daughters poorly pony :-(

C

Cgd

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 October 2014
Messages
57
Visit site
whilst waiting for full check up after Easter with vet wondered if any thoughts ?

Daughters pony started bucking. Completely out of character as he is a real honest little chap. 11.2hh welsh A.

Noticed his glutes were really tight to the point where just to touch his bum he would literally tighten up so much you could see it (he is fully clipped). Had the vet to him and had a good look at him on lunge , flexion etc and all was fine. He is sound. Teeth are fine. Saddle been checked. Feet as normal - he is barefoot.

4 weeks off work with stretching exercising and treated by a physio. Diagnosis was prob slipped in field and tweeked something and is sore.

Thought seemed better and vet and physio agree. Vet advised bringing back into slow work. Daughter rode on Saturday and although did everything she asked and no bucking he just wasn't himself. Once removed saddle you could almost see a pattern where he was obv clenching himself. He also stopped while being ridden and did an almighty projectile runny poo. I assume this is nervous tension/pain ? Obv we stopped immediately.

Poo's in stable and field are fine. Out from 6am until 7.30pm ( weather dependent). Lives at home with my horse and is happy and not stressed.

Ok to handle in general but when I change rugs and go to run my hands over his rump and bum he does back away from me and not happy about it . He can be a little suspicious chap but is obviously worried something is going to hurt ?

Vet is way next week so he will now be rested again and is booked in for the day the week after so see what vet can determine is causing it .

any thoughts fellow HH's ?
 
Forgot to mention my daughter is a very petite lightweight girl who is 8. A lovely soft little rider who does not bounce about on his back !
 
Cgd said:
Forgot to mention my daughter is a very petite lightweight girl who is 8. A lovely soft little rider who does not bounce about on his back !
Click to expand...


My thoughts are :

What feed is the pony on??

Is there any chance he has eaten or been given something different by someone else(feed wise) that in turn can do this.

I would personally not work him till this has been diagnosed - get vets to do a blood test to see if underlining cause, as if it is something like ulcers or the liver then being ridden with a tight girth might be uncomfortable.

Also check bridle as that can make him uncomfortable too if he has something swollen where bridle goes.

Have you checked under the saddle in case knot in the lining or bump in the panel?? I would get saddle checked
 
Can't help with possible causes, but wanted to say you are doing everything you can - is it possible that he has slipped in the field and hurt his pelvis? I would continue with the stretching exercises, and then when - hopefully - he gets the all clear from the Vet I would have the physio every couple of weeks until he is back to normal :)
 
He was on some token high fibre nuts and hi fi lite. V token and only because other horse was getting fed. Taken him off all hard feed tho and been off it for about 10 days.

He is on rest again now until see the vet and he has advised some bute.

We did discuss ulcers but he said its v v unlikely and he never seen them in a small pony?

Saddle all been checked and it in good order and fits correctly - as notorious as ponies are to saddle fit.

He will be at vets all day when he goes so they can do whatever they deem necessary to get some answers.

I keep them at home so very unlikely he has eaten something he shouldn't .
 
honetpot said:
Not really typical symptoms but, azoturia.
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/horse-care/vet-advice/azoturia-symptoms-and-treatment-81938
You can get low grade misdiagnosed cases, some animals seem more prone than others and I have known it in a pony.
Click to expand...

Yikes that not sound good !! but no I don't think its that. In field he looks happy pony and grazes like normal.
His temp and heart rate on vet checks have been fine.

Maybe I will try and take a video of how tense his back end is esp if I try to touch it.

Physio didn't think his pelvis was out .
 
I might be wrong, but seems a bit odd for a vet to say small ponies don't get ulcers. Hope you find the cause, it's so frustrating when you don't know whats wrong, though I would have guessed either ulcers and ensure he gets some sort of fibre all of the time or the saddle, even if it looks like it fits ok, sometimes it can be surpising when you try another saddle, good luck x
 
honetpot said:
Not really typical symptoms but, azoturia.
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/horse-care/vet-advice/azoturia-symptoms-and-treatment-81938
You can get low grade misdiagnosed cases, some animals seem more prone than others and I have known it in a pony.
Click to expand...

true but could be the lesser Myopathy - similar signs but they start to buck at walk then at trot then canter as the symptoms worsen.

treatment injections and 3 months off work as the muscles leak cretinaze and tense up and constrict
Exertional Myopathies in Horses
http://www.merckmanuals.com/vet/musc...in_horses.html.
A vet must be called to take bloods to determine cause and confirm diagnosis.

With this one they do move , its the muscles that leak cretinaze which leads to Myopathy.

Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...t-help-and-advise-please!#hB8zaXQrhHl7rTmc.99
 
Have you had the saddle checked - out pony was really tight in his glutes when the saddle wasn't right. Suspensory probs would also cause him to hold himself stiffly and then possible spasm in the muscles. I think there are so many possibles that this could be that the best thing to do is to wait for your vet - sorry, but everyone ( including myself) could amateur diagnose on here all day long and all it will do is worry you more.
 
Is he in a warm exercise sheet when ridden? I know my clipped ones will not work right unless they are. He could just be really cold.
 
update on this . After vet twice , Physio twice, saddler and rest have tried a chiro ! After first visit appears better. She also agrees with vet and physio its not saddle but more likely a slip in the field. His left side of pelvis has dropped causing his lumbar region to compress. So have a further week off with a little walking in hand and this week is being walked in a mini chambon to try and get him a bit more long and low and using his back. She is coming again this sat and hoping we will get go ahead to start a little ridden work . Luckily my daughter has been able to borrow a pony as hers has been off now since feb half term. So fingers crossed for Saturday!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top