A bit concerned...

C

CastleMouse

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Went to the yard at about 8am this morning, Ali was fine to rug up in his stable apart from a bit of shuffling... Went back to the yard before lunchtime to check up on him, and I decided to change his rug. He shuffled around a bit when I was taking his rug off, but then again it was a bit windy and any excuse will do for Ali for small things like that... Usually Ali is an absolute star to take off and put on rugs, he'll patiently stand in the middle of the field for you and won't even attempt to shuffle around... But when I went to put his rug on he spun round and lashed out his two hind legs away from me and galloped off into the distance... He then came back, I was very gentle and attempted to put his rug on again and this time he spins around, lashes out and goes buck, buck, buck away into the distance... So I went back to the jeep, got a headcollar and leadrope and managed to bring him back to the gate. Tied him up to bailers twine which was attached to a ring next to the fence post, very gently attempted to put his rug on but once it touched him he reared straight up, snapped the bailers twine and galloped off into the distance at such a speed that he slipped and went down... I was obviously a bit shook up after that, but Ali seemed fine as he went off prancing around the field again... So I brought him back into his stable and when I left the yard he was happily munching his hay... As you can imagine I'm very concerned, it's very unlike him
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In the past week he's been a bit of a b*stard to rug up in the field, but he's never attempted to kick me before
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Does anyone have any ideas on what could be wrong? Sorry for rambling on...
 
Could be way off here...there isn't anything on the inside of the rug that is causing him discomfort in anyway is there? Which may be rubbing him or something so he doesn't want his rug back on?
 
My old horse reacted like this once, totally out of character for him. When I checked him over I found a tender spot on his back & hip - he must have bumped himself rolling. He was fine again after a few days. I can't remember if I kept him in or put him out rugless.
 
did he make any noise? my horse had a muscle knot and refused to wear rugs. just thought he was tense when rugging up until he started squeaking (weirdest noise from a horse) and found a muscle knot that he didn't want touched
 
Not wanting to hijack but if there were no obvious sore spots would you think back probs? and if so is it correct to have the vet before ringing a back person?
 
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Is he shedding a coat and feeling a bit itchy and irritated?

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He is shedding his coat at the moment, it could be down to that? I've never had any problems like that with Castle though, but they're both completely different.
 
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Have you had a very close inspection for any sore spots?

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Yesterday I did, and he seemed perfectly fine
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Going to try again later though as I'm a bit concerned after his fall...
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Could be way off here...there isn't anything on the inside of the rug that is causing him discomfort in anyway is there? Which may be rubbing him or something so he doesn't want his rug back on?

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Nope, his two main turnout rugs were recently cleaned.
 
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Prob jsut got the wind under his tail. Check the rug and give him a good groom and go from there.
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Well he's been doing it for just over a week? Even when there was no wind at all
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My old horse reacted like this once, totally out of character for him. When I checked him over I found a tender spot on his back & hip - he must have bumped himself rolling. He was fine again after a few days. I can't remember if I kept him in or put him out rugless.

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Had a good fell along his back yesterday and he seemed perfectly fine... The weather is horrible at the moment so I decided to keep Ali in for today, hopefully it's just a "phase".
 
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did he make any noise? my horse had a muscle knot and refused to wear rugs. just thought he was tense when rugging up until he started squeaking (weirdest noise from a horse) and found a muscle knot that he didn't want touched

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Nope, no noise.
 
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Missy has been like this although not as bad as ali , Im putting it down to her being itchy and shedding .

Just take one case at a time and go from there , whats he like to groom ? tack up ? massage his back see how he is , check all around for any sore spots .

Hopefully it wont be anything to serious x

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He's an absolute star when you're grooming and tacking him up, although the other day when I was girthing him up he was a bit flinchy.
 
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Not wanting to hijack but if there were no obvious sore spots would you think back probs? and if so is it correct to have the vet before ringing a back person?

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It depends on the situation surely?
 
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Axel was the same as this when he hurt his back.

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Did he show any other signs? Ali's fine when being ridden, in fact I've been getting some fantastic work out of him recently...
 
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ah does sound very out of character, just a thought have you used that new saddle yet?

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I only rode in it once the other day, and he seemed to be fine as I got some lovely work out of him.
 
Just read your post on the saddle again, perhaps that was the problem? I would give him a couple of days just to see whether he is back to himself then call a vet/back person if you feel it necessary
 
You could also give him a bit of a massage, I got taught how to massage my horse and it's come in handy.
I thought he had a sore back once, then gave him a massage and found the exact place he was hurting as he put his ears back when I touched it.
 
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Axel was the same as this when he hurt his back.

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Did he show any other signs? Ali's fine when being ridden, in fact I've been getting some fantastic work out of him recently...

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No he was fine to ride, really forward going and I had a fab hack on him. A bit tense in the school, but he just hated to be touched anywhere on his whole body.
 
I don't suppose something like a sheet/plastic etc has blown across his field and frightened him, and putting the rug on reminds him of something that has frightened him? Alternatively if you have just had your rugs cleaned and it is since they have been back from the cleaners then he's not coming up with an allergic reaction to the cleaning detergent used? you would not necessarily see if his skin was particularly tender.
 
Spring Fever?

You haven't owned him for a Spring yet have you? My guys are all on their toes at the moment ..... which is truly saying something for Quarter Horses!
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Echo the thought about the possibility of a reaction to the detergent used when his rugs were cleaned. Perhaps try a "dirty" rug for a few days and see if that helps.
Apart from a pain issue the only other suggestion I have is that it could be something to do with static electricity? With the weather at the mo it's a possibility. I have one that is quite sensitive to this and I'm pretty static myself. When I first got her she got really iffy with rugs as we were sparking off each other for a week until I got more careful about discharging!
 
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