MochaDun
Well-Known Member
My gelding pony has been like a flat battery for last few weeks. He's out 8 hrs a day, stabled at night (on haylage..not my choice) as he's a very good do-er. He has one small scoop of Allen & Page Slim & Healthy with an easy breathing supplement (just cos of dusty forage and being stabled), carrot and apple. Few weeks ago I noticed in school he was slightly holding his head to the left in trot and also witnessed this on hacks. When I flex his head back to the right he slightly stiffens through his back and loses a bit of pace. Though no lameness anywhere. I've stopped schooling and lessons and just gently hacking a couple of times a week whilst waiting for physio appt (week this coming Weds, she had to postpone by a week due to flu). While he was fine hacking yesterday, he's been very reluctant and slow out hacking today so I didn't force anything.
Whilst waiting for this appt he's also been set upon by another horse in the field and I witnessed him having to make a very awkward leap from standstill as the other horse had him pinned in the hedge - from where I was standing looked like my horse's front end was almost at right angles to his back end as he tried to escape sideways from being bitten. And since then I think I can hear a faint click in his upper jaw as he eats and when he's been stood in for a bit and moves his front end something in shoulder clicks quietly too. The other horse bit him on the shoulder.
His physio appt can't come soon enough for me as I think he probably has been feeling off through back or muscle pain which has then possibly been exacerbated by the fight with the other horse and maybe now he has uncomfortable shoulder, poll or neck too. Another reason why I thought front end might be effected too is because he also makes a bit of an uncomfortable face very occasionally when eating a big treat at the moment like it's hard to crunch in his jaw. He seems happy enough in himself but have decided not to ride again now until he's seen by physio. I'm only worried that I've got the diagnosis wrong myself as I did wonder if it's just a teeth issue though normally he can go 9 months between appts - she's due few days after physio as while teeth not due til early Nov I just want everything checked at the moment.
So what am I asking?...dunno really...probably for reassurance that I haven't made anything worse by continuing with gentle hacking over last couple of weeks (thought it might just be good to keep him moving) plus any thoughts on if it is a teeth issue only could it be causing what I think I'm seeing/feeling in both back and front end? Sorry this is very long and a bit blah...
Whilst waiting for this appt he's also been set upon by another horse in the field and I witnessed him having to make a very awkward leap from standstill as the other horse had him pinned in the hedge - from where I was standing looked like my horse's front end was almost at right angles to his back end as he tried to escape sideways from being bitten. And since then I think I can hear a faint click in his upper jaw as he eats and when he's been stood in for a bit and moves his front end something in shoulder clicks quietly too. The other horse bit him on the shoulder.
His physio appt can't come soon enough for me as I think he probably has been feeling off through back or muscle pain which has then possibly been exacerbated by the fight with the other horse and maybe now he has uncomfortable shoulder, poll or neck too. Another reason why I thought front end might be effected too is because he also makes a bit of an uncomfortable face very occasionally when eating a big treat at the moment like it's hard to crunch in his jaw. He seems happy enough in himself but have decided not to ride again now until he's seen by physio. I'm only worried that I've got the diagnosis wrong myself as I did wonder if it's just a teeth issue though normally he can go 9 months between appts - she's due few days after physio as while teeth not due til early Nov I just want everything checked at the moment.
So what am I asking?...dunno really...probably for reassurance that I haven't made anything worse by continuing with gentle hacking over last couple of weeks (thought it might just be good to keep him moving) plus any thoughts on if it is a teeth issue only could it be causing what I think I'm seeing/feeling in both back and front end? Sorry this is very long and a bit blah...
