large pasture with other young horses. He is also given a lot of hay and I have personally put in an extra water bucket, for a total of 3 in his stall. He does drink a lot of water sometimes two buckets by morning. His stool is also quite soft. When I ride him I start off slow. stretch his neck, etc. He is also alright at the trot, he makes that breathing noise but he will get into a frame when I ask him, but he usually fights me with his head at first. He would carry his head up as high as he could if I let him. It doesnt take much for me to ask for the canter, I barely touch him and he still runs into it before I collect him but I feel him pulling on me like he wants to run and he just gets so loud regardless if I talk to him or try and rub him. If I just light trotted him for 15 min his entire neck and under my saddle is all sweat, it doesnt take much. I have actually had people think I abuse him because he looks like I galloped him around for hours. My goal with him is to be a hunter/jumper. When he was younger he would jump fine, slightly excited but not too bad. Just recently, like a month and a half ago he really has started acting up. He runs at every pole and flys over it like it is a jump. If i set up a VERY low vertical he gallops at it, but hesitantly like at a slant and then jumps it like its 4ft high. Nothing to my knowledge has happened to traumatize him like this. I havent even been jumping him at all over the winter because I have been trying to get his flatwork fixed. I feel so bad for him because I am not asking for anything strenuous or stressful I just want him to relax. I can get him to relax a little on the lunge, sometimes.

Answer
You love your horse, that much is very clear. You are trying to keep him comfortable and happy in most areas but he is not ready to be jumping under saddle/with a rider yet. He is much too young to be able to handle the mental or the physical strain of poles or bounces or any type of vertical no matter how small you believe it to be.
Thoroughbreds are raced at an early age for one reason only... money. The owners want to make as much money from their investment as soon as possible. So they push horses to run far sooner then they ever should. In the Performance world, we think a horse should be spared undue stress until it's body has had a chance to finish growing and become strong enough to support a rider under any condition.
Please take a moment to read this article written by a noted Trainer and respected professional Horseperson   http://www.todayshorse.com/Articles/TooHardTooYoung.htm

I think your horse is feeling quite a bit more stress when you ride him over jumps then you realize. Why not keep him on the flat for a few months ... work on relaxing him by keeping him at a walk of trot when you ride him. Keep your rides short and always end on a good note. Spend more time handling him and grooming him... Bond with him more deeply until he relaxes automatically whenever you are around. You will find he will become a much better horse in the long run if you are patient with him now.