Can you live with an explosive horse?

Wagtail said:
No, I haven't tried any of those things. Certainly worth looking into. I have some charcoal. But to be honest, I don't think it is stomach pain now. He should be clear of ulcers after the treatment thugh I am still giving him the abprazole.



Thanks. I know you are probably right. Very hard to come to terms with though.
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The abprazole will stop the production of stomach acid and allow the stomach to heal, but if not put on a prentative, theres always a chance that acid levels will increase again and the ulcers will reoccur. It only takes around 5 days for a horse to go from clear to full blown ulcers again. The symptom of the sensivity around that area of the girth just screams ulcers to me.

This video may be useful -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr05hMmLCY4
 
Wagtail said:
Not a good update unfortunately. He was good to lunge in the equiami this week, but today when I got him in from the field, he was very jumpy around his girth rea, before I even got the saddle near him. I tried massaging it, and this made him much worse sending him into spasms. I wasn't even going to try him, but wanted to try the new Tekna girth I had bought him. He ran away from the saddle and had a fit when I put it gently on his back. Then calmed down once he realised the girth wasn't done up. So put the saddle on and off him a few times, no problem, but I could tell he would freak out if I attempted to girth it. So looks like we have a massive setback. I have never known him so sensitive to the touch before. It is both sides, behind his elbows. He is terrified. When I stroke him there, his sides spasm. Feel like giving up right now. :(
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have you had the physio to your horse?
it may be a good idea to try and find a physio that can do deep muscle work
 
My mare got a 1 month course of abprazole but showed the biggest behaviour change only after a month of Protexin acid ease (so she got 1 month abprazole+1 month acid ease and then switched onto regular probiotics and magnesium). She had been on 24/7 turnout in a herd environnment for at least 6 month but had explosive behaviour (although she would mostly spook explosively while being ridden in the school, but also sometimes freak out while being tied on the yard and produced lots of piles of loose droppings).
I think perhaps some horses need more than the medication, they also need their diet supplemented before they show progress. Hind gut ulcers might not be treated by the omeprazole as well?
 
I've only read the first page, so apologies if it's gone off topic or I seem to tread on anyones toes!

Yes I could, and for a long time I did. He was also like it under saddle, which made life interesting at times! When we finally realised ulcers were an issue (he was scoped) & got them treated he improved a lot, though he still has his moments & I'm always aware that he is what he is. In his case I've never been able to keep him completely off ulcer meds, symptoms came back & explosions started every time I tried. Even when things were really bad though I never considered getting rid of him, daft as it sounds I love the silly sod too much & I always felt that the explosions were as out of his control as they were mine. It's not something to take on lightly though & there were many many times I was reduced to tears.
 
It does definitely sound like a girth issue then as opposed to the saddle if he's not concerned about having the saddle on his back. I put a sadde cloth and saddle pad on mine the other day - no reaction. I can't put a girth on him again yet as he cut himself in his explosion te other day and I think it's pointless putting anything onhim if I know he has a small sore there (he's a bit of a wuss with cuts and things anyway!).

I actually think with mine that possibly, as I put the saddle on without a numnah and, with the type of girth (Wintec) that the girth pinched the skin between the saddle flap and the top of the girth - hence how it's also cut him. However, he has got funnier about having that girth down up for a while so I still think the girth is applying pressure somewhere he doesn't like. I had no issues at all when I first ever put a saddle and girth on him and when I rodes him out in my horse's saddle/girth prior to getting his own. The reactivity to the girth only started with the new one.

Have you tried just bringing yours in to groom etc without putting anything on him for a bit? After the incident mine had, I could see he had become wary and, he even decided a rug was terrifying - we could normally rug and de-rug him in the field no problem. However, he freaked out and wouldn't let us near him. I ended up bringing him into the stable and slowly got round to getting it on but I could see he was worried although why he linked the rug to the incident I don't know. He has now lost this worried look that he had for about a week or so after. I do think some of them are sensitive and you have to get their trust back
 
My friends horse had something similar. Can't remember the exact ins and outs but it was something to do with old scar tissue due to the girth. No injuries, just must of rubbed over time eventually causing scarring. Physio managed to sort it tho. Funny enough her horse had kissing spine surgery too and this problem also became apart after the op
 
Wagtail said:
Just wondering if anyone else has an unpredictable 'exploding' horse? Can you live with it? I love him so much but every now and then just after the girth is tightened (often not even to a ridable degree) he completely freaks. I know it is genuine pain and not mental as he is a very 'genuine' horse. He's been operated on for severe kissing spine, and came back well from that, but a month in from starting ridden work again, he 'exploded' whilst tacking him up - again, after I had tightened the girth. I had given up on him for a year, before treating him for gastric ulcers. (He hadn't been scoped). Again he came back into work well and I was back riding him with no issues at all. He was fab. He has been off the ulcer treatment a couple of weeks now, and I hadn't ridden him during that time as I had been feeling very under the weather. Then today, I tacked him up in the stable. He was a little tense, but still licking my pockets for treats etc, so not bad. Got him into the arena and did his girth up one notch, and Bam!!! off he went, spinning, rearing, leaping and shaking. Needless to say, I didn't bother riding him! :o I have put him back on the abprazole and will try him again in a few days.

But really, my question is, does anyone else have this kind of horse, that they love and don't want to part with, so they manage and still ride? I had him on the list to go to the bloodbank, as I wanted him to do something useful and I know that life would suit him. He loves vets and needles don't bother him in the slightest, but at the end of the day, I love him and want to keep him. When he is being ridden without issues, he obviously is as happy as Larry. Relaxed and ears flopping. Never shies away from the saddle, always keen to be caught. He's only 11 and the nicest horse to ride I could wish for when he doesn't have this issue. So light and responsive. Never rears or bucks or naps. He has only 'exploded' once under saddle, and that was immediately after I had tightened the girth, so I never do that now from the saddle. I just wish I could find the cause. If only they could talk...

I would love to hear of other's stories, good or bad. Thanks.
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Haven't read all of the replies but I know you had his back x rayed and the kissing spines treated but I had a horse in to me for re training and he did the exact same thing. After countless trips to the vets, x rays, scans etc it turned out he had fractured his sternum, exactly where the girth sits. He wasn't like it every time either.
 
I have a high dangerous explosive horse. Very well bred and got quite the temperament. Just fell off her for the first time yesterday. I think she wants a carrier change... She jumped through a hedge... :D Me not so happy, I landed in nettles and miss B ran off happy and full of it. She is very unpredictable.... if I don't give her calmers and stuff like that. I can live with an unpredictable horse... I usually stick to the saddle as if I'm glued on. It is just very annoying when she jumps up in the air, rears, jumps through hedges... without me knowing when. But hey, just to keep life interesting.
 
ImmyS said:
The abprazole will stop the production of stomach acid and allow the stomach to heal, but if not put on a prentative, theres always a chance that acid levels will increase again and the ulcers will reoccur. It only takes around 5 days for a horse to go from clear to full blown ulcers again. The symptom of the sensivity around that area of the girth just screams ulcers to me.

This video may be useful -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr05hMmLCY4
Click to expand...

Thank you. Very useful.

TandD said:
have you had the physio to your horse?
it may be a good idea to try and find a physio that can do deep muscle work
Click to expand...

Definitely something to try. But I need to find one that has dealt with smething similar before. I'm in South Lincs if anyone knows of anyone?

Palindrome said:
My mare got a 1 month course of abprazole but showed the biggest behaviour change only after a month of Protexin acid ease (so she got 1 month abprazole+1 month acid ease and then switched onto regular probiotics and magnesium). She had been on 24/7 turnout in a herd environnment for at least 6 month but had explosive behaviour (although she would mostly spook explosively while being ridden in the school, but also sometimes freak out while being tied on the yard and produced lots of piles of loose droppings).
I think perhaps some horses need more than the medication, they also need their diet supplemented before they show progress. Hind gut ulcers might not be treated by the omeprazole as well?
Click to expand...

Thanks. I have not heard of the protexin. Will have a look.

Nari said:
I've only read the first page, so apologies if it's gone off topic or I seem to tread on anyones toes!

Yes I could, and for a long time I did. He was also like it under saddle, which made life interesting at times! When we finally realised ulcers were an issue (he was scoped) & got them treated he improved a lot, though he still has his moments & I'm always aware that he is what he is. In his case I've never been able to keep him completely off ulcer meds, symptoms came back & explosions started every time I tried. Even when things were really bad though I never considered getting rid of him, daft as it sounds I love the silly sod too much & I always felt that the explosions were as out of his control as they were mine. It's not something to take on lightly though & there were many many times I was reduced to tears.
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Yes, I think if it was ulcers, they have come back worse than before. I think that sometimes omeprazole can cause an over roduction of acid once they are weaned off it. He was still on a third of a dose though.

ladyt25 said:
It does definitely sound like a girth issue then as opposed to the saddle if he's not concerned about having the saddle on his back. I put a sadde cloth and saddle pad on mine the other day - no reaction. I can't put a girth on him again yet as he cut himself in his explosion te other day and I think it's pointless putting anything onhim if I know he has a small sore there (he's a bit of a wuss with cuts and things anyway!).

I actually think with mine that possibly, as I put the saddle on without a numnah and, with the type of girth (Wintec) that the girth pinched the skin between the saddle flap and the top of the girth - hence how it's also cut him. However, he has got funnier about having that girth down up for a while so I still think the girth is applying pressure somewhere he doesn't like. I had no issues at all when I first ever put a saddle and girth on him and when I rodes him out in my horse's saddle/girth prior to getting his own. The reactivity to the girth only started with the new one.

Have you tried just bringing yours in to groom etc without putting anything on him for a bit? After the incident mine had, I could see he had become wary and, he even decided a rug was terrifying - we could normally rug and de-rug him in the field no problem. However, he freaked out and wouldn't let us near him. I ended up bringing him into the stable and slowly got round to getting it on but I could see he was worried although why he linked the rug to the incident I don't know. He has now lost this worried look that he had for about a week or so after. I do think some of them are sensitive and you have to get their trust back
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Thanks. One thing I know is it isn't a back issue. He never has a problem with the saddle and no girth. Also, once he is happy with the girth, riding him is not an issue.

Kelly1982 said:
My friends horse had something similar. Can't remember the exact ins and outs but it was something to do with old scar tissue due to the girth. No injuries, just must of rubbed over time eventually causing scarring. Physio managed to sort it tho. Funny enough her horse had kissing spine surgery too and this problem also became apart after the op
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Thanks. Physio is definitely on my list before giving up.

charlie76 said:
Haven't read all of the replies but I know you had his back x rayed and the kissing spines treated but I had a horse in to me for re training and he did the exact same thing. After countless trips to the vets, x rays, scans etc it turned out he had fractured his sternum, exactly where the girth sits. He wasn't like it every time either.
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I wouldn't be surprised if this was the case here. Every time I bring him back into work he is fine for a while and then he gets like this. I wonder if wearing the girth reinjures something? The vet is my next port of call I think. Unfrtunately last time the vet came to see him, he stood there and let me tighten the girth more than ever before and walked around totally unconcerned! :rolleyes:

Four Seasons said:
I have a high dangerous explosive horse. Very well bred and got quite the temperament. Just fell off her for the first time yesterday. I think she wants a carrier change... She jumped through a hedge... :D Me not so happy, I landed in nettles and miss B ran off happy and full of it. She is very unpredictable.... if I don't give her calmers and stuff like that. I can live with an unpredictable horse... I usually stick to the saddle as if I'm glued on. It is just very annoying when she jumps up in the air, rears, jumps through hedges... without me knowing when. But hey, just to keep life interesting.
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You sound braver than me!
 
I found that a half dose is what Jim needs, less than that & I start having problems. I also give him Equine America's Ulser Gard as that acts differently & seems to help too. On top of that I've recently started him on Equishure, but that's for a slightly different reason. I think it's a case of playing around and finding what suits the individual though, I know some things that were recommended to me didn't work for him.

I wish you all the luck in the world, and please stay safe x

ETA I also found that if he had a scare or bad experience it would take him an incredibly long time to get over it. Tiny baby steps & getting him really happy at each stage before progressing any further worked for him - I grew a rather thick skin ignoring people who thought I was over-cautious!
 
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Oh hunny. What a pile of poo.

I was going to suggest:

Ulcers - scope; medicate; and what feed?

Girthing - as slow and steady as you can; a Fairfax girth (read excellent reports about them).

Magnetic pad to help relax the muscles. Using it has helped reduce Grey Mare's sometimes grumping at the girth being done up. Twenty minutes stood with it on before being tacked up, usually has the horses as dopes on a rope.

Hope something works.
 
I haven't read all the replies either but just had a musing about humane girths to add.

I always used an Aerborn humane girth as I thought it was kinder. Didn't do it up too tight. When my saddler came last she told me she hates the things, not because of the fact that people can do them up too tightly because the elastic lets you, but because the metal d rings are actually very easily felt through the girth when on and so worse when tightened (not even excessively). She put it round my arm and pulled so I could feel it and she was right, there was hardly any protection there at all.

I personally never had any problems with it, nor did my horse, but I really respect the saddler's advice generally so I ditched it.:rolleyes:
 
Cannot offer any useful advice - just wanted to offer you words of encouragement - really hope you get to the bottom of it...If I come across anything I will let you know x
 
Wagtail said:
This is the bit I don't understand. Why they are fine most of the time. If you do everything the same every time and mostly they are fine, and then bam! Nothing has changed but something triggers it. This is why I think it is genuine pain, like a trapped nerve or something. The only thing different today was that it was a morning and a car was coming past the arena at exactly the same moment I was girthing up. Maybe I should keep a diary?
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Going on this and the fact you've been treating him for ulcers and then stopped, maybe it is ulcers or something stomach related? I suffer with irritable bowels and when the stomach pains come there's no warning and it's horrible, so if horses get anything similar I'm not surprised some of them appear to randomly explode for no reason. Try him back on ulcer stuff, if he's fine while on it then explodes once off it that could be the reason
 
Would also echo just playing around with different girths as well. There was one horse at my yard who reacted poorly to girthing up and after various (and expensive) options his owner found that he liked the stubben string girth.

It really does sound pain related particularly as you have stressed he is so genuine but I honestly wouldn't ride a horse that would do that. You are your most important asset so bear that in mind. Either you have to go down the route again of ulcers and vet or have to go back to your option of the blood bank. Awful for you though...
 
Wagtail said:
Not a good update unfortunately. He was good to lunge in the equiami this week, but today when I got him in from the field, he was very jumpy around his girth rea, before I even got the saddle near him. I tried massaging it, and this made him much worse sending him into spasms. I wasn't even going to try him, but wanted to try the new Tekna girth I had bought him. He ran away from the saddle and had a fit when I put it gently on his back. Then calmed down once he realised the girth wasn't done up. So put the saddle on and off him a few times, no problem, but I could tell he would freak out if I attempted to girth it. So looks like we have a massive setback. I have never known him so sensitive to the touch before. It is both sides, behind his elbows. He is terrified. When I stroke him there, his sides spasm. Feel like giving up right now. :(
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Oh didn't see the update. Is he sore across his loins also? I would get a blood test done, as mine was showing lots of ulcer signs but actually had a liver infection, Her signs were mild compared to yours but she's a very very laid back cob so the fact she was showing any sign of pain was worrying, but it was coming on and off for several months before I got bloods done as I kept thinking it was xyz and seeing what would fix it, things would appear to improve then she would get worse again
 
No, he is not at all sore in the loins or back.

I have left him since my last update until today. I brought him in for a groom and didn't faff about trying to massage the area (as this had made him worse). I was able to get the saddle on and girth done up loosely whilst he ate from a hay net. He was very tense and anticipating, but did not actually 'explode' like he did the other day. I was not able to tighten the girth at all on the offside as he was too jumpy, but he allowed it on the near side, though it was not tight by any means. I gave him a short lunge in walk and trot before returning him to his hay net and untacking him. He jumped a bit as I removed the saddle and the girth touched his side. I feel I have gone back many steps, but still made progress on the other day. I feel very pessimistic about it though. I think I have to think very seriously whether I can resign myself to having no ridden horse. My mare is footy again despite being very lean and having limited time out in her grazing muzzle. The difference with her is that I had ten good years with her. I have probably only ridden my boy a total of twenty times in the three years I've owned him. But he is a lovely boy. If he wasn't, it would be so much easier to part with him.

So, it looks like it's keep as a field ornament for another twenty years and forgo my chance of ever having a ridden horse again, send him to the blood bank, which I know would be a life he would settle down well to, or PTS. The last option is not one I would consider for him as he is happy and sound and full of spirit. The blood bank would in many ways be an ideal life for him, but they don't rug them. I would worry that he hadn't got his fly rug in the summer especially as he comes up in bumps with the flies.
 
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I have to agree with Springfeather.
It's not really unpredictability per se is it? The horse sounds to be in genuine pain and he is screaming at you. So I think you need to use whatever means to get the bottom of the problem. I did it with my WB - it took 8 months to get him properly diagnosed and treated and then he was turned away for over a year.

I used alternative means to diagnose at first and maybe they could help you. I used an iridologist and an AC and a shiatsu practitioner - all 3 therapies together cost under £100 and told me me had a problem r/h upper hind. My Sue Dyson clinic at Newmarket bill (for the insurers) was a shard short of £4k diagnosing chronic SI dysfunction r/h side..
Good luck Wagtail I hope you get to the bottom of it. I know you had a KS diagnosis, but there could be a further underlying problem causing the ulcers and until that is addressed they will continue to return, just my guess. Another suggestion would be to send him to a holistic vet like Donna Blinman to be fully assessed - she is inexpensive I think £300 per week to leave them there. I know how horrible it was for me and I have another riding horse, so for your 2nd horse to be unsound must be extremely depressing.

http://www.donnablinman.co.uk/
 
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Sorry the update couldn't be more positive - have you done anymore investigations into the possibility of ulcers OP? The possibility of ulcers is really niggling at me. Would be a shame to admit defeat and then finding it could have been treatable.
 
What a worry. I do think that ulcer treatment is worth pursuing, but being aware that they are often cyclical with other pain or stress so there may well be something else going on too. So for example my mare came to me with ulcers possibly because of a long standing back injury, and then bracing against the ulcers made her back / neck / pectoral muscular problems worse... we treated ulcers and all her muscular stuff at roughly the same time (by chance rather than by design or knowledge of how each had probably impacted on the other, and it sure took a while!) and she was like a different horse. Having done one without the other we'd have been back at the beginning in no time, I'm sure. She was never as explosive as yours, but she was definitely an extreme sport to girth and would occasionally blow up in the stable for no apparent reason. With her, it seems the 24 hour turnout etc are less important than keeping any other stress or - importantly - pain, away. She was brilliant for months, including periods without daily turnout because of the weather... Then we had a fall back in Feb and she hurt her back and leg, and the ulcers came back in the blink of an eye, and not even because she'd been given bute (she hadn't), just because of the stress and discomfort.

I dealt with my mare's issues one by one by discovering them myself and getting help for each in turn, which took considerable determination especially with the muscular issues, so we definitely took the loooooong way around. I have to say, I have heard brilliant things about Donna Blinman and wouldn't hesitate in sending a horse to her sharpish, if it had potentially complex or interlinked issues (as they usually are!), rather than spending so long peeling back the layers in that way. When they recurred this time we deliberately tackled muscular pain stuff and ulcer pain at the same time, rather than seeing if it was one or the other...

Really really good luck. I really think these kinds of issues are very rarely just one cause, and it's so hard to peel back the layers when you start to feel like you're sending yourself around in circles.

Slightly leftfield thought - have you considered Thermal Imaging?
 
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Gosh that does sound difficult Wagtail.

100% Agree with those who think pain. I have seen the fractured sternum thing mentioned before (ouch!) and also read about a horse who had deep muscle damage in the girth area. Have also heard great things about Donna Blinman. Do hope that you are able to get to the bottom of his problems.
 
I think you need a really good physio to assess him , A fresh pair of eyes would be a good idea any way.
Does your vet practice have a physio they work with ?
 
have a look on here.... http://www.acpat.org/
its the physios registered board.... lots of info on treatments and you can use the search to find one! (plus some funny photos of dogs getting physio!)
have a good chat to the ones you think may be suitable, give them plenty of detail about your boy!

also get rid of that haynet!!!!!!! ks and haynets shouldnt be mixed....needs to stretch down for everything.
 
YasandCrystal said:
I have to agree with Springfeather.
It's not really unpredictability per se is it? The horse sounds to be in genuine pain and he is screaming at you. So I think you need to use whatever means to get the bottom of the problem. I did it with my WB - it took 8 months to get him properly diagnosed and treated and then he was turned away for over a year.

I used alternative means to diagnose at first and maybe they could help you. I used an iridologist and an AC and a shiatsu practitioner - all 3 therapies together cost under £100 and told me me had a problem r/h upper hind. My Sue Dyson clinic at Newmarket bill (for the insurers) was a shard short of £4k diagnosing chronic SI dysfunction r/h side..
Good luck Wagtail I hope you get to the bottom of it. I know you had a KS diagnosis, but there could be a further underlying problem causing the ulcers and until that is addressed they will continue to return, just my guess. Another suggestion would be to send him to a holistic vet like Donna Blinman to be fully assessed - she is inexpensive I think £300 per week to leave them there. I know how horrible it was for me and I have another riding horse, so for your 2nd horse to be unsound must be extremely depressing.

http://www.donnablinman.co.uk/
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You are right, when it happens, he is in genuine pain. The problem I have is that it is intermittent. He is in no pain lose in the field, or being worked on the lunge. He has no lameness, soreness in his back and his tack fits him well. I have localised the pain to around his lower girth area. And s I say, it is not always present. Last time I had the vet to him he examined him and we put the saddle on, girthed him up really tight and he didn't bat an eyelid. There was nothing I could do t trigger the explosive reaction. So all I got was an £80 bill and the vet said there was nothing wrong with him. If he had a problem that he exhibited even half the time, I would send him t Donna Blinman in a shot. But I can go months without him doing it, think he is cured, and then BAM! As soon as he starts (if he starts) to do it reliably every time, I will get the vet out again as a starting point. Whatever pain he has is obviously sharp and sudden and not there every time he wears the saddle.
 
ImmyS said:
Sorry the update couldn't be more positive - have you done anymore investigations into the possibility of ulcers OP? The possibility of ulcers is really niggling at me. Would be a shame to admit defeat and then finding it could have been treatable.
Click to expand...

philamena said:
What a worry. I do think that ulcer treatment is worth pursuing, but being aware that they are often cyclical with other pain or stress so there may well be something else going on too. So for example my mare came to me with ulcers possibly because of a long standing back injury, and then bracing against the ulcers made her back / neck / pectoral muscular problems worse... we treated ulcers and all her muscular stuff at roughly the same time (by chance rather than by design or knowledge of how each had probably impacted on the other, and it sure took a while!) and she was like a different horse. Having done one without the other we'd have been back at the beginning in no time, I'm sure. She was never as explosive as yours, but she was definitely an extreme sport to girth and would occasionally blow up in the stable for no apparent reason. With her, it seems the 24 hour turnout etc are less important than keeping any other stress or - importantly - pain, away. She was brilliant for months, including periods without daily turnout because of the weather... Then we had a fall back in Feb and she hurt her back and leg, and the ulcers came back in the blink of an eye, and not even because she'd been given bute (she hadn't), just because of the stress and discomfort.

I dealt with my mare's issues one by one by discovering them myself and getting help for each in turn, which took considerable determination especially with the muscular issues, so we definitely took the loooooong way around. I have to say, I have heard brilliant things about Donna Blinman and wouldn't hesitate in sending a horse to her sharpish, if it had potentially complex or interlinked issues (as they usually are!), rather than spending so long peeling back the layers in that way. When they recurred this time we deliberately tackled muscular pain stuff and ulcer pain at the same time, rather than seeing if it was one or the other...

Really really good luck. I really think these kinds of issues are very rarely just one cause, and it's so hard to peel back the layers when you start to feel like you're sending yourself around in circles.

Slightly leftfield thought - have you considered Thermal Imaging?
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I had considered thermal imaging, and it is probably a route I would go down. My concern is that the pain he has is more sudden, and sharp than a constant. I am not sure if anything would show up. But I am certainly going to consider it. It's about £250 isn't it? There is another horse here that could probably benefit from it too.

As far as ulcers are concerned, he has been back on the abprazole for over two weeks now.
 
Hi wagtail, do you attempt to work him in tack every day?
The horse that I had in with the girth issue had to have something done with him every day, even if I just put the saddle on and walked him round the yard with it on, if he missed one day he was naughty again , I think he had remembered pain so the consistency helped him to realise that it was ok.
 
tobiano said:
Gosh that does sound difficult Wagtail.

100% Agree with those who think pain. I have seen the fractured sternum thing mentioned before (ouch!) and also read about a horse who had deep muscle damage in the girth area. Have also heard great things about Donna Blinman. Do hope that you are able to get to the bottom of his problems.
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I do wonder about the fractured sternum. :(

Goldenstar said:
I think you need a really good physio to assess him , A fresh pair of eyes would be a good idea any way.
Does your vet practice have a physio they work with ?
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Yes, I am currently trying to find one. I have two that I use and both said they could find no pain issues with him at all. But I am unconvinced. Anyone know a really good one in South Lincs?

TandD said:
have a look on here.... http://www.acpat.org/
its the physios registered board.... lots of info on treatments and you can use the search to find one! (plus some funny photos of dogs getting physio!)
have a good chat to the ones you think may be suitable, give them plenty of detail about your boy!

also get rid of that haynet!!!!!!! ks and haynets shouldnt be mixed....needs to stretch down for everything.
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Thanks for the url. Will take a look. Regarding the haynet, he always has his hay on the ground usually. This one was tied on the fence of the arena and was low down so his head was below wither height.
 
Wagtail said:
Last time I had the vet to him he examined him and we put the saddle on, girthed him up really tight and he didn't bat an eyelid. There was nothing I could do t trigger the explosive reaction. So all I got was an £80 bill and the vet said there was nothing wrong with him.
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oh i hate it when they do this! day before we get the vet out again...panic moment!!!! vet out....nothing. just nothing. not even a flicker of the eye.....next day panic moment!!!!

well horse. you could have done that when the vet was here couldnt you?!?
in the end the vet said video him, and we eventually got him on camera!!!!
 
Wagtail it may well be worth trying to talk to Donna Blinman - she is a busy lady, but she was happy to talk to me about realistic help she would be able to give to me.
She may have come across this 'intermittent' behaviour before. Worth a phone call - you don't have to commit to sending him there, but she may offer a piece of the puzzle who knows.

Whereabouts in the country are you? I used a brilliant physio in Essex.
 
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