Anyone else's horse a bit lethargic under saddle?

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MizElz

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Ellie's been quite lazy recently when ridden, and this is completely out of the ordinary for her. We actually noticed last week that she had dropped a bit of condition - it was very sudden, like one day she was blooming, and the next she just seemed to lack lustre; she'd fallen away a bit over her quarters, too. Out came the rugs - although she's not clipped she feels the cold very easily, and I think that was part of the problem, as she now has a little lightweight Masta on and seems much better. We also wormed her, and have stepped up her feed - she's on a half scoop of sugar beet a day now, along with her build up cubes and pasture mix. I think grazing might be part of the issue - see other posts (!) for details - but the bottom line is she's currently turned out in a mud bath with no grass, although this wont last long as we are moving within this coming month.
On Tuesday evening this week, I went to give her some extra hay, and she was making a strange groaning noise, then curling her top lip. She was eating/drinking/pooing/weeing fine, and she'd spent the day out in the field and behaved absolutely normally. I checked for all the normal signs of colic but she seemed ok, and after deciding that she was fine to leave, she was much better when we got back later that evening. She's been fine since, and I think she's actually put some weight back on since we've stepped up her feed. Her behaviour is totally normal - she'll kick the door, gallop/buck/fart around the field at both ends of the day (she loves going out but always demands to be brought back in!) and is generally happy. But under saddle, she seems quite lethargic, which is totally out of character. It's not that she doesnt want to be ridden, she just wants to plod along in walk, and although she's still spooky and shys at stupid/non existent things, I really have to push hard to get her to trot, and even more so to canter. Normally she'll be eager to go as soon as we get into our 'gallop field', but for the past couple of days, she's really not been bothered. She isnt very fit, but has been ridden (2 miles a day) at least five days a week for the past fortnight, so she isnt completely unfit by any means.

Is anyone else's horse a bit lethargic at the moment? I'm a bit confused, as this really isnt like her
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Daughters pony has been rather lazy and lethargic for the last few weeks. She did PCcamp which wiped her out a bit but she's still been quieter than usual. I think it could be the coat change and I've now clipped her so hope she'll perk up a bit. She was rather hairy
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Cob is next..he's sweating just stood still...
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It's not much help as you said she was feeling cold but when I had my oldie I would always worry at this time of year, he would start to get lethargic and I would wonder if it was time to retire him. Then we'd clip him and he'd instantly go back to his bouncy self. Could she just be feeling too hot when she's ridden?
 
yes, I know of a couple of people who have had horses go like this in the last couple of months. in both instances the vet did bloods, checked liver, heart etc etc (all tests possible) and found nothing.

It's my guessing that this is either a low grade virus which isnt being detected by vets or that the weather and climate this year is really playing havok with horses.

The other interesting thing is that coording to my GP and a friend (who is a nurse) in humans there have been a significant rise in firstly, stomach bugs, and secondly asthma and allergies this year. So it does make you wonder if the climate is affecting US like that then it's perfectly reasonable for it to affect animals too.
 
no rather the opposite in fact!

The grass here has just had a new lease of life.

She may well have picked up a virus, is fairly common, and would explain her lethargic nature, if you are worried I would get the vet to do a blood test .
 
Wouldnt have thought it could be a virus as she has absolutely no contact with any other horses. We dont even compete, so I cant see how she'd have picked anything up
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Plus, there's nothing lethargic about her when she's hightailing it round and round the field, yelling to come in! It really is very strange
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It's perfectly possible for her to pick up something even if she has no contact with others.

My friend's pony has no contact with anything else than what's on the yard (no others are showing the same symptoms BTW) but he has no one on one contact with even them...

He'll happily behave like normal out in the field and in the stable, but just isn't 'right'. Ridden he's lethargic, to the point where his owner had the vet out the first day she noticed as it was so unlike him. All tests came gback clear, but we're now two months down the line and no improvement. She's put him on some global herbs and see if that helps him.
 
You may want to call the vet, just to be sure. She may have some sort of ulcer in her stomach, I'm probably wrong, but definitely call the vet. Or it may be a sort of seasonal change, how old is she? Is she castrated? Does she often go a bit lethargic at this time of year?
 
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You may want to call the vet, just to be sure. She may have some sort of ulcer in her stomach, I'm probably wrong, but definitely call the vet. Or it may be a sort of seasonal change, how old is she? Is she castrated? Does she often go a bit lethargic at this time of year?

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Hmmm, I think the vet would laugh at me to be honest! I'm normally the world's most paranoid owner - the vet has been called in the past for the most trivial things - but I truly dont think anyone would find anything wrong with her. I think it may well be the weather - I dont recall her being like this at this time of year before, although she has been a bit lethargic in Jan/Feb time in the past, when the weather is dreary. Sitting here pondering, she's perhaps not so much lethargic as lazy - she keeps trying to stop to eat blackberries, rub her head on her knee, turn her head to see if I have a treat for her (ok, how naughty and spoilt do I make my horse sound!) All things that I normally let her do at the end of a ride, when I've stopped asking her to work.

She's 13 years old, and has all her ladybits in tact. It could be a season I guess - she is often 'different' when in use, sometimes manic, sometimes drowsy. I will have a feel later to see if she's swollen between her back legs - if she is in use, that may well be the reason!!
 
yes, mines become very ill actually. being lethargic were the 1st symptoms. after lots of tests they've found some nasty bacteria in his lungs which are being 'grown' over the weekend to ascertain which antibiotics to give him. but he looks bad as well- reddy yellow eyes, losing topline etc.
i'd keep an eye on your horse - hopefully it's just our weather causing this but you can never be too sure.
 
Funny you should mention blackberries MizElz - there is an old saying that goes 'No horse looks good at blackberry time' - and an old chap I used to know would also say 'No horse feels good at blackberry time'.

I think it's because horses are changing their coats at this time of year, as well as the grass often being less good at the end of the summer. There have been quite a few posts about lethargic horses and ponies recently, and I remember seeing a lot this time last year as well, so it must be a very common thing, as the old sayings suggest.

My boy seems totally unaffected by this, however, and remains his usual hyperactive, excitable, bouncy self 24/7/365!
 
I'm having the exact same problem. Took Madam to dressage today and last week and although willing, she's lacking sparkle.
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I'm hoping once she has been clipped etc she will feel better. I am going to do some sponsored rides and see if she cheers up. I also got some Propell Plus.
 
i put it down to the time of year. mine was a bit "bleugh" for a few days, generally lazy and lacking sparkle, i gave him some global herbs restore, a liver tonic and detox liquid, worked a treat!!
 
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