Dressage horse inconsistent performance

[dressagelove]

Not posted on here for agesss, not surprised if you have all forgotten me
I am struggling getting Titch on a diet where we have consistent energy levels and performance for dressage. Some days he comes out feeling great, other days he is so flat, and doesn't seem particularly happy in his work. Some days he even tries to run away from me in the field to avoid work, which gets me like a knife in the heart!

I am struggling (still) to get topline on him. In addition, the grass is completely disagreeing with him (he is barefoot, so has been exceptionally footy), so at the moment he is off it altogether, hoping to get him out on it at night. I'm wondering whether he has an underlying metabolic issue.

He is fed fast fibre, winergy condition, pro hoof, brewers yeast and yea sacc, and micronised linseed.
I struggle to get him consistently bang on my aids, and he often feels lethargic or sluggish. The days when he feels good, he is fantastic and he feels like an extension of my own limbs, and would like to get him like that 100% of the time....

Anyone have any advice, similar experiences etc? I haven't had him scoped so suppose ulcers could be a culprit... but he isn't grumpy to girth, doesn't buck or swish, he's fine to brush etc...

Thanks x

 

[cundlegreen]

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy". Do you spend most time schooling? Perhaps he needs a complete change of scene, lots of hacking, having a bit of a blast. My mare came back to me completely flat and dead to the leg. It took her going out with the bloodhounds to perk up and take a contact again.

 

[Ponytrecca]

Hello, would suggest you get your vet to do a full check over, ulcers are a differential but so are lots of other things. Expect they will suggest bloods and check the feet. Good luck.

 

[dressagelove]

"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy". Do you spend most time schooling? Perhaps he needs a complete change of scene, lots of hacking, having a bit of a blast. My mare came back to me completely flat and dead to the leg. It took her going out with the bloodhounds to perk up and take a contact again.

Ah thanks for your reply but no I do not spend all the time schooling, he gets plenty of hacking and variety in his work, and I think hunting would completely blow his head, his is too sensitive and stressy for it.

Hello, would suggest you get your vet to do a full check over, ulcers are a differential but so are lots of other things. Expect they will suggest bloods and check the feet. Good luck.

Yes that might be the best idea I think, I just don't trust vets as far as I can throw them. Just wondered whether there was something glaringly obvious in his diet. Starting to wonder whether he could have PPID or EMS...

 

[Ponytrecca]

Lol, not all vets are bad! Why not ask who the local top people use? Most performance yards would consider the vet an essential part of the team, together with nutritionists, physios, trainers, behaviour consultants etc and gaining a trusting relationship with everyone is important. I have found that trying to self diagnose sometimes gives me tunnel vision, almost how you can be the wrong place with a map, but convince yourself you are where you think you are...All the best.

 

[Pigeon]

Have you tried an iron supplement? Like Red Cell or something?

 

[melle]

My horse is barefoot also and I had a similar issue. I have now got her diet spot on and she is forward going, full of energy and her feet are good too.

I now feed the forage plus balancer plus additional salt - the salt is crucial to her. Without it she is sluggish and lethargic and in summer would sometimes have tiny mucles spasms after riding. She is also on copra, grass nuts and hay chaff. She is a good wieght. She too is on limited grazing but munches her way through tonnes of hay a day.

 

[Supanova]

It could be something metabolic. My horse has recently been diagnosed with Recurrent Exertional Rhamdolyosis (similar to PSSM) and had many of the symptoms you diagnosed. You could ask your vet to run an exercise blood test to check his CK levels. It basically involves taking blood pre exercise, post 15 mins trotting on the lunge and then 4 hours later. Have you noticed if he is worse if he has a few days off or when he is not out in the field as much? My horse often felt more lethargic after time off as regular exercise and turnout is key for metabolic issues! The diet below doesn't sound too bad although i'm not sure how much sugar the feeds contain. If it is a metabolic issue then little things can make a difference.