Back less sway or tummy tighter?

[SmartieBean09]

I'd have her on a decent amino acid supplement at double dose. She looks very cushingy as well, has she been tested recently?

I was going to mention this too. Only because of the teeth issue. Cushings impacts the immune system and the body can’t fight bacteria very well which can cause plaque build up on teeth. I experienced this with my last pony. Worth getting a test to rule it out?

 

[sbloom]

This comment has put me off booking Tom tbh. Not recommending any form of scans or diagnostics, surely he has the odd case where that would be necessary to get a true diagnosis?

I'm sorry, I made much too much a blanket statement. I do not know the ins and outs of all his cases, most come to him having had a lot of that done, with no conclusion. I am quite sure he would arrange or refer on for tests and diagnostics where appropriate, he IS a vet and will work within RCVS guidelines and would not be where he was if he didn't use all options open to him including diagnostics and surgery/injections. But for an older horse he would look at it in the round, and if an owner didn't want to do invasive costly work, I'm quite sure he would have alternatives for many cases.

Like all of us sometimes I'm short of time on here, post in haste, then can't edit!

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Cushings test sounds like something on the list then, if she doesn’t perk up.

Pink Mash is unfortunately not GMO-free.

 

[PapaverFollis]

If her breath smells is it possible that she has a tooth infection, further back maybe rather than the known issue at the front? Not read all the posts.

If it's a sudden change and you haven't changed the hard feed at all that wouldn't be my first thought.

 

[NinjaPony]

I’d probably investigate her mouth first, and do a Cushings test. You can get a voucher for a free one, if you ask the vet, and Cushings can cause all kinds of immune system issues if it’s not under control. Mine has Cushings, under control with prascend, and he’s had a couple of bouts of conjunctivitis (never happened before and I’ve had him 14 years) and cuts that have taken ages to heal, plus ringworm. He’s just much more prone to picking up infections than before so it could be worth ruling out.

 

[julesjoy]

Spring grass is coming through, that could be making the poos... Interesting. And I'd agree with a cushings test and getting her teeth checked out for infection further back. Saying all that, my old boy went dull and scabby every spring, regardless of cushings meds or not, rugged or not so sometimes it's not so easy.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

It’s the same smell as her teeth, and as her breath used to be when she arrived. I will check her mouth though because it might be something else infected in there but it does smell infection-y.

Like abscess smell. Delightful ?

 

[LadyGascoyne]

So much better this week!

She is back to herself - she’s being playful and expressive again, she’s looking so much better and she’s been doing a little bit of work.

Today:




Earlier in the week - being Spanish. I almost wonder if she had a mild virus or something similar the last two weeks.



So I started with the walking and lunging again, and then rode today.



We just went up and down the driveway five times:
1. Walk
2. Rising trot
3. Sitting trot
4. Walk-halt-reinback. Walk, leg yield one side, walk a bit, then the other side, walk-halt-reinback etc.
5. Walk on a long rein and stretch.

It was perfect - she’s such a sweet mare.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

She looks good! So pleased for the both of you.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

She looks much better in those pictures

 

[Zuzan]

Wow those pics remind me of my trainers rescue who is now an advanced classical horse.. there is a quite a difference. What I notice is the difference in her gut area she looks more toned in the pics where she is less sway backed. I wonder if the there was some stomach discomfort / disturbance .. rather like we can feel "bloated"?

 

[planete]

I have just bought Hilary Clayton's "Activate your horse's core" book and DVD to improve little cob's posture with exercises from the ground. I can already see a change after just one week of daily ten minutes sessions. As part of a fittening programme I am finding these invaluable and little cob thinks it is an easy way to bag some carrot fingers.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Wow those pics remind me of my trainers rescue who is now an advanced classical horse.. there is a quite a difference. What I notice is the difference in her gut area she looks more toned in the pics where she is less sway backed. I wonder if the there was some stomach discomfort / disturbance .. rather like we can feel "bloated"?

Quite possibly - there could also be something about her digestion and her breath smelling.

I have just bought Hilary Clayton's "Activate your horse's core" book and DVD to improve little cob's posture with exercises from the ground. I can already see a change after just one week of daily ten minutes sessions. As part of a fittening programme I am finding these invaluable and little cob thinks it is an easy way to bag some carrot fingers.

That sounds like fun - and I’m sure she’d enjoy it. Do they do them for humans too ???

 

[sbloom]

Wow those pics remind me of my trainers rescue who is now an advanced classical horse.. there is a quite a difference. What I notice is the difference in her gut area she looks more toned in the pics where she is less sway backed. I wonder if the there was some stomach discomfort / disturbance .. rather like we can feel "bloated"?

There was a fascinating post on FB last week, darned if I can find it now, that talked about some kind of bloated syndrome, I'm sure it was posted by a bodyworker, a little bay Icelandic pony, two comparative photos taken from the front, IIRC. If anyone has seen the post and can find it....