Anyone had their horse do this before

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BethH

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Hi

Having got my horse on the mend following so many issues and vet bills it's untrue I have noticed a couple of odd things he has started doing recently. I am sincerely hoping no one says "Ulcers" to me as this is the only thing left that he hasn't had but:

He has started licking his lips constantly over the last few weeks and licking & chewing just standing tied up or in his stable when he isn't eating. Also when I turn up he starts yawning loads for a few minutes - it's quite odd, he's never done it before - I've owned him 12years! Also, when you bring him in and put a headcollar on him he is grabbing the top of the leadrope just under the clip and really chomping down on it. When you tell him off he just stops doing it. He doesn't do it with me but he does when the yard manager or anyone else brings him in. He is very well mannered so it is unusual.

As an aside I have also noticed his front legs have a very slight tremor every now and again and when I do carrot stretches around his ankles they shake quite visibly. He has now started being ridden again but seems to really need to stretch his neck down to the floor when he is working and I am in 2 minds as to whether he is just starting to use muscles again and needs to stretch them or whether there is something more important going on. I have a superb Chiro and also a great bodyworker who say his muscles feel great & lovely and loose - but it's a bit odd!

I am probably just suffering from paranoia after everything else I've sorted in the last couple of years but.........

I've popped him on some milk thistle, dandelion leaves and brewers yeast for a detox & for his gut but he is bright eyed, shiny, healthy & sound, he looks really well. Teeth were done 2 mths ago by a qualified EDT who is also an equine vet. Back/saddle copious back checks done regularly, no obvious soreness - Can someone tell me I'm being paranoid?
 
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Hi Thanks for the replies, Dave you made me laugh! That's exactly what it's like, but Ryan and I are pretty good friends, he is a little like a rather excitable giant pet dog. It's just almost like he's sucking his palate so I'm wondering if he has lots of tension he needs to release hence possibly a belly ache or something, it's not windsucking but's it not quite normal! He's such a poppet, hence I'm trying so hard to make sure he doesn't have to put up with any more discomfort. Pearlasinger, I think I should, I'm hesitating as they've been a bit rubbish at helping him so I think I'll get a vet bill for them to tell me there's nothing wrong. It's one of those can't quite put my finger on it type things, unfortunately, my paranoia normally ends up with them finding something significant!!! I just hoped someone else might have had their horse doing same so they could tell me it was a bad tooth or something! Many thanks all.
 
Might sound silly but.... Have you looked in his mouth? My older mare has a bit of a ritual when she comes in and is tied up, she "flosses" for want of a better word, grass gets caught in her teeth and gaps behind and its not comfy for her.
Sounds very similar to what yours is doing mouth wise!
 
Aha, maybe that's it. Might get the dental vet back for a look to see if he has left a jagged edge food is getting caught on. It's rather like he's sucking a boiled sweet! He was checked in July, he doesn't like having his teeth done, we have to knock him out, so I tend to avoid looking in his mouth if I can possibly help it, dangly bits fine, teeth a no go area!

Heyho - another bill for a vet visit - I wish he could talk I'd save a fortune on investigations! Just in case anyone else has any other ideas whilst the vet is there, please let me know so I can ask 2 questions at once!
 
My horse has started doing this since I started feeding him turmeric. It's like he is trying to suck his tongue. Would actually nearly think he was trying to wind suck 🙈if he doesn't stop I might stop the turmeric. Other that that tho he seems to be doing great on it so I dunno. Sorry that's not helpful but yes have experienced it.
Oh and also he always licks something metal after he gets a treat. I try to manage him like an ulcer horse for that reason. Saying that tho after all I've learnt and researched these past few years I will always mange any horse I own as a barefoot horse with ulcers! And I will still worry lol
 
Licking/chewing and yawning are all signs of stress. The licking/chewing is typically after a period of stress and the yawning is a "calming signal" which is a way for the horse to relax itself when it feels something stressful starting to happen as well as signal to others that "it's ok, let's stay calm". Is this also something he only does when less familiar people bring him in? If you notice this behaviour when doing carrot stretches, he is probably finding them stressful. They are not comfortable after all (however beneficial, stretches aren't meant to be "pleasant"), and not a very "natural" thing for a horse to be doing. Trembling is also something that horses (and many other animals) do when they are in a semi-shocked/stressed state - and in horses when I've seen it it's typically been the front legs most of all.

That's not to say the trembling couldn't be caused by something else. And I'm not sure the stretching down when ridden thing is in any way linked (or indeed of any concern).

Also note that if he only behaves that way with his head collar when others bring him in but not you, it can't be stuff stuck in his teeth (cause why would it only happen with others?). I would watch carefully how others are bringing him in... Is it different at all to how you do it? Sounds mostly like a habit he's picked up because of something they are doing differently. Alternatively, he may find being led by someone else more stressful (particularly if there's more licking/chewing/yawning around those other people) and be mouthing because of that... Since biting/nibbling is yet another way a horse might express themselves in a stressful/frustrating scenario.

I should add that even though some of these behaviours are signs of stress, all horses experience stress to a degree. You may wish to minimise it but I wouldn't consider it cause for concern. You could get a vet out for peace of mind - my only thought there would be to investigate the trembling. The rest really doesn't seem like it could be a symptom of anything.
 
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My mare does the stretching down when ridden. I think she does it when her back / neck muscles get tired and she needs a break and a stretch.
You say he's only recently started being ridden again so he may have lost some muscle condition and needs frequent breaks in his work until he's stronger again.
 
All fantastic replies thank you and sort of confirming what I thought, possibly a couple of separate small things unsettling him. Recently there has been a new groom helping on the yard, I think he finds her handling stressful and there has also been some barging at the field gate by other horses, it is starting to make more sense I bet it's anxiety, he hides it very well usually, so something is going on. He is very calm when handled properly but this groom does like doing things a bit parelli style and I have asked that he is to walk by her side and not in front and not to use a rope headcollar, am not sure how well she is listening to me, might do a bit of checking up! It's the yawning when I turn up that is unusual because I sense that it's relief that I'm there, but I wondered if I was over analysing as usual, was worried it could be the start of ulcers!

Barnacle thank you, I completely get what you are saying it mirrors my thoughts and because he is lovely but very sensitive/sharp I try to be as placid around him as possible so he doesn't worry - I think it might indeed be stress along with tired muscles from starting to work again, he has lost a huge amount of muscle density so is clearly getting tired despite the short sessions so thank you little critter I will have the body worker in again to give him a once over & I will have a think about varying his exercises much more. Googol, I have also switched him to Agrobs museli feed over the last couple of months and he seems to be relishing it a lot more than his old feed so I suspect there is also a bit of that going on too, I took him barefoot 2yrs again due to an incompetent farrier and am shovelling herbs down him to help his tummy, I completely agree on your management, I think many horses would benefit from the regime.

Huge thank you all, lots of food for thought, just for the record, having had 2 wonderful but highly sensitive horses, I really am never going to have a 3rd - I worry to much!!!!!
 
My boy licks constantly when he's had a treat or is feeling affectionate; it isn't a stress thing for him.

However snatching at the leadrope is a sign that he's stressed or grumpy and he usually does it if I haven't visited in a few days. If my visits are long enough and frequent enough then the leadrope is safe!
 
Thanks DD - your horse sounds similar to mine - in fairness I have had the children on Summer holidays for the last few weeks and haven't been spending as much time with him as usual and I think I am a bit of a comfort blanket for him having owned him for so long. So I think the message from everyone is a little reminder that my horse needs some TLC and for me to handle him instead of the yard for a bit as he is feelijng a bit worried. They are amazing animals aren't, when you listen to them you realise that they are actually having to shout loudly to make you pay attention!!
 
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