Grumpy horse?

Pigeon

Pigeon

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My friend rode my horse the other day, and for the first half an hour he was pulling the most awful faces. He seemed to settle and relax after that time (and she did some small jumps and he was perky and happy as soon as we moved away from flatwork) so I assumed he was just resistant because it was a new rider? He has in the past intimidated riders to the extent that they have gotten off, so he is prone to trying it on with new people.

However when I rode him today he did the same thing. He's fine in walk, it's only in trot when I put my legs on strongly. He settled after a while and went beautifully but always the paranoid owner I'm thinking there's an issue? He's 100% sound and did some lovely work today, so I think it's more annoyance than pain! He doesn't do it at all on a hack. Got the physio coming on monday for routine checkup and am getting a new saddle in the next few weeks, teeth all fine.

When I first got him he used to pin his ears and threaten to rear at any sort of pressure, but we worked through it and he's been pretty enthusiastic in his flatwork since then. He is very lazy by nature and would rather be eating than doing exercise so does learn evasions quickly.

Could it just be because he's just been clipped and it's cold?

He also has diarrhoea at the moment so could his tummy be a bit sore?

Could my friend have backed off when he put his ears back and he's decided it's a good way to lift the pressure?

Would you treat it as resistance and ride through it, or err on the side of caution? I feel guilty pushing through as it's unattractive, but my gut's telling me he's just irritated at having to work. He's having tomorrow off, will take him on some nice fast hacks for a while to cheer him up a bit.
 
If mine was showing no signs whatsoever of being ill or unsound, being a mare, i would put it down to her being grumpy. However, if she had diarrhoea i would not push her. Naturally i would try and find out what was causing the squits but if it was enough to make her grumpy i definately wouldn't ride her
 
My horse is prone to the squits when he is unhappy/stressed. He got a bit stressy at the arrival of the new shetland a couple of months ago, started squitting and was very grumpy while being ridden. He would throw in the odd buck, and me laughing at this only made him more annoyed lol :p
Now that he is getting over the fact this mini monster isn't actually out to get him he is calming down, squits almost gone, and isn't grumpy being ridden.

I know this because I know my horse though, so if this is a new thing I definitely echo the others and say get the vet out :)
 
Had he had anything to eat immediately prior to being ridden? He could well have excess acid sloshing around in his stomach if not. It would help to give him some forage to nibble on while you groom and tack up. I also give my mare who can be grumpy aloe vera juice which seems to help her stomach acid. I can't give her cider vinegar as that makes her even more grumpy, I assume that it is too acidic.
 
He's out at grass and literally bought in/tacked up/ridden. Got some protexin so will try that :)

Nothing's changed, though they were all wormed a week ago. I actually took him off his hard feed as I thought it might not help, and he improved slightly but still a bit splatty.

Thanks guys :) I'll try and sort out his tum and see how he feels when it's done.
 
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