Change in behaviour, advice please?

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Nannon

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My ex racer has had a slight change in his behaviour recently - I have noticed he's a little bit girthy now, nothing major just a little face pull and one tail swish, and he's started stargazing or head tossing when ridden, only in walk and not all the time.
This month he's had his teeth and back done, and also a change in diet. He's now on 2 Stubbs scoops of Alfa a oil, one stubbs scoop of top spec cool and condition cubes and one scoop of sugar beet split into 2 feeds, turned out generally for 6 to 8 hours and has lots of hay to last the night.
I know it may seem like I'm overreacting but reading this forum has made me paranoid :o
The vet said last time he came out that he didn't want to do anything regarding ulcers as he had no symptoms and no colicky behaviour etc. he's still a sweetie to handle and most of the time is really good to ride - we went out for our first hack in company yesterday and he was perfect!
Have I overcooked him (for want of a better word!) or will someone tell me to pull myself together please! :)
 
Change of diet sounds like the place to start. What were you feeding before? 90% of racehorses suffer from ulcers so he could have low grade ulcers if he's getting girthy. I would be cutting out all sugars and cereals and sticking to fibre based feeds. Brewers Yeast is a good supplement for the digestion and is very cheap to feed.

My mare got girthy, throwing her head up and hollowing. When her stride started shortening she was vetted and found to have hock spavins. I'm not saying this is what is wrong with your boy, but he is definitely trying to tell you something!
 
I would really be concentrating on that saddle, and get a fitter out to have a look. Your horse is trying to tell you something while being girthed and ridden.
 
That's why I swapped to top spec as its cereal free - was on spillers conditioning cubes before but they sent him loopy!
It's quite an old saddle and I can really afford a new one (well not a stupidly expensive new one!) - would a saddle fitter try to adjust mine?
Thanks guys :)
 
You say horse has gained weight. Not much a saddle fitter can do if your saddle is too narrow, except remove a little of the padding perhaps. What is the half pad for? If your shoes were too tight, how would putting on an extra thick pair of socks help? Your instructor may say the saddle is fine but they may mean the balance rather than the width. I would listen to the horse. The money argument makes no sense. It's fairly expensive to investigate for and then treat ulcers and you're considering that. You can get a second hand saddle for 400 pounds from a fitter, cheaper elsewhere if you know the size and style you need.
 
The saddle is a touch too wide which is why my instructor put the half pad on - not wide enough to press down on his back though. Looks like I will need to find myself a saddle fitter - if anyone knows a good one in Hereford let me know :) and if anyone wants to lend me £400 let me know haha ;)
 
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