Girthy horse, but only in the summer?

[L&M]

My cob has become increasingly girthy over the last few weeks - he is out 24/7 on 'ok' grass, old turf that has been grazed down as weight would be an issue otherwise, but plenty for him to pick at. He has no hard feed except for a handful of nuts after exercise.

Remebering back to this time last summer he was similiar, and even had an incident when he shot across the yard when being saddled....

He has a master saddler fitted saddle that is checked every 6 mnths, and has had both chiro and physic checks recently, so am hoping it is not back related. He is perfectly happy to have the saddle on, but even when gently tightening his girth, and slowly ratcheting it up, he can hump his back and look panicked on occasions. His teeth have also been rasped recently.

However come winter he is fine, despite being stabled overnight and on haylage and fibre based hard feed.

I am going to speak to my vet on Monday to investigate, whether it be ulcers or back related, but find it odd that these symptons only manifest in the grass growing mnths so am wondering if there is a link there?

Any ideas?

 

[be positive]

I had one that was girthy, possibly worse in summer due to being leaner and fitter, he was eventing, he also showed a few other signs so we investigated he scoped clear but I changed his diet slightly and managed him as if he had ulcers and the change was remarkable, is yours a different shape in summer as it could be saddle fit.
I put mine onto Calm and condition, ad lib hay when in, which he was on anyway but I made sure he had a little in the field just to top up the long fibre, he had a course of NAF gastraid and I gave him some alfalfa pellets before exercise and if he was at an event he had some between phases.

 

[paddi22]

is there any change in his exercise routine during summer? does he get ridden more or less times per week?

 

[fuzzle]

Very good quote by be positive, ulcers can affect horses at different times of the year!! my horse is worse in the summer and has glandular ulcers, she is fat and shiney and looks amazing!!! feed is very important NO CEREALS at all plenty oil and like the above post you do need to try something!!!! i use equine science amazing stuff worth a chat to them they will point you in the right direction, could be ulcers threw stress because we do so much more competing and riding threw summer months than the winter, read up on ulcers so many horses can turn naughty with them has they are very painful things to have xxxx

 

[L&M]

Thanks all - he is actually worked less in the summer as is predominately a hunter in the winter, but do hack out 3-4 times a week and go to the occasional fun ride.

He carries more weight in the summer, but my son has lessons on him occasionally in the school holidays and his instructor is also our saddler and is usually pretty quick to pick up any saddle issues.

Re hay, when the flies are bad I bring him in, (or the grass is low) and provide hay, but the ****** won't eat it at this time of year......

Agree that scoping is the way forward - I have tried him on brewers yeast and yea sacc for a short while but shown no signs of improvement, so think it is now time to get the vet involved.

 

[fuzzle]

Think your been very sensible, getting the vet involved at least you know what your dealing with so you can treat him!!! /Slippery Elm bark powder is amazing on ulcers!!!!!!xxx

 

[Birker2020]

but find it odd that these symptons only manifest in the grass growing mnths so am wondering if there is a link there?

Any ideas?

My first thought was could it be that you ride him more in the summer and he becomes a little bit sore somewhere? Also you mention that he was on fibre based hard feed and haylage so had plenty of fibre in his diet. If it is ulcers then these can be helped by the use of fibre which might be missing from his current diet. I'd up his fibre intake and get him on a course of slippery elm (which when mixed with water produces a mucus type of gel which coates the gut wall preventing the splashing of the stomach acid). You can then see if there is any difference in him.

That's what I would do anyway.