Chuck some ideas at me please!

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I'm going to give you a list of symptoms.... suggestions for the potential cause(s) welcomed!

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Inability to canter in balance and rhythm under saddle
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VERY resistant in trot-canter transitions (will plant as first option, if not allowed to do this will buck 2/3 times before strike off)
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Completely freaks on the lunge. Fine in walk and to some extent trot, but if asked to canter, or anticipates being asked to canter.... FIREWORKS
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Following an 'episode' like that she will not settle again.
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Completely freaks at the sight of a pole, even one on the floor.
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Works actively behind, but no comprehension of relaxation over the back or in the poll. Goes like a giraffe.

Most recently....
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Unequal behind in walk - left hind swings outwards (to avoid propulsion?) and right hind has an inward curving flight arc.


I'm sure there are more things to go on, but I can't bear to think anymore
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Just to add though, she worked nicely, consistently and moved straight previously - none of the above is 'just how she is'
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Please chuck any ideas at me that you think of - I don't want to have missed anything.
 
have her checked by Weaver house osteopaths.
they have transformed my little pony from a scared, bucking monkey to safe as houses genuine allrounder. worked wonders for a liveries pony too. good luck
 
She is 6. Back, teeth, saddle etc all checked.
Has been seen by a vet, McTimoney Chiro and multiple times by a Bowen therapist, who has had the most success in making her more comfortable. No one has found anything glaringly obvious, pelvis appears level.

She is currently on box rest for trauma to her DDFT, but she was booked to go for a 'poor performance' work up immediately prior to this latest injury, but obviously because she has been on box rest for the tendon it limited the workup they could do.... so I am now getting her fit again so that I can get her diagnosed with whatever else is wrong.

Multiple vets at the practice I use have shrugged aside my concerns and will NOT listen to me
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Hence why I am trying to do my homework before she goes in, otherwise vets will fob me off with something unsuitable.
 
consider neck problems - often overlooked by physios and chiros - my TB was sore behind and after lengthy investigations discovered neck problems.

Perhaps she's gone over in the field and tweaked something?

or alternatively my other horse (i don't have much luck!) has just had spavin diagnosed and this has caused canter problems, an odd action behind and even shuffling action in front legs.

Seeming active behind may actually be an exaggerated action caused by pain.

I hope it is something simple and you can get it sorted quickly.
 
OrangeEmpire - with this mare NOTHING is ever simple
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Ruth and Holly - Am have my money personally on KS or Sacroilliac strain. I can't believe this is happening... we have a gelding who is 6weeks post KS surgery. He didn't show any of the same symptoms as Boo though, so his case has not really made me any the wiser.

Zalacca - raced as a 2yo, and then a winter in a polo yard where god knows what happened to her. This is her when she arrived....
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have just read you post in Comp Riders - I would seriously consider looking again at her neck - jack was very odd and had hind limb lameness (and occasional forelimb too) which didn't deteriorate or improve whether he was lunged on a surface/hard ground, after hard work/after rest. There were no specific sypmtoms or indications that it was his neck and the physio and a specialist didn't realise how bad it was.

but after much badgering from me, another specialist looked again and found arthritis in his neck was squeazing the nerves to his hind legs. Cue cortizone and a long process of building up his topline before he was able to return to work.

if his neck is flexed he's sound as it releases the pinch on his nerves. He's an ex-racehorse too.

Has she had xrays or a body scan?

BTW poor girl - what a mess they made of her before you had her!!!
 
My current riding horse arrived with similar problems and unrideable. I had him x-rayed and it revealed a long-standing kissing spine. As he was not a typical KS horse the vet thinks injury or fall. The canter is the most difficult pace for the horse to protect the back, I think in trot they can almost change their movement (if allowed to) to compensate for the pain. Poor horse, looks like she has been through a lot.

One more thing, several people had examined my horse and he was fine, one even said "what I love about these cobby types is they just don't react", it was only when the vet really moved his spine and pelvis that he damm near took the roof off the stables.

Best of luck.
 
Prior to her injuring her DDFT I was pushing hard for a bone scan, but a whole-horse scan would cost serious money I think (Rage's back and hindlimb scan cost £800?) and the vets can't decide even what locality to begin investigating first. They are telling me it is most likely her hocks, but she is always completely unchanged following as many flexions as you can put her through.

My other worry is that her insurance excludes any condition that would have initially developed over 12months ago.... and with the majority of possible culprits, this means I am not covered
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She has never been 'unrideable' but for a time she was prone to serious broncing fits while under saddle.

I think we have the opposite problem to the one you had - Boo is so reactive and hates being poked and prodded by strangers, so she is almost too reactive, which means you can't always tell what is a true reaction when examining her physically
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I wouldn't be surprised if it was KS, I was already suspicious before Rage's diagnosis, but whether I would put her through the surgery......
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It sounds similar to symptoms my anglo showed, he had sacroilliac problems. Went through a lot of experts before my now current vet discovered what was wrong.
Unlevel behind, sometimes very, other times completely sound. Hated going over any form of jump or poles. Ducked his back away from you when fingers were run down either side of the spine. Have to say canter was not a problem on the lunge. But he was clearly in pain and so prior to his final diagnosis he had not been ridden for about 9 months. If ridden he would display cold backed symptoms. Towards the end, when I got quite frantic for a diagnosis (a lot of people insisted there was nothing wrong) his whole personality changed and he became very sharp and anxious. I just wish he could have told us what was wrong. Best of luck, hope you find out what's it is, and that it's not too serious.
 
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They are telling me it is most likely her hocks, but she is always completely unchanged following as many flexions as you can put her through.

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my other horse with Spavin does not change with flexion tests, it only shows on the xray. she doesn't even go sound with nerve blocks as she has muscle damage in her back through compensating. We've xrayed and scanned her back and it is clear of any bone problems, KS or otherwise.

xrays of her hocks may be affordable?
 
Interesting what you've said abut the muscle damage and nerve blocking.
They suggested Rage's problems were down to hocks (xrayed perfect), and I have known them suggest hocks for a couple of other cases as well - it seems that they are keen to blame bone spavin when they have no other idea.

I guess what it comes down to is that I have no faith in my vets whatsoever
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I used to ride IDx that would literally freak out in canter - we found out it was because he had been very badly treated in a former home. Luckily he went to a happy hack home
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My TBx mare hurt her neck a few years ago - it make her buck like mad
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The vet said it was causing shooting pains into her chest which was why she bucked. Got that sorted and now she only bucks during a strop
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That's the thing though - she has always worked nicely previously, as a 4yo, - it is the last 12months or so that she has gotten steadily worse, but as she is in an out of work so much with various problems it is hard to get any consistency to be able to see what is happening.

She will never make a happy hack either, which is what worries me the most
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My horse had similar symptoms with a back problem, apart form the poles. He had regular physio which helped, but only in the short term.
I also lost faith in my vets and asked for a referral, which was when I finally got a diagnosis. Thankfully in my case it was nothing too serious, but I do regret the time I spent messing around with my original vets.
If you're not happy, ask for a referral. Not sure who your current vets are, but I went to Willesley and saw Sven Kold who was excellent. I see your in Gloucestershire so they're probably not too far for you.
 
It was Svend that we referred to for Rage's surgery
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Am considering having her referred to either Willesley or Bushy for the workup as I am fed up of paying out a fortune for my current vets to dismiss everything I tell them
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I have a feeling if I had a yard full of GP dressage horses I wouldn't get the same treatment
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At the same time I need to keep my current practice on side, as they are local and have full facilities in the case of an emergency!
 
I know that feeling. I spent a fortune (or rather my insurance did) on nerve blocks and x-rays that proved absolutely nothing while my vet dismissed my concerns about his back.
I'm sure you'll find a way to diplomatically ask for a referral.
 
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as I am fed up of paying out a fortune for my current vets to dismiss everything I tell them
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I have a feeling if I had a yard full of GP dressage horses I wouldn't get the same treatment
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Been there, done that, bought the T-shirt! IMO the problem is that many vets aren't interested/haven't a clue if the horse isn't either spouting blood or waving a leg in the air if you're not a professional on route to the Olympics. My advice is,if you can afford it or if you can get it on the insurance go to the Animal Health Trust. If not the best thing to do would be to turn the horse away for at least a year then try again. If she's no better call it a day. Good luck though, I know exactly how frustrating it is to deal with vets with a "don't know, don't care" attitude.
 
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I know that feeling. I spent a fortune (or rather my insurance did) on nerve blocks and x-rays that proved absolutely nothing while my vet dismissed my concerns about his back.
I'm sure you'll find a way to diplomatically ask for a referral.

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This is why I have been pushing for scintigraphy - it'll be expensive but I am CONVINCED it is in her back, it'll be a whole lot less intrusive for her than have endless nerve blocks and I would be able to know now, rather than wasting another 3 months getting her tendon strong again before diagnosing her with god knows what after spending a small fortune on potentially nerve blocks.

The fact I have posted today and everyone has immediately jumped to the back/pelvis makes me even more sure of myself - but why should an owner be the one instructing the vet?!
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KVS... our gelding was diagnosed with severe KS. It took 3 visits to the practice for the vet to even acknowledge that there was something amiss (not even 1/10th lame, just not 'right' through transitions etc) and until then he barely disguised the fact that he thought I was mad. I was told first off that it was lack of schooling or to go away and make it lamer, second time that he was 'just a thoroughbred, so don't worry about it' and finally, when he did see that he was lame he was saying bone spavin and issues in the stifles.


Do you know what he said when Rage was finally diagnosed elsewhere with KS?!..........
"Well, I always said it was an issue in the back"
Gah! I could have spat at him!
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Will look into the AHT, unfortunately don't have the space or the money to turn her away for 12months without a diagnosis that at least says rest will help, otherwise I have wasted another year and a whole lot more money and I'll probably still have nothing to show for it
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