7 yr old - new arthritis and aggression. Need advice!

[Libby2021]

Hi Im reaching out as a non-horsey Mum for advice. Feeling quite emotional so please be gentle.
My daughter has had her horse for two years. A 7 year old ex-racer that had a full vetting when we got her from a previous private seller. She's done a fab job with her and really brought her on/built her up. Horse was quite highly strung originally on the ground so daughter worked with a trainer and everything just fell into place and was going so well. (Daughter just uses her for hacking/school work and the horse has never put a foot wrong.) My daughter went to uni this term and we put the horse on full livery during term time- she has a great loan who rides her. However about a month ago the horse went lame. After X-rays, vet diagnosed arthritis but said the actual joints (front knees) weren't too bad at all - so he gave injections for pain management and a plan of initial box rest/then walking exercise etc. However she is not showing any improvement. This morning she was noticeably lame when released in the field so we're calling vet back out. My issue aside from this and why Im reaching out - she has lunged at three people during this time at her stable. Im talking teeth bared. This morning she bit my husband with some force in the chest when he and my daughter arrived to turn her out from stable. He admits he probably missed the signs but said it was so quick and unexpected and he was on his back before he knew it - Im terrified as to where this is leading and my daughter is distraught. The horse has always been nippy but threatened to, rather than actually doing so (and was put in her place) - this is on a different level. We've had her scoped previously and it was clear. She isn't girthy or showing any other signs of ulcers. She is happy to be saddled/ridden. So does anyone have experience of this? Pain related? Pent up energy? Change of routine? What to do? I think we are probably in shock but we discussed PTS this morning which I cant believe I'm typing. We can't see how we're going to adequately manage her with daughter at university - I don't want the loaner or someone at the stable injured. I can't see how we could find her a new home. She is truly a much loved horse but I feel I need to lead with my head.

 

[bonny]

Hi Im reaching out as a non-horsey Mum for advice. Feeling quite emotional so please be gentle.
My daughter has had her horse for two years. A 7 year old ex-racer that had a full vetting when we got her from a previous private seller. She's done a fab job with her and really brought her on/built her up. Horse was quite highly strung originally on the ground so daughter worked with a trainer and everything just fell into place and was going so well. (Daughter just uses her for hacking/school work and the horse has never put a foot wrong.) My daughter went to uni this term and we put the horse on full livery during term time- she has a great loan who rides her. However about a month ago the horse went lame. After X-rays, vet diagnosed arthritis but said the actual joints (front knees) weren't too bad at all - so he gave injections for pain management and a plan of initial box rest/then walking exercise etc. However she is not showing any improvement. This morning she was noticeably lame when released in the field so we're calling vet back out. My issue aside from this and why Im reaching out - she has lunged at three people during this time at her stable. Im talking teeth bared. This morning she bit my husband with some force in the chest when he and my daughter arrived to turn her out from stable. He admits he probably missed the signs but said it was so quick and unexpected and he was on his back before he knew it - Im terrified as to where this is leading and my daughter is distraught. The horse has always been nippy but threatened to, rather than actually doing so (and was put in her place) - this is on a different level. We've had her scoped previously and it was clear. She isn't girthy or showing any other signs of ulcers. She is happy to be saddled/ridden. So does anyone have experience of this? Pain related? Pent up energy? Change of routine? What to do? I think we are probably in shock but we discussed PTS this morning which I cant believe I'm typing. We can't see how we're going to adequately manage her with daughter at university - I don't want the loaner or someone at the stable injured. I can't see how we could find her a new home. She is truly a much loved horse but I feel I need to lead with my head.

What do you mean by put in her place ?

 

[meleeka]

I think you need to get the lameness fixed first, before trying to fix the behaviour. It sounds as if it all stems from the injury. She’s clearly not happy and can’t carry on like she is. I think it’s premature to be talking PTS when you haven’t got a prognosis for the knees.

I have a mare that will let me know in no uncertain terms if she’s not happy. She’s never had to do box rest but I imagine she’d be similar. It’s actually one of the things I like about her that I know exactly what she’s thinking at any given time. She doesn’t threaten to kick me anymore, but that’s taken years to achieve and our relationship is based on mutual respect. In the beginning I had to just give her space. When I had to do anything with her she was always tied up and I could never boss her around, that would just make it worse.

I appreciate its difficult as she has more than one carer and that could also be an issue. I’d leave things up to more experienced people for now and investigate her pain as a starting point.

 

[paddi22]

Was there a large change in the hours or turnout when horse went on full livery compared to when horse was at home? If horse has been stabled more, with the cold weather, it could be feeling more arthritic pain? Also has the farrier changed? Is there any chance at all the lameness could be shoe related? If she was mine, I'd change her back to whatever situation you had her in before she went on livery, take shoes off and turn her out for a few weeks under vet guidance.

 

[Libby2021]

What do you mean by put in her place ?

Hi - I probably phrased that badly - we'd just push her head away with a loud 'No', which would normally stop it

 

[Libby2021]

I think you need to get the lameness fixed first, before trying to fix the behaviour. It sounds as if it all stems from the injury. She’s clearly not happy and can’t carry on like she is. I think it’s premature to be talking PTS when you haven’t got a prognosis for the knees.

I have a mare that will let me know in no uncertain terms if she’s not happy. She’s never had to do box rest but I imagine she’d be similar. It’s actually one of the things I like about her that I know exactly what she’s thinking at any given time. She doesn’t threaten to kick me anymore, but that’s taken years to achieve and our relationship is based on mutual respect. In the beginning I had to just give her space. When I had to do anything with her she was always tied up and I could never boss her around, that would just make it worse.

I appreciate its difficult as she has more than one carer and that could also be an issue. I’d leave things up to more experienced people for now and investigate her pain as a starting point.

Thanks - really helpful. I too dont think she's happy. I think being stabled overnight probably means she's in more pain the the mornings through lack of movement, hence the bad behaviour. We have the vet on Wednesday and will talk through. But thank you

 

[Libby2021]

Was there a large change in the hours or turnout when horse went on full livery compared to when horse was at home? If horse has been stabled more, with the cold weather, it could be feeling more arthritic pain? Also has the farrier changed? Is there any chance at all the lameness could be shoe related? If she was mine, I'd change her back to whatever situation you had her in before she went on livery, take shoes off and turn her out for a few weeks under vet guidance.

We moved stable a couple of months before daughter went to uni, to prepare for new routine. Horse seemed fine. I don't think it is helping her having different people turn her out though. Farrier is the same one we have always used. Ive spoken to him - he says her feet are fine and she's fine when he does them. Interesting about stable, as I was just saying to my daughter maybe horse would be better left in field. Thank you - I happy to listen to any advice.

 

[paddi22]

Also check has the horse significantly changed muscle anywhere. I've seen a few exracers start to develop issues when they change rider or workload. A good rider doing correct work can really help an ex-racer avoid symptoms of KS, for example. When it goes to a rider who might ride hollow, then body issues start to show up. Also really simple stuff like, is the arena really deep or anything, or would loaner have been riding in bad ground and horse potentially pulled something?

 

[Libby2021]

Also check has the horse significantly changed muscle anywhere. I've seen a few exracers start to develop issues when they change rider or workload. A good rider doing correct work can really help an ex-racer avoid symptoms of KS, for example. When it goes to a rider who might ride hollow, then body issues start to show up. Also really simple stuff like, is the arena really deep or anything, or would loaner have been riding in bad ground and horse potentially pulled something?

Thanks for replying. I hadn't considered arena which is a lot different. Horse was looking in great shape prior to lameness but has lost muscle very quickly. Unfortunately we can't work her at all currently other than 10 min walk. Will take on board about loans although think we struck gold with ours - just hoping we can keep her with a lame horse.

 

[Little Mo]

I have a horse that can’t be stabled and what we thought was laminitis 6 times this year, we now think is arthritis. He gets so stressed and drips in sweat and he barges me and has nearly knocked me down a few times potentially injuring me. The vet agrees the stress of stabling is making him worse so I turn him out now with his herd.

 

[Sandstone1]

Sounds like turnout would be the best option for her mental health. Also movement is often best for arthritis. If shes in pain and stressed she may have developed ulcers since she was scoped.