Baffled

T

Translationsneeded

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Firstly just to say vet visit booked but in the meantime...

Horse is refusing to move when ridden.
Tacks up fine. Not lame walked up / trotted up.

Back person 3 months ago, Saddle checked 1 month ago and routine teeth done 2 weeks ago. No issues reported (he basically just gets an mot about the same time each year!)

No response to touch down his back, no swelling / heat anywhere. Pratts about in field as usual and is eating just fine. No change of food (handful of chaff and hay). A friend got on too and he did the same.
He is very well behaved so I’m sure it’s a pain thing. He’s not spooky so I don’t believe he is just planting.

Any ideas? I’m not really sure what the vet will do with no symptoms as such; I’ve only ever called them for something obvious!
 
Will he lunge on with tack on? If so I'd lunge for 10 mins then pop rider on and see if he still lunges. I had a newly fitted saddle that only caused problems with the weight of a rider.
 
when you ask him to move off after mounting what do you do? will he walk on if you use your voice? do you smack his bottom if he just stands?will he move forward if someone rattles bucket nearby?
 
Downton Dame said:
when you ask him to move off after mounting what do you do? will he walk on if you use your voice? do you smack his bottom if he just stands?will he move forward if someone rattles bucket nearby?
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I’ve tried normal asking, voice only and poor mate stood away from him with treats. He will not move. If I push him he starts to warn me that he won’t play nice. Ears back, tense etc. I’ve even changed my boots just in case!!
I won’t smack him because I’ve known him years and I am really sure he’s not being naughty
 
As well as bareback can you try him without a bridle? If you normally get on on the yard is there any difference if you get on in a school or a soft field? I'd also suspect pain somewhere.
 
Nari said:
As well as bareback can you try him without a bridle? If you normally get on on the yard is there any difference if you get on in a school or a soft field? I'd also suspect pain somewhere.
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Ah yes will do. At least he’ll be quick to tack up tomorrow :)
Have tried in yard and school, no different
 
Quick update.
Got on this morning in just headcollar and saddle. Slightly better. Reluctant to move but did after some encouragement. Bridled again and no movement.
Didn’t try bareback yet as no one up there to help me get on (too old and inflexible to jump on myself!!)

Teeth, ears, knocked his head?? Had a quick look round his head but nothing obvious.
 
Check his bit over, and maybe try something like a hackamore to see what his reaction is to that.
Def get his teeth looked at. Ask the vet/dentist to look in mouth for any sharp thistles or similar that may be in cheeks or gums.

Do keep us updated and good luck.
 
Does he lead o.k from the bridle without anything on his back even if you hold the reins in the position they would be in if ridden? I can't help thinking this is more likely to be back/saddle related than bridle to be honest.
 
I would look into ulcers as this was my horses number one symptom and went away after I treated them. He was fine to tack up, a good weight, not bitey or grumpy at all, didn't mind the typical ulcer pressure points, would hack out ok (although quite anxious) but in the arena he would grind to a halt and refuse to move. if I pressed the issue he would eventually go but spent the whole time hollow with ears pinned flat back and grinding his teeth. Despite not having other more obvious symptoms i had him scoped and he had small ulcers in the glandular region near the pylorus. Didn't look all that bad as some images you see of ulcers, they seemed pretty tiny and not too angry, but once I had treated them and he scoped clear all of the planting and ear pinning stopped.
 
Mine did exactly this and if really pushed would cow kick. Came out of nowhere. She scoped for grade 2 and 3 gastric ulcers. I would love to say treatment resolved the issue, it didn't and vet suspected hock pain when ridden. I did bareback, friend in front etc, (and all checks) everything other than have a fight which given vet findings was clearly the best approach.
 
one of mine went like this. I added protexin to his feeds and hes now back to normal. In fact last night he flew around the arena, full of beans, ears forward, happy, bouncing nutter.
 
I'm glad you seem to have an answer & it isn't too bad. Fingers crossed that when it's sorted he'll be his normal self again.
 
Translationsneeded said:
10 points to all who said back :biggrin4:

Vet managed to get a reaction with prodding and thinks it’s nothing too bad... phew.

Thanks all for your input
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Great news. You’re lucky his reaction was so passive, some horses in pain react violently as I know to my peril! Hope you get him sorted soon and are back on board having fun. :-)
 
hopefully you have found your solution and it can be solved.

Just wanted to share my experience with this. I sent my then 6yr old off to be backed. I had already sat on her, but living alone and backing a horse is not easy + being self employed I thought it was wise to send her off. I went to see her every day when she was trained. The lunging that was done was not my method (basically letting the horse run a bit to wear it out ??)
Anyway, once she got on the horse planted too and the only one that could move it was me.....and believe me they tried everything and getting no where. It was my own saddle which was a good fit and he rider was about 50kg (much less than my weight)

after about 2 wks one of my other horses died leaving my 3rd horse at home alone so I got her back and I had to finish backing her myself. She never exhibited this behaviour with me ever, so I think in this case it was an extreme "freeze" reaction, being in strange surroundings (she was very nervous in the stables there)
 
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