ellen2727
Member
This is a bit of a long one.
Bought a 10yo gelding off a friend at current yard. Passed 5 stage vetting but didn't get x rays, ( had known the horse for years, no injuries, lameness etc. ) Had jumped 120 with potential for 130.
Horse needed a lot of work but after a few months of TLC and proper riding, he was a dream (I did mostly flatwork to go back to basics as he rushed his fences and tanked after them) Only issue is he was girthy when tacking up. Was treated for ulcers and slight improvement. Saddle was checked, teeth done, physio. All good.
Fast forward a few months I was having a lesson when suddenly I feel him taking a single hop step behind, in almost a resistance to go forward sort of way. It keeps happening. I put leg on, ears go back, back raises and he does a sort of mini buck or skip step, kicking up slightly underneath his belly. I get off, throw him on the lunge and nothing. Same action the next day.
I called a vet and see found him lame on the left hind and suggested physio. Physio saw him but no improvement. Referred to equine hospital.
Here he is diagnosed with mild proximal suspensory desmitis on his hind legs. Surgery was our best option. However post surgery after rehab, he was still doing the exact same thing.
Back up to vets where he is diagnosed with kissing spine! Trial and error plus injections found he was much happier going forward when a rider was stood up off his back as opposed to sitting/rising. Vet suggested the ligament snip in four spots, which I went for. It made a lot more sense than the PSD.
Horse was rehabbed for a number of weeks long and low. Had physio, dry needling and laser therapy. Lives out full time.
First day on was still reluctant to the leg, back would tense but no kick (may one very small?) . Much happier to go forward but still funny off the leg ( all done standing off his back by a well balanced ex jockey). He is still very unhappy to be tacked up. Ears go back when he sees the saddle pad.
Today I tacked him up (maybe his forth ride post surgery?) and he was very grumpy being saddled. I was questioning if this was a learned behaviour after many years or was he still sore? I tack him up and lead him out and he rears up and starts broncing like a breaker trying to get the saddle off! Gallops down the yard, bucking mad in a sort of frenzy. It seems to me he wanted whatever was on his back off. He is normally the most placid horse.
I am at my wits end. I have spent a small fortune of vets and rehabbing this horse. Next step is to get saddle rechecked again, but bear in mind I did so so recently?
He has had three vets see him, who on the lunge say he is sound, an incredible physio, dentist, farrier is perfect, everything done. He lives out full time and is in otherwise great form. Happy to run with his buddies and has no mobility issues. Ulcers were ruled out.
I have no money left to give and no one can figure it out. He is happy out lunging, loose and forward and ears forward. But with a rider he is not.
Any advice as to where to go/do next? I would consider myself pretty experienced but this has me, and many professionals at a loss.
Bought a 10yo gelding off a friend at current yard. Passed 5 stage vetting but didn't get x rays, ( had known the horse for years, no injuries, lameness etc. ) Had jumped 120 with potential for 130.
Horse needed a lot of work but after a few months of TLC and proper riding, he was a dream (I did mostly flatwork to go back to basics as he rushed his fences and tanked after them) Only issue is he was girthy when tacking up. Was treated for ulcers and slight improvement. Saddle was checked, teeth done, physio. All good.
Fast forward a few months I was having a lesson when suddenly I feel him taking a single hop step behind, in almost a resistance to go forward sort of way. It keeps happening. I put leg on, ears go back, back raises and he does a sort of mini buck or skip step, kicking up slightly underneath his belly. I get off, throw him on the lunge and nothing. Same action the next day.
I called a vet and see found him lame on the left hind and suggested physio. Physio saw him but no improvement. Referred to equine hospital.
Here he is diagnosed with mild proximal suspensory desmitis on his hind legs. Surgery was our best option. However post surgery after rehab, he was still doing the exact same thing.
Back up to vets where he is diagnosed with kissing spine! Trial and error plus injections found he was much happier going forward when a rider was stood up off his back as opposed to sitting/rising. Vet suggested the ligament snip in four spots, which I went for. It made a lot more sense than the PSD.
Horse was rehabbed for a number of weeks long and low. Had physio, dry needling and laser therapy. Lives out full time.
First day on was still reluctant to the leg, back would tense but no kick (may one very small?) . Much happier to go forward but still funny off the leg ( all done standing off his back by a well balanced ex jockey). He is still very unhappy to be tacked up. Ears go back when he sees the saddle pad.
Today I tacked him up (maybe his forth ride post surgery?) and he was very grumpy being saddled. I was questioning if this was a learned behaviour after many years or was he still sore? I tack him up and lead him out and he rears up and starts broncing like a breaker trying to get the saddle off! Gallops down the yard, bucking mad in a sort of frenzy. It seems to me he wanted whatever was on his back off. He is normally the most placid horse.
I am at my wits end. I have spent a small fortune of vets and rehabbing this horse. Next step is to get saddle rechecked again, but bear in mind I did so so recently?
He has had three vets see him, who on the lunge say he is sound, an incredible physio, dentist, farrier is perfect, everything done. He lives out full time and is in otherwise great form. Happy to run with his buddies and has no mobility issues. Ulcers were ruled out.
I have no money left to give and no one can figure it out. He is happy out lunging, loose and forward and ears forward. But with a rider he is not.
Any advice as to where to go/do next? I would consider myself pretty experienced but this has me, and many professionals at a loss.