Arean Uk BD-frustrating day:

I'm sure you're aware but there are some ulcers which don't respond to omaprazole, so unless you scope him, you aren't actually ruling ulcers out. Mine had ulcers which required antibiotic treatment to clear them up as gastrogard didn't touch them.
 
How frustrating for you! The photos look wonderful, the first part of the test must have been really nice.

Just to add my two-pence: when F was scoped the vet also took a stool sample for a test for rectal ulcers which apparently you can't see with the scope, might be worth a thought.

Also I noticed you mention a 'sticky stiffle'. This is a total shot in the dark and nothing to panic about but I had a horse whose sticky stiffle was a side-effect of his OCD. He was working at a much lower level than CS, but had managed to qualify for the nationals at novice and have placings at elem, all with two completely crippled back legs. The vet said it was one of the worst cases of OCD he had ever seen but you couldn't see any lameness until we nerve blocked him. He was also a highly strung character, sometimes brilliant, sometimes nuts - in retrospect he had a lot of pain to deal with.

I am not suggesting this is the case with CS but perhaps the stiffle is a clue worth pursuing if it hasn't already been investigated by your vet.
 
will look in to the seaweed/iodine issue, thanks :)

thanks for all support, lots to look in to and htink about. What makes it harder is that at home and lessons he is getting MORE and more reliable, more willing to go forward, far more settled etc................and im struggling to think of things that could only affect him on show days?

obv we have the potential tummy/ulcer issue, which could be made worse on show days by tension.
tack is same, pads and sheep are same as home stuff except white not cream.

makes no diff if travelling only 15min to vale view or 2 hours to a show.

he always goes out in field whilst i muck out, and has ad lib hay all morning and on way to show.

??????????????
 
Prince33Sp4rkle said:
will look in to the seaweed/iodine issue, thanks :)

thanks for all support, lots to look in to and htink about. What makes it harder is that at home and lessons he is getting MORE and more reliable, more willing to go forward, far more settled etc................and im struggling to think of things that could only affect him on show days?

??????????????
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I said it a few months ago and again on this thread, but you seem to gloss over / dismiss the possibility.

Ring pressure.

He has moved up the levels very quickly, why not step him back once you have ruled out veterinary issues?
 
Just a few thoughts
What about trying a thermograph to see if there's anything pain related.
What about keeping him in work but a lower level? Maybe he's capable of the high level work but his brain is still a bit baby?
What about going out twice a week to any local shows or hiring schools and trying to let him get used to the atmosphere without the stress of competing?
 
booboos-its ok, no panic, he has had stifles checked/blocked and its not OCD issues so can tick that off but thanks :)

have school hired all winter and some days he is foot perfect, and they were the windiest, coldest busiest days etc and then just once or twice he has gone inside out for no apparent reason and spent the entire time going mad. went to same place 3 times in a row and 1st and last times he was ballistic, middle time he was a dobbin. all were middle of day, quiet times, nothing else going on on yard etc. had been in field on all 3 days, had same feed and same work prior etc.so its a good idea but so far all its proved is a further lack of pattern, if you know what i mean.he's actually getting VERY good about the warm up now, much less stress and leaping, this is definately cant/shant or wont rather than OMG excitment if you know what i mean again??????

im not glossing over the pressure aspect, but its a hard one to balance, if you back off him too much he definately gets worse and the comfort zone gets smaller, which in some ways says its not physical. If he has to have 3/4 days off he is always more prone to rearing the day i get back on, will literally do it as soon as i get on, as if checking im still as brave as i was before (and ive tried giving him several days off then trotting up/prodding/poking-NO pain response).

have also had him on bute for 2 weeks which made no difference either way, better OR worse.

rearing IS his thing-he's done it since a 2yo and he will try it in hand to if he doesnt think you are paying attention, a few times when ive been leading him in and not paying 100% to him, maybe texting or casting eye over fig, he's nipped round the back of me quick as a flash and started boxing at me.
if you march him along and almost stare him down, he wont do it.
 
ihatework said:
I said it a few months ago and again on this thread, but you seem to gloss over / dismiss the possibility.

Ring pressure.

He has moved up the levels very quickly, why not step him back once you have ruled out veterinary issues?
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Totally agree with this.
 
wench said:
To be honest, I would get him scoped so you know one way or another if it was ulcers. I was convinced mine would have them, as she showed all the symptoms. I was astounded when the scope came back clear; however, we could then move onto other things to find out where the problem was coming from.
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FWIW - my horse competes nowhere near as high as you OP but i think its still relevent... we did a prelim test and the little sod wouldnt canter...(she had ulcers, scoped in feb) sunday, she wouldnt canter - monday she had an ulcers attack (mild colic signs) she was re-scoped tuesday and showed grade 2 ulcers

shes currently on GG until it runs out then Omeprazole, as its more affordable - but shes a much happier, relaxed horse on GG - just incredibly bored from no work (riding again monday)....!

just a thought... i know its only prelim but she got incredobly stressed as it was spooky/scary etc... same at all levels imo - horses cope in different ways

her grad 2 ulcers arnt severe anymore (they were in feb - worst some specialist had ever seen - my horse stopped eating)

eeee massive essay :o
 
Don't think this has been mentioned but might there be something about the lighting at competitions (indoor?) which might be freaking him in seemingly random places? Even just a sudden reflection off someone's watch might be enough to upset him if he's focussing on you and then suddenly something bright and quick catches his eye. Just a thought.
Beautiful horse, by the way!!
 
Hi, I've been following your threads for a little while now as I think your boy is stunning! I'm gettin my mare scoped on Friday as we progress so far in her schooling then she just explodes for no reason! I've found a link on here for omeprozole
 
Stupid phone post!! And some people import it from America, is that what you do? Or do it thro vet? I'm just weighing up my options if I find out on Friday that she has them as not keen on goin thro insurance if I can find a cheaper way of treating them x
 
If it's the granules you are getting from that American website, don't bother. I got them for D and you have to sprinkle them on their feed. For a start, Omeprazole is meant to be given on an empty stomach. When I gave her GG it had to be first thing, half an hour before breakfast to work effectively. And secondly, she drops her feed all over the place and when she's finished, half the granules are stuck to the side of the bucket. I've noticed no difference in her behaviour at all and feel I've wasted my money :(
 
You won't know either way if he has the type of ulcers which don't respond to omaprazole. Mine had some which did (splash ulcers) but clearing them up had no effect on performance, and some which didn't...and it wasn't till we cleared them with antibiotics that an improvement in performance was seen, despite the month on gastrogard.
 
I'd get him scoped, tbh.

You've clearly put a lot of time, effort and money into getting CS to the level he's at....why not pay that little bit more for a definite diagnosis and a way forward?
 
I dont get the people who believe that this is a horse that is suffering from being too pressured/worked too hard. Apart from anything else, he's a thoroughbred, he is bred for racing, he is NOT bred to be a riding horse or dressage horse, he is bred for galloping. His bloodlines are reknown for being difficult- they are horses that make a screaming fuss about going into starting stalls or simply galloping in a straight line. Yes we have many racehorses that retrain well to do other sports with no fuss- but a large majority do not.
I think that P_S has done such a good job with this horse, athletically, he obviously finds the job very easy, but mentally, because of the way he is bred, he flips a switch from time to time. Like so many thoroughbreds do. People shouldnt compare him to other warmbloods or generally bred sport horses and expect the same levels of behaviour/performance. Doing less work/easier shows is probably not the answer. He is just a sod. You talk to anyone in racing and they'll all tell you that certain pedigrees are little buggers and that you can hardly do anything with them. Its not a pain/pressure thing- they are just like that!! A horse that randomly starts rearing in your face for no known reason when being brought in from the field- is a sod!!
I think that PS should keep perservering,she's done remarkably well to get to where she has done, and one day the the horse will probably settle down and enjoy his work. Maybe gastroguard will make a difference- who knows? But he is so good at home, so doubt its ulcer related, but who knows, it might be.
You just cant compare a horse like this to 'normal' riding horses, and then go and criticise him for his bad behaviour, he is just bred and wired up completly differently.
 
ihatework said:
I said it a few months ago and again on this thread, but you seem to gloss over / dismiss the possibility.

Ring pressure.

He has moved up the levels very quickly, why not step him back once you have ruled out veterinary issues?
Click to expand...

Considering that PS and CS finished last season with an Advanced (where we had no antics), but have started out this season doing Advanced Medium (where the antics have returned); if it really was ring pressure, surely his behaviour would be the same at every show, regardless of level? :confused:

seabsicuit2 said:
He is just a sod.
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Hahaaaaa :D
 
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I agree with Nikki, if it was ring pressure surely he'd explode every time, not just occasionally!

Anyway, it's so frustrating, even more so when you don't know what it is...........he looks amazing in the first pic :) so fingers crossed you get him sorted asap.
 
Tbh I think it was just 'one of those days'. I always think you seem remarkably consistent in the way you bring CS on. Its fairly clear from the reports on here that he isn't actually competed all that much. Some 7yr olds ar out eventing every weekend over intermediate BE courses with pro's and thats hard work!
I think he just had a moment, who knows why. Probably best to put that performance behind you and look to the next one. The rearing seems pretty sporadic so doubt it's pain. If he hurt that much he'd tell you where to go and put you on the floor.
If it was me and I thought there was ulcers id get him scoped so you know but he may not have any, you have him on good diet and he gets turnout so he may be fine.
My mums having lessons at the moment with a top dressage lady and shes always telling stories of her sharp warmbloods playing up. Comes with the territory, if you want them to be so reactive in order to perform, energy is bound to slip out the net from time to time in to an unwanted display ;).
Onwards and upwards!
 
black_horse said:
CS might not have given antics at advanced, but prolongs pressure can cause a horse to react. Surely he is being trained harder and to a higher level then he is competing at? So, just because he is competing at Advanced Med, doesnt mean he is under less pressure.
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We're talking about ring pressure here. The level at which CS is trained was not referenced in the earlier point made.
 
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Ps if I were you I would get him scoped (but that's just because I'm paranoid about everything). However, this test with the drug sounds just as good and must be worth a go! Tbh, doesn't sound that different to the bute test.
Let us know how you get on!
Wish you luck.
 
A genuine question if you suspected that you had ulcers would you treat yourself blindly or would you want full medical investigations, including a scope so they could be treated correctly?
 
I don't understand the reluctance to scope so that you would know conclusively whether that is what you were dealing with :confused:, I suppose just because I think would scope the ageing welshie if I suspected ulcers so would certainly scope something I was expecting to compete.
 
lostmymarbles said:
A genuine question if you suspected that you had ulcers would you treat yourself blindly or would you want full medical investigations, including a scope so they could be treated correctly?
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Though this question wasn't posed at me, I'm going to answer it anyway :D

Yes, I would probably treat myself blindly...can't stand going to the doctors/hospital etc and much prefer to try to solve things myself if possible before I resort to expensive/intrusive/etc medical investigations. Just my opinion :D
 
There is a difference though, you know what you feel/what hurts it is rather more speculative when dealing with animals! :)
 
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