maxapple
Well-Known Member
Long post alert .....
Something is not right with my pony at the moment ... so could do with some ideas.
He's a highly strung arab x welsh. Gets very worried about life generally. Lives out with 3 others on 4 acres on controlled grass and access to stables / shelters 24/7.
When I got him (3 yrs ago) he had a poorly back so I have the physio every 6 months for him. Up until a few months ago, he was in work 6 days a week - hacking and schooling. I then found a part loaner for him who rode him most days, but did start to do quite a bit of jumping. One morning after a lesson the previous day, he was tucked up and I thought he might have colic. I put him in for a few hours and watched him carefully, and after a 'rest' he seemed ok. This happened again a couple of days later. I thought it must be his back hurting due to jumping so we agreed no more jumping for him. He was also shifting his weight quite a bit on his back legs / resting his back feet.
I had his saddle done 2 months ago, and his back done by the physio early June. She said his back was in spasm and gave us exercises to do to help. I had his feet done 2 weeks ago - no signs of laminitis at that point (as I wondered if it might be that in his back feet)
Since having the physio, his loaner has done dressage and taken him on a sponsored ride (8 miles) where she came off so he might have pulled something there.
He has had the past week off totally and only I will be riding him from now on. Yesterday I rode him in our fields and he was fine in walk, nice and relaxed and forward going (he's a lovely forward going pony) but just would not trot. I didn't push it too much as he obviously felt uncomfortable. I tried riding bareback and he was the same - happy to walk but wouldn't trot. Got off and he would trot in hand. Once i got off I pressed along his back and there is an area where he reacts when I touch it, and he was resting his back legs again.
I am going to put him on dannillon for a few days incase he is sore. Physio is coming in 2 weeks again.
I am thinking it is his back (but he's never reacted by not going forward even when it was very bad when I first got him) and every time I ride he has to wee after 10 or so mins, but it often takes him a few 'goes' and he has to stop and start walking and often turn round to look at his tummy.
So now I'm wondering whether it might be mild azoturia (if there is such a thing)? He is on just grass, occasional bit of hay when he's cold / comes in for a bit,a and a handful of happy hoof, vits and badminton hi-fi cubes.
I don't know whether its better to rest him totally until the physio comes or take him out for walks round the block???? Help
Something is not right with my pony at the moment ... so could do with some ideas.
He's a highly strung arab x welsh. Gets very worried about life generally. Lives out with 3 others on 4 acres on controlled grass and access to stables / shelters 24/7.
When I got him (3 yrs ago) he had a poorly back so I have the physio every 6 months for him. Up until a few months ago, he was in work 6 days a week - hacking and schooling. I then found a part loaner for him who rode him most days, but did start to do quite a bit of jumping. One morning after a lesson the previous day, he was tucked up and I thought he might have colic. I put him in for a few hours and watched him carefully, and after a 'rest' he seemed ok. This happened again a couple of days later. I thought it must be his back hurting due to jumping so we agreed no more jumping for him. He was also shifting his weight quite a bit on his back legs / resting his back feet.
I had his saddle done 2 months ago, and his back done by the physio early June. She said his back was in spasm and gave us exercises to do to help. I had his feet done 2 weeks ago - no signs of laminitis at that point (as I wondered if it might be that in his back feet)
Since having the physio, his loaner has done dressage and taken him on a sponsored ride (8 miles) where she came off so he might have pulled something there.
He has had the past week off totally and only I will be riding him from now on. Yesterday I rode him in our fields and he was fine in walk, nice and relaxed and forward going (he's a lovely forward going pony) but just would not trot. I didn't push it too much as he obviously felt uncomfortable. I tried riding bareback and he was the same - happy to walk but wouldn't trot. Got off and he would trot in hand. Once i got off I pressed along his back and there is an area where he reacts when I touch it, and he was resting his back legs again.
I am going to put him on dannillon for a few days incase he is sore. Physio is coming in 2 weeks again.
I am thinking it is his back (but he's never reacted by not going forward even when it was very bad when I first got him) and every time I ride he has to wee after 10 or so mins, but it often takes him a few 'goes' and he has to stop and start walking and often turn round to look at his tummy.
So now I'm wondering whether it might be mild azoturia (if there is such a thing)? He is on just grass, occasional bit of hay when he's cold / comes in for a bit,a and a handful of happy hoof, vits and badminton hi-fi cubes.
I don't know whether its better to rest him totally until the physio comes or take him out for walks round the block???? Help
