Did my horse tie up? Or any other ideas?

seoirse

seoirse

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Will try and keep this swift.

Got new horse, from a friend, 14yo connie x tb. Been in all his life with fairly minimal turnout and worked very regularly. I got him in November, know all his history, never had a day off sick. He’s living out at our place and is sporting a rather extreme haircut so I’ve been well rugging him. Not been able to give him lots of exercise but we’ve been out 2-4 times a week and not done anything massively strenuous.

His owner came to ride him 3 weeks ago before she set off for life abroad, she did work him quite hard (he looked amazing with her in the saddle!). Next day I didnt ride him, day after I had a lesson and as soon as I got on he wasn’t right, tense, resistant, ended up trying to buck me off when I tried to get him to trot. Put him on the lunge he looked stiff and unlevel behind and kept doing panicky bucks. I thought he’d done something to his back/pelvis. Had back lady, she said he was carrying a lot of tension, especially over hind quarters, she did lots of massage and adjusted pelvis a bit, he looked and seemed lots better after. A couple of days later I resumed gentle work with him, just pootling in the school, bit of lunging, a hack down the lane etc. Then I went away last weekend so he had 3 consequtive days off as I didnt want anyone else riding him while I was away as he hadn’t been right. Got him in to ride last night, as soon as I got on he didnt feel good again, so got off and lunged, looks terrible again, stiff, grumpy, unlevel and lame infront and behind now. As its savagely cold I kept him in last night, which really peed him off as he likes being out - amazing how quickly they adapt, 14 year as an indoor pony and I keep him out for 3 months and he loves it! He came out the stable like his tail was on fire this morning and strode out to the field. I didnt trot up or anything so not sure how level he was but I had to put him out as he’d have climbed out if left in. Got vet coming tomorrow lunchtime and going to bring in at night for the time being til this is sorted and it warms up.

Any ideas? Someone at the yard suggested perhaps it was mild tying up? I’ve been lucky enough not to ever have had to deal with tying up before. I might be way off the mark but he looked so doddery last night I am really confused and concerned.

Thanks if you’ve made it to the end!
 
Most likely muscle strain due to over-zealous ex-owner. My guess would be that she worked him over-bent without letting him stretch regularly. Get a proper back person to look at him (carrying a lot of tension!!lol!!!!), eg a physio, a good one should give you some exercises to do with him. It can take two or three weeks for him to feel better.
 
kirstykate said:
Could he be laminitic??
Click to expand...

I hope not, that was my first terrifying thought. He's never had it before, but then neither had my last horse, who last summer at 13 years old and fit and in super shape had one mild attack, then proceeded to suffer complete pedal bone prolapse and had to be pts. So pretty paranoid about the L word! :(

Will see how he looks tonight but he is pretty wonky for it to be a muscle strain, especially 3 weeks after the owner rode him. He seemed to be improving and I'd been doing all the stretches she gave me and he was getting better and better at them and improving generally when ridden as well.

'holding tension' was my interpretation of what she told me. Basically he was tight through his hindquarters and she reckoned he'd done some deep muscle damage on one side, she explained which muscles but I can't remember the names - I can show you on a diagram! She's well respected and works with my vet.

Guess I'll just have to wait and see what the vet reckons tomorrow.
 
Check the digital pulse in front and behind, I would be very surprised if it was tie-up as he is out. Lots of people get the two mixed up even seen vets do it. Fingers and toes crossed for you:p:p
 
Hi there, just realised I TOTALLY forgot to also mention horse had farrier on Friday morning and had a full set. Farrier did a crappy job IMO, he was late (45 mins late and I was the first appointment of the day!) so he was in a rush, and his kiln wouldn't stay lit for some reason so he basically cold shod my horse, which shouldn't be a problem but I did feel as though it was a real rush job. So maybe a wonky back/pelvis and a pinching shoe are to blame. Won't know til the vet comes later but its possible. Going to get a new farrier!

I put horse out this morning he was a total prat going out and completely full of beans. He looked fine.

I checked for digital pulses but there was nothing. But then my other horse that went from fine to prolapsed last year never really presented a digital pulse either.

Will have to see what vet says. :confused:
 
No he didn't tie up, he hasn't got laminitis, or nail bind or anything else that I was speculating about.

Vet was fantastic. She thinks he’s suffered some trauma to his neck and more specifically the 2nd vertebra area. Reason he looks so doddery/lame/wonky (he did actually look a bit better this afternoon on the lunge which is good) is because there is internal swelling compressing his spinal cord. She said it is possible that its a degenerative change in his neck, but due to the sudden onset its more likely been caused by trauma, most likely falling over or getting kicked in the head. Got to have 2 bute a day for 10 days then re-assess. She said to leave him out if he is happier out, but its so blimming cold I am going to bring him in at least the next 2 nights as it can’t be good for a bad neck to be outside in this. However headcollar presses on it which explains why he is being a spanner to lead - and I thought it was just being in was making him bats.

If no better in 10 days then xray. Worst case is he’s fractured his neck which doesn’t even bear thinking about.

At least I know whats wrong and we can get stuck into treating it. Feel absolutely gutted. Poor horsey. He's such a lovely boy. :(
 
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