Help-Advice What could be wrong

[oscarwild]

Well my horse hasnt been right for a few months now. Before he came back into work earlier this year, I got him fully checked over to make sure he was fine. He got a clean bill of health from the physio and stuff so we started working him. After a few weeks he started to refuse to trot on his right rein. Vet came out and examined him after watching him being worked and lunged and said it looked like his teeth. He went to do his teeth and they were fine. So he refeered me to a physio. She came out and said that he was slightly tight around his pelvis on right side and did what she could and referred me back to my vet for a lameness check on right hind.

So vet came out and said he had a misbalance on his SI region which he noticed first time round and said my horse was a little stiff behind but not lame and flexion tests didnt make anything worse. So was advised a month worth of walking with him.

After 2 weeks he started misbehaving again. Not wanting to go forward, spinning, rearing and occasionally bolted. I kept on at my boy as I wondered if he was being a bu**** as he was feeling better. But after another week and half had to contact the vet as I thought we were going to have a serious accident if something wasnt done. I felt like he was saying mum I dont want to. So was put on 4 days of danillion from the vet and the difference was amazing. We walked, trotted and cantered and I had to pull him out of a xc jump or too on our hacks. So vet came out and did another examination and flexion tests again showed nothing.

My horse has been off work now for a couple months to see if rest would help and while we wait to see if insurance will cover us for a scan. Got to try him the other day and I was very lucky not to come off and get seriously hurt. He has been out in the field and had his hind shoes removed as he not hacking out. Most days he drags his hind toes really badly. We put him on a few days bute to see if makes him comfortable but it hasnt made any difference.

Does anyone have any ideas what it could be? Any advice would be greatfully appreciated.

 

[kerilli]

First thought, what saddle is he in, has it been the same one for all this, have you tried a different one. It doesn't matter to me whether 3 different Master Saddlers have pronounced it a perfect fit (ha, not likely!), I've known horses to disagree (vehemently) with MSs, and when it comes to saddle fit, the horse is ALWAYS the authority whose word is law...
I'd try a totally different saddle, or, if you're brave, try bareback, just walking a little, see how he feels. If he's silly you can just halt, pat him and slide off.
If you back him up in hand, does he bring his hind legs up perfectly normally, or snatch them up a little (1 or both). If he does, get stifle(s) x-rayed.
I'd get a Bowen Therapist or McTimoney Chiro to treat him, with your vet's permission, and see what they say.
This sounds like pain, and he's being eloquent about it. Not worth pushing it until you get hurt and he gets a bad reputation.
Good luck, really hope you get to the bottom of it.

 

[oscarwild]

I've ridden him bareback during this and he would walk at a push but wouldnt go any faster. Started to throw his head around and dance. Again used another saddle but he was just the same. The physio did some odds and ends to saddles as well to help with the misbalance and said to have a go at that. Yet again hasnt made much difference to him.

 

[Booboos]

Sounds like he is in pain, so unfortunately the only thing to do is to see if your insurance will cover more extensive tests. Sounds like you have tried all the obvious things, but it might be a case of looking more in-depth to figure out what is going on. If your insurance will cover it, a referral to a specialist centre like the AHT, would be ideal. At least you would have a diagnosis and would know what to do next.