Advice needed - horse doesn't feel quite right...

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Christmas Crumpet

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New horse has been here 6 weeks and ridden pretty much every day since. He came straight from having a 6 week holiday after hunting finished.

He's done quite a lot of stuff - a lot of hacking, bit of jumping, schooling etc. And all ok.

Took him for a long hack yesterday which included trotting up a pretty long steep hill (about half a mile). Felt fine although bit tired when we got home.

Got on this afternoon and he felt very downhill and a bit odd. Not lame at all but as though his back was tense. He didn't worry about me getting on or tacking him up. He just felt odd after we trotted up a small hill.

Am now concerned I overdid it on the hill yesterday and am hoping he's just a bit sore after using his back end. Physio coming out routinely on Fri.

I'm thinking a few days off out in the field and then hack out quietly on Thurs to see how he is. I'm very sensitive to back problems having lost a horse due to them so a little concerned.

Does it sound like he has overdone it or god forbid, something worse? Any thoughts?
 
I'd go with your gut; chuck him out for a couple of days and see how he feels on a steady hack later in the week.
 
Agreed totally. I gave him a bute last night and left him out. He can stay in the field till Fri morning when I'll walk him out so I can give a bit of info to physio on how he's feeling.

Sounds awful but I had him on trial so had to pack quite a few things into the time we had before deciding whether or not to buy him.

I think the hill was just beyond his fitness capabilities at the moment despite him having done it once before ok. I'm hoping he's just a bit achy and bute, rest and physio will get him back on track.
 
I'd always trust your gut - at the end of your day, he's your horse and you know him.

My lad started getting a bit stroppy about working in an outline in the school, and even started getting stroppy out hacking - which he never does... Hacking is normally on the buckle with ears happily pricked :rolleyes:

More experienced people on yard said that he was being schooled more, so harder work to carry himself better, hence the strops as harder work and nothing wrong with him and saddle etc fine. Went away for a few days, and YM rode him for me - first time she's sat on him fresh out of the stable for a while (rather than when I've been on for most of a lesson, and she might hop on for 5 mins), and consensus was that he has tweaked something as very different on each rein.

Physio coming out this week, and just hacking in walk to keep belly under control and he seems normal in walk. Wish I'd twigged earlier though - bee telling him off for not putting enough effort in, or doing as told, but actually something not right :(
 
I've just been out to see him and from what I can see and feel his pelvis is unlevel and he is sore in his loins. Not sure whether there is any point the saddler coming on Thurs. Physio on fri. I just feel like crying - I've got a very poorly baby who won't stop crying and a horse I've had for a week who's not right. Not the best Monday I've ever had!!
 
Don't immediately panic about the pelvis thing. It sounds dramatic ,but it could just be that he's twanged / pulled something like his lat muscle from pulling uphill and is now not holding himself straight because that muscle's in spasm. It's normally a good sign when you notice a muscle prob more suddenly, rather than it creeping out gradually, as new or acute twangs are usually easier to treat. Physio should be able to give him a good check over - may make sense to move saddler to after physio's been if it needs to be one or the other?
 
Fingers crossed its nothing major. I couldn't bear it if my week old pony was broken already!! Think I did the right thing in giving him a bute and keeping him out. Saddler needs to come on Thurs unfortunately because physio wants to assess saddle as well on Fri!! But fingers crossed my lovely boy is ok and I have already promised him he won't trot up that hill again until hunting starts!!!
 
I remember reading something ages ago that recommended you either walk or canter up hill, not trot, something to do with strain on the sacroiliac joint?
 
Yes, sounds like rest was the best idea. Fingers crossed for a simple explanation on Fri! I'd be getting saddler back again once horse is straight and comfortable again to do a proper ridden fit assessment...
 
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