Arean Uk BD-frustrating day:

Prince33Sp4rkle

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we started off like this:

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and managed some of this:

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but spoilt it rather with some of this:
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and this for good measure:
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warmed up like a lamb and managed 99% of AM85 really sweetly,on song for about 63/64% and then completely out the blue gave me a bolt upright rear instead of the second change, getting himself a 1 and absolutely hammering the submission score and final centre line for an eventual 60.8%.

AM92 he seemed to be a reformed character until he got his tongue over the bit (which i think was a genuine mistake as he's never done it before), so i had to stop and retire to sort that out, judge kindly let me finish and even kinder carried on scoring, but having halted he then downed tools and crawled through the remaining walk, stuck, shuffled and tried to stop in both piri's and did a very idle transition to trot, before having to be pony club whalloped in to canter to avoid another rear.

he's going on a month of omeprazole (active ingredient of gastroguard) as its same cost as a scope, and if its definately not ulcer related then im at a loss and an going to BBQ the little turd........................................he's been super at home and improving steadily in terms of WAY less explosions, sometimes grumpy yes but goes when asked with minimal grumping and after 5/10mins is off and motoring, whether shows make him tenser than i realise and DO affect his tummy?????????????

warm up was foot perfect and judge said she couldnt see a thing either in my riding or externally, that should have set him off. she was at a loss too.

was really quite down and disappointed yesterday but today am a bit brighter, onwards and upwards, i know he CAN do it, its just a case of working out whats going on in his head, as if he's getting better and better and easier and easier at home, what am i doing/whats happening, different, at a show, need to get thinking cap on.

he had 1/4 dose of calmer, and was really completely un explosive and dobbin calm in the warm up.

:bah:
 
I think the gastroguard is obviously a very good next step.

He is an amazing horse that has progressed very fast. Is it just possible that this is his way of telling you he is feeling the pressure?

Why not drop him back a level or two and just get his confidence back in the ring?
 
I think it's def worth going down the omeprazole route. It MUST be something that is underlying and just nags him now and then when he's stressed...I know you'll ne on top of saddle fit amd back checks etc, but even so I'd expect that sort of issue to be less stress relayed, and happen across the board.

Have you thought about looking into things like EPSM? Could be SO low level...and you keeping him nice and toasty warm all the time could hide it...but then he's exposed at a show more than other times? Have you tried giving him a bitt load of oil? Helps with stomach issues as well (I I've seen that you feed micronised linseed? But liquid oil does the job better for bo EPSM type issues and stomach issues)

I dunno....just trying to think of some possibilities...when he goes, he goes like stink! Must be SO annoying to have that Possibility of him just chucking a wobbly at you :-(

That first pic...wow! That NECK! Are you sure sure SURE he's TB?!
 
Seems like the week for ponies downing tools at parties :( mines on the bbq now so cs can go on when he is finished if you like :p.

Fingers crossed you get to the bottom of his behaviour but I'm impressed that you still managed 60% with a tantrum like that in the middle :)
 
You know he can do it all so obviously just need to find a way of translating it in competition, be it a physical or a mental issue. He does look gorgeous when he is good (and you made me LOL with the "little turd" comment... we've all been there...) Good idea about the gastroguard - you just never know. We did the same trial with Maggie as she always snapped when doing the girth up (treat rather than scope.) Turns out the big Moo is simply just a snappy mare as no difference. The results should be quick though so at least you'll know soon.
 
Be interesting to see how the ulcer treatment goes.

Why not drop down a few levels and channel all your hard work and determination into qualifying for areas/regionals rather than progressing up the levels really quickly?

Tbs are very obliging but if pushed too far too quickly are likely to have mini meltdowns like your lovely chaps is.
 
Looks like some lovely work there, so frustrating. That half-pass looks as straight as I've ever seen!

I bought some omeprazole for a friend on the same principle that it was the roughly the cost of a scope and under the cost of the insurance excess. Unfortunatley there was another issue causing the behaviour. Just out of curiousity, does anyone know where we could sell the unused supply (legally!) as I'm unsure how to do it and it seems crazy having it sat around?
 
omeprazole has only 16% bioavailability compred to gastroguard which is very high so a lot of people think they are getting away with using omeprazole-actually it sprobably having little to no effect- better to scope and find out is it actually the problem rather than faffing around' trying' treatments and never quite sure did it work!
 
compared to some of CS' past exploits that rear is a bit half hearted...must do better :p;) what a frustrating day...its weird that its only appeared right at the end of the test and not whilst warming up or through the first bit of it... can't offer any advice, only sympathy (i think i might have a left ove creme egg if you'd like that?)

LOVE the half pass pic! :D
 
If you think his belly might be bothering him have you thought of giving him a concentrate dose of something before competing just incase it's the stress/excitement of travelling/competing that's bothering him? A gastric supplement, not a calmer? Coiligone and Protexin both do a paste in a syringe. I've started giving my ulcery exracer boy Coligone before riding and there is a marked difference in his attitude. He went to his first show at the weekend and I dosed him a little extra before leaving. Even if they don't have ulcers per se these TB's do seem to be rather sensitive to gastric issues, and I've heard of people noticing a difference, even in TBs that don't have ulcers.

Just a thought, apologies oif you have already tried it and I've missed that bit..... :)
 
Could just be a bit of the spring grass getting to him? I suppose they all act in different ways. I put Magnesium in my horses feed to just try and balance the sugars especially at this time of year.
I've I 'm sure whatever it is it was just to keep you listening to him :)
He looks beautiful as always :D
 
As he reared instead of doing the second change, it could have just been that he tweaked something, couldn't come through for the movement, so went up instead.... have seen this happen so many times with different horses. Is he a worrier? if theres nowhere to go then they'll go up. The main thing is he is doing it so much less therefore he's so much more confident in you and what you are asking, also a bit of spring grass maybe?

Don't worry about it, although it is annoying, just keep asking and he'll get better and better.
 
Having just started competing my horse at medium I have found he becomes tense in the test but not at home. I think a large proportion is due to the fact that are home and in the warm up you can pick and choose where and when to do the movements and abort them if need be if they get tense or worried whereas in a test situation the movements come thick and fast so one minor
 
Sorry hadn't finished! ...blip can snowball and they loose confidence and forward momentum. Another thought would be to try and ride the test in a snaffle in case the tighter movements are making him react to the curb?
Lastly, if the ulcer supplement doesn't work I would drop him down a couple of levels for a few trips. Make him find it easy and get his confidence back.
 
Oh dear CS! Wilby hates the indoor at Arena UK too, if that's any consolation?
Nothing useful to suggest really, but fingers crossed you can get to the bottom of it. He looks fab beforehand (as ever! :))
 
lots of interesting thoughts, thanks guys :)

I did try coligone, and did give extra before shows but it seemed to have no consistant impact, sometimes he was better, sometimes just as likely to explode, so not sure if that was making much of a difference.

Omeprazole is definately ok under BD rules but thanks, and as far as the bioavailability goes, , i know 3/4 people now using it with huge sucess, proof is in the pudding so to speak, so am willing to give it a go, will do an update post when he's been on it for a few weeks just in case anyone is interested :)

he cant have a long period of time off as otherwise he get a sticky stifle so he cant have a total holiday and he has to keep up with a little bit of *proper* work to keep on top of that, but he does do days of cantering in the field and pole work etc to keep it fresh and different.

its a hard one to explain and would be easier if i had a vid of him doing it, as he looks/feels very confident, bobbling along with ears pricked etc then quick as a flash goes up, and sometimes then instantly goes back to the job without blinking, sometimes needs a bit of squeezing back in to it. its a very odd feeling and makes it hard to know whats setting it off.

have actually got spanish trainer over this wekend, who wont have seen him for 6 months so be interesting to see what he picks up on, will report back on that too.

he will have a quite easy wekk this week, will see what trainer says over weekend, omeprazole is en route apparently, so hopefully by end of next week, will have a few more ideas.

oh Trouble-he has linseed oil which i think has made a diff, hadnt considered EPSM, although have had one with it before. he wears pelenty of rugs travelling is always toasty but not sweaty on arrival, do you think i should maybe walk him for longer with more rugs on when i arrive and try increasing oil? although just thinking, he is same as he is at home (in terms of forwardness/looseness/lack of spakking) when i go off site for lessons, so its got to be something show specific......................hmmmmmmmm..................
 
Just a very quick reply because it caught my eye:

I was on Omeprazole for stomach problems a few years ago and the side effects were worse than the symptoms. It made me dizzy, disoriented, sweaty and achy. Something to watch out for, I don't know what the dosage and possible contra-indicators are in horses.

For what it's worth, I'd probably back off him completely, give him a few months easy no stress, no pressure. Advanced at 7 is a big ask for any horse, and he's definitely telling you he's having trouble with something.
 
If it helps, I was going to try Omneprazole rather than scope on my opinionated, girthy, super sensitive and touchy boy... he is already on a low sugar/starch Linseed, Brewers Yeast and Yea Sacc High Fibre diet :D and when I asked the woman who I buy my feed from about it, she suggested giving him Limestone Flour as an antacid! I can PM you everything she's said if it helps, but makes lots of sense!

Well what can I say? He has gone from a 51% shocker in his test a few weeks ago, to a happy, relaxed, forward, non-girthy and very impressive (for us) 68.8% and a red rosette last weekend! I did drop 2 levels after our disasterous last few outings, but the improvement was immense and it was a list 4 judge who knows her stuff so I am super pleased!

Well worth a go for only £1.40 for a huge bag!!! The only caveat is you would have to make sure he was getting plenty of the other vits and mins - I sort this out by using Global Vite :)
 
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I'd be inclined to think pain if it comes on that sharply.. suggests he has tweaked something/that movement hurts him-is it doing the movements that require more weight on the hind end that cause him to blow up?
 
no rhyme or reason to it, sometimes he blows up in a simple walk to trot, but then does HP or piris fine, some days other way round, no pattern at all.

HS-will watch out for any signs that the omeprazole isnt helping/is making it worse but the people i know using it are very experienced and competing at elem and medium and horses have dramatically improved, so worth a shot still it think.

Pasha-thanks, will add that to list. He gets seaweed, would that be ok for vits and mins?
 
It's a tricky one! Sounds like it could be two different options - pain related in some way, shape or form; or his response when put under pressure? He's sensitive and you know that but he's trying to tell you something IMHO. It could be something and nothing, really easy to fix, but that's the bloomin' hard part! :)
 
Pasha-thanks, will add that to list. He gets seaweed, would that be ok for vits and mins?

It would depend on what his other feed is to be honest, but if he has a tummy problem (leaky gut or ulcers) apparently they don't absorb vits and mins as well and so they need more than the average horse would.... I feed Thunderbrook Base Mix which contains all the vits and mins a normal horse in light work would need, but then add Global Vite as he is in work and was lacking energy! Made a huge difference in his energy and only started the Limestone Flour on Saturday and on Sunday he was like a difference horse.

I will PM you what the lady wrote to me about Omneprazole and Limestone Flour, leaky Guts and ulcers etc as very interesting x
 
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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.
 
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.

I'm with this too. You're firing shots in the dark guessing what is wrong with him. He is trying to tell you something isnt right and having trained him to the level you have, you are crazy to not investigate properly, whether it is to do with ulcers or other physical or mental problems.
 
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