Guess the % and cc on dressage test

[rowy]

A lameness work up doesnt put the horse through anything it shouldnt have experienced already! It can be as simple as decent horse vet seeing the horse trot up, on the lunge and possible ridden, they may say he's 100% sound but i doubt it! If he's not sound then I would want to find out why, unsound = pain from somewhere, whether muscular, joint, ligament or something else!

This explains it quite well
http://www.aht.org.uk/cms-display/equineocl.html

Is he not insured?

Bute is only available from your vet or with a prescription from your vet

Yes he is insured but I think you have to spend a certain amount first (I think its £300) before you can claim.

 

[maxine1985]

[Content removed at OP's request]

They will only do further investigations if they think he is lame though, unless your vets has a clinic onsite you will probably be referred to a larger equine hospital, from where you are in the country possibly Rossdales in Newmarket who have a fantastic reputation with very good lameness vets!

You mentioned you struggle with your saddle moving/slipping ( i know it could just be his shape)

But maybe could go down that line with your dad and show him this article?

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/horsecare/1378/314693.html

 

[rowy]

I think you need to ask around and see who the professionals locally use. As for your dad - well, probably telling him 'coz people on a forum said so' isn't a great idea, but telling him since the judge commented on it you've been keeping an eye on him, and you're not convinced he is quite right and you're happy to forgo X lessons/competitions to cover the cost of the excess on the insurance might have a better result

I pay for my own competitions and lessons but can't afford to pay for vet fees etc especially as callout alone is so expensive!
He already gave me grief as some people on here said my mare might have ulcers so spent £100 testing her for them and turns out she is just a bit cold backed. (I didnt tell him people on here said so, I just said I suspect after doing research she is showing ulcer like behaviour )

 

[rowy]

They will only do further investigations if they think he is lame though, unless your vets has a clinic onsite you will probably be referred to a larger equine hospital, from where you are in the country possibly Rossdales in Newmarket who have a fantastic reputation with very good lameness vets!

You mentioned you struggle with your saddle moving/slipping ( i know it could just be his shape)

But maybe could go down that line with your dad and show him this article?

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/horsecare/1378/314693.html

His saddle used to slip loads when he was just backed but since he has turned 5 it barely slips at all because he is so much better balanced and my riding has improved
I used to have to use a grip pad all the time with it but now he doesn't need one yay!

 

[SpottedCat]

I pay for my own competitions and lessons but can't afford to pay for vet fees etc especially as callout alone is so expensive!
He already gave me grief as some people on here said my mare might have ulcers so spent £100 testing her for them and turns out she is just a bit cold backed. (I didnt tell him people on here said so, I just said I suspect after doing research she is showing ulcer like behaviour )

Surely the same principle applies? You redirect the money where you think it will be best spent. If you don't think that's on a vet, then fine, but it isn't cost which is the limiting factor here, you are choosing to spend the money on lessons/competitions/physio instead. Again, I am not saying that is wrong, just that it is what it is, and it's your horse and your choice to do that. If you genuinely do not think there is an issue here aside from his lack of balance, then crack on and don't worry about what people on here think. I might be inclined to lay off posting vids etc for a while though, as I dunno if you'll get the response you're hoping for

 

[KatB]

Watching the vid, it could be something or nothing tbh. However, I think at a young age, if there is a hint of anything it is worth looking at as if there is even a slight niggle, it could turn into something more as he progresses. I can also recommed people in the area (farriers/vets etc) FWIW, I had an issue with a judge at an event for something similar. It turned out to be nothing back leg/back related, and took a lot of investigation to find anything, but we did find something, and sorting that out has made a huge difference to madam Had we not have found it, it would have led to more complicated problems over time...

 

[rowy]

Surely the same principle applies? You redirect the money where you think it will be best spent. If you don't think that's on a vet, then fine, but it isn't cost which is the limiting factor here, you are choosing to spend the money on lessons/competitions/physio instead. Again, I am not saying that is wrong, just that it is what it is, and it's your horse and your choice to do that. If you genuinely do not think there is an issue here aside from his lack of balance, then crack on and don't worry about what people on here think. I might be inclined to lay off posting vids etc for a while though, as I dunno if you'll get the response you're hoping for

vet is much more expensive than lessons and competitions!! My lessons only cost me £15 and competitions are £20. I dont have that many lessons or competitions in a year. and I have just cut my hours down at work to concentrate on my last year of uni.

The vet call out fee alone is the same cos for the physio to come out, assess and do a treatment.
Maybe I should move to where you are if vets are fairly cheap near you

 

[dafthoss]

I wrote you another reply last night but the forum ate it

Just seen your asking about vets, you could get a referal to any of the ones in newmarket, its a bit of a trip but they have horses from all over the country go there for loss of performance work ups. Sue Dyson at the AHT is very highly reccomended and would be well worth the trip.

 

[SpottedCat]

vet is much more expensive than lessons and competitions!! My lessons only cost me £15 and competitions are £20. I dont have that many lessons or competitions in a year. and I have just cut my hours down at work to concentrate on my last year of uni.

The vet call out fee alone is the same cos for the physio to come out, assess and do a treatment.
Maybe I should move to where you are if vets are fairly cheap near you

So you can't afford it instantly - what would happen if he'd got injured and you needed an emergency call out on a Sunday night? Genuine question - I sort of assume people plan for these contingencies even if it is with a credit card/overdraft.

You clearly don't want to get the vet, or think there is anything wrong, fair enough.

 

[ester]

I don't think it is a lot to put a young horse through or on a whim really when there is a noticeable problem.

Forgo the competing and lessons for a couple of months to pay the vet?- eta I see you have now said this wouldn't add up so hey ho, but I think you'd be better at this stage paying the same for a vet visit as the physio in march.

When F went lame I booked him up for lameness exam at theirs (mostly due to lack of flat surfaces at mine ) and exam, xrays x4 and a nerve block was about £200 I thoguht it very reasonable tbh and if there hadn't been anything wrong would have happily paid that for peace of mind you're right it didn't go through the insurance at that point as under our excess but + treatment later down the line we did claim for it later on if that makes sense.

 

[KatB]

There is also an excellent vet hospital in the form of Oakham relatively local to you should you need it

 

[rowy]

So you can't afford it instantly - what would happen if he'd got injured and you needed an emergency call out on a Sunday night? Genuine question - I sort of assume people plan for these contingencies even if it is with a credit card/overdraft.

You clearly don't want to get the vet, or think there is anything wrong, fair enough.

I have said too much already and I don't really think a public forum is a place to discuss personal matters such as finance, if you want to ask people such personal questions it might be worth sending them a pm instead.
because you are so interested I have sent you a pm though.

 

[BeckyD]

I haven't known whether to comment on this or not. Something definitely doesn't look right in the videos and he looks like my old horse did with the SI/PSD problem, but your physio should have picked up on that so it's pretty unlikely.

Bearing in mind the current photo you have posted of him, if he was mine I'm afraid I would turn him away to grow a bit more/even up. I would be concerned about putting any strain (I do mean any i.e. continued work even light work) on his musculo-skeletal system whilst he looks like that.

There is a chance he may be uneven/not using himself properly because he's never had to. Maybe the work you have been doing with him isn't right for his particular body layout (wrong word, can't think of a better one) and you could consider a different approach. My eyes have been opened to this recently. If what you're doing isn't working, think outside the box.

So, I would turn him away for a while, then bring him back to work steadily and try to really get those hind legs working - sweeping leg yields and shoulder fore. If he doesn't want to (and I'm sure he will tell you) then call the vet and book in for a lameness workup. In my limited experience a bute trial can give false positives and false negatives, so it can be a waste of time and money.

I will caveat this with I am a nervous ninny and if in doubt call the vet at the slightest provocation but in this instance I suspect it might be wiser to wait and see what happens when he's grown a bit more

 

[Puppy]

When you watch him from behind in the video he swings his back legs rather than flexing his hocks.

/\ This is exactly what stood out to me.

If he were mine, I would certainly be getting the vet to look at him.

DH makes a good suggestion about getting a referral to Rossdales.

 

[CBAnglo]

I think there are lots of things that have been thrown into the mix. Added to the fact that he is a youngster and is growing and changing shape as well.

Why not try to eliminate some of the most basic things first. E.g. you said he is footy behind, maybe try with a set of back shoes and see how he is. This would cost an extra £20 the next time he is shod? Otherwise, maybe try a different chiropractor/physio?

Bear in mind that the minute you call the vet for a lameness work-up the clock starts on any claim, and therefore I would rule out feet etc first. Otherwise your vet may ask you to try with back shoes on first etc before progressing any claim.

 

[rowy]

I think there are lots of things that have been thrown into the mix. Added to the fact that he is a youngster and is growing and changing shape as well.

Why not try to eliminate some of the most basic things first. E.g. you said he is footy behind, maybe try with a set of back shoes and see how he is. This would cost an extra £20 the next time he is shod? Otherwise, maybe try a different chiropractor/physio?

Bear in mind that the minute you call the vet for a lameness work-up the clock starts on any claim, and therefore I would rule out feet etc first. Otherwise your vet may ask you to try with back shoes on first etc before progressing any claim.

Thanks that seems sensible especially as I cant really get the vet out atm for a lameness workout considering our menage is under 8 inches of snow and doesn't look like its gonna warm up enough to melt any time soon!

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

just to say, i dont think he's ever going to lose the dipped/curved back-a lot of very *typey* welshies have it and i think although he may even up, he is never going to have the Alsation dog like confo of a modern WB or uphill TB, ie straight back, withers hand higher than bum with back legs tucked down and under him even at halt etc!!!!

to me he does not look weak or immature, he looks like what he is- a pony cross with obvious welsh traits.

seeing him in the flesh frequently its obvious that the straightness has improved since he was backed and i think in your shoes id firstly put back shoes on, then if no difference, do a bute trial (Chine should be ok about giving you bute without a call out if you explain the situation, they are always ok with me asking for it, or norodine etc)

he doesnt present as EPSM to me at all, i would be very very suprised if that was the case, having dealt with 2 horses with it.

 

[JFTDWS]

Unrelatedly, I think he still looks very heavy in the most recent photo, and that will not be helping him. For this time of year, I'd be wanting mine to look a lot slimmer than that - it will be spring before you know it and he'll pile on the little he's lost and probably more in no time.

 

[Ilovefoals]

My coloured mare had the same type of straight legged action with the dipping hip, working on 3 tracks, and hers turned out to be spavin. It was medicated and much improved. She competed up to medium unaff and elementary aff before it became obvious that the lateral work was getting too difficult and she wasn't really able to collect anymore. She was fine with less demanding school work tho. If he were mine, I'd def get the vet to look at him and agree with what someone else said about laying off the schooling for a while. Just hacking til the summer (depending on what a vet finds of course) could do him the world of good.

 

[MillionDollar]

I agree with what PS has said, he def has the traits of a typey Welshie re. his back/shape and he might always be more bum/croup high.

You could try hind shoes but I would still want a decent vet to look at him, also to make sure he has the correct shoes fitted/balance, etc. I've learnt my lesson and will be getting every young horse I start looked at by the vet/x-rayed to ensure correct foot balance and shoes are in place You might struggle with money to get a vet to look at him now but in the long run you might be saving yourself a fortune!

 

[Gamebird]

I've been reading this thread throughout and have refrained from commenting, mostly because I generally prefer not to get involved with 'is it/isn't it lame' issues and partly because I don't think the work shown on the video is enough for me to have an informed opinion on whether or not your horse is sound - for instance I haven't seen it trotting directly away from the camera in a straight line without a jockey.

OP I feel rather sorry for you. Not because of the volume of response you've triggered, but because of the wide variety of opinions you've received. In the great old world of internet forums anyone can be an expert and everyone's word has equal weight. You've had 112 responses, most with more than one suggestion. That is far too many for any individual to process especially when the advice is so conflicting and occasionally misleading.

For my part I'd probably refrain from involving the great unwashed horsey internet masses in this issue which, as far as I can see, is a private issue between you and your horse and possibly your support team.

The thing that grates with me is your dismissal of your local vets. If you choose to involve your vet (and I would, if only to set your mind at rest) I am curious why you think that there isn't a vet in your county that you would trust. Leicestershire has a large population of professional horsemen - from polo players to huntsmen to people with Olympic medals - who mostly seem to manage with the local equine vets. For my part I would happily send any of my horses to any one of four or five specialist equine practices in your county (and, as it happens, I know a wee bit about the subject ). You really don't need to go to Newmarket to get a very experienced and trustworthy vet to give you their thoughts.

The problem with asking for opinions on this sort of platform I have outlined above. Now put this thread behind you, go out and look at your horse with fresh, unbiased eyes tomorrow and if you (not some random stranger) deem it necessary then go and consult an expert in the relevant field (and one who will look at your horse in real life, not on a sub-optimal video) - something which very few of the 112 respondents can claim to be.