Help, what's wrong with him?!

I

iloveCharlie5

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 February 2012
Messages
104
Visit site
hey all! i just came on to ask if anyone on here has experienced the same problems as me? or if anyone has any advice on how to deal with the problems my pony is experiencing?
basically, a few weeks ago, my riding instructor was about to ride my horse, and she put the saddle on, he was completely fine, and as soon as she got on, he put his head between his knees and simply backed up. She said he felt like he was going to either lie down or fall over! So she tried another saddle and it wasn't the saddle's problem, he kept on doing it! it was like he completely couldn't go forward under saddle? so we let him rest for a few days and tried again... but this time he wouldn't go forwards when you did the girth up tightly? he flinched when you pressed his back too! So we got the vet out, and the funny thing was, they couldn't find anything wrong with him, apart from the obvious of course! they put him on painkillers and other meds, and said he needed box rest for 2 weeks, and then we would try again. (oh the joys of keeping a very speedy pony indoors for 2 weeks...) he wouldnt even move forward for FOOD when we got the vet out, and he is ruled by his stomach!!!!!! :/
but the thing is, he is no better now, and they STILL cant find anything? he's been out of work for over 3 weeks now, and he's getting really depressed stuck indoors! luckily, he's going in for x ray and possibly scans and tests if the x ray doesnt show anythign tomorrow, so hopefully we will know then.
I just wondered if anyone has experienced anything similar, or has any advice for getting him fit again and back into work once he is better?!
Thank you so much!
Kath x
 
I would say that your instructor over tightened the girth before she got on causing him to run backwards. This has then made him worried / over reactive / sensitive to the girth making him react in almost a cold backed way when he is tacked up. My husband did this to a TB horse we owned. He had always been fine to tack up and mount but one day he was tacked up, girth was done too tight and as my husband got on he ran back at higher speed until he ran out of space then he broncked until the rider came off. From that day on he was always like that if you girthed right up straight away.
What I would suggest is what we had to do. Put the Saddle on first before boots, bridle etc. Do the girth up but very loosely, then put the bridle on and girth up again but not tight. Walk him a few steps, girth up, walk again and girth up, repeat until it is tight enough to mount. Once it is tight enough walk him round for a few minutes then get on gently keeping the weight off his back, walk forward in a light seat and when he relaxes sit normally.
 
charlie76 said:
I would say that your instructor over tightened the girth before she got on causing him to run backwards. This has then made him worried / over reactive / sensitive to the girth making him react in almost a cold backed way when he is tacked up. My husband did this to a TB horse we owned. He had always been fine to tack up and mount but one day he was tacked up, girth was done too tight and as my husband got on he ran back at higher speed until he ran out of space then he broncked until the rider came off. From that day on he was always like that if you girthed right up straight away.
What I would suggest is what we had to do. Put the Saddle on first before boots, bridle etc. Do the girth up but very loosely, then put the bridle on and girth up again but not tight. Walk him a few steps, girth up, walk again and girth up, repeat until it is tight enough to mount. Once it is tight enough walk him round for a few minutes then get on gently keeping the weight off his back, walk forward in a light seat and when he relaxes sit normally.
Click to expand...

Definately good advice. Have had to do this myself once and it worked over a period of time. good luck
 
Exactly what Charlie76 said.. My tb will panic if the girth is done to quickly & tight & run backwards & go down on the floor.. Have since found a stomach ulcer probably caused by a lot of anti biotics & bute he was on after an op 2 yrs back.. I probably wouldnt bother with x-rays etc or box rest especially if vet count find anything, I'd probably treat for ulcer first.. If its a similar type to what my boy has it sits just where the girth is.. I took him to Donna Blinman in Newmarket.. A fab vet.
 
Charlie76 makes a lot of sense and would be the way to go before x-rays, just to add more suggestions, box rest will not be helping if he is tight or sore in his muscles he will most likely get worse stood in than better.
Another suggestion is to get a good physio to check him, they are more used to looking at these type of problems than a vet and will give exercises that may help his recovery.
 
I'm afraid my guess would be kissing spines as this behaviour is typical of a horse withthis condition. Xrays are the way forward so at least you should know one way or the other. Let us know the results.
 
Rose Folly said:
Can he move enough/would it be safe enough, to turn him out in a paddock for a bit and see how he moves then, and what his behaviour is like? I would be wanting to do that first.
Click to expand...
He was perfectly fine at first without the saddle on, but now he is a little lame in his right hind leg and walking slightly funny, the vet told us not to turn him out at all whilst he was on box rest and taking medication unfortunately :/
 
charlie76 said:
I would say that your instructor over tightened the girth before she got on causing him to run backwards. This has then made him worried / over reactive / sensitive to the girth making him react in almost a cold backed way when he is tacked up. My husband did this to a TB horse we owned. He had always been fine to tack up and mount but one day he was tacked up, girth was done too tight and as my husband got on he ran back at higher speed until he ran out of space then he broncked until the rider came off. From that day on he was always like that if you girthed right up straight away.
What I would suggest is what we had to do. Put the Saddle on first before boots, bridle etc. Do the girth up but very loosely, then put the bridle on and girth up again but not tight. Walk him a few steps, girth up, walk again and girth up, repeat until it is tight enough to mount. Once it is tight enough walk him round for a few minutes then get on gently keeping the weight off his back, walk forward in a light seat and when he relaxes sit normally.
Click to expand...
Thank you sharing your experience, it is greatly appreciated! the only thing is, we put the girth on the exact same tightness every time someone rides him, so i doubt she has tightened it too much? thank you for the advice too, i have always done this with him as he doesnt like having his girth tightened too much at once, so im completely out of ideas as to what this could be?!
kath
 
Ginger Bear said:
Exactly what Charlie76 said.. My tb will panic if the girth is done to quickly & tight & run backwards & go down on the floor.. Have since found a stomach ulcer probably caused by a lot of anti biotics & bute he was on after an op 2 yrs back.. I probably wouldnt bother with x-rays etc or box rest especially if vet count find anything, I'd probably treat for ulcer first.. If its a similar type to what my boy has it sits just where the girth is.. I took him to Donna Blinman in Newmarket.. A fab vet.
Click to expand...
we haven't considered a stomach ulcer, thank u so much for sharing this, i will mention this!! thanks!!! :D
kath x
 
be positive said:
Charlie76 makes a lot of sense and would be the way to go before x-rays, just to add more suggestions, box rest will not be helping if he is tight or sore in his muscles he will most likely get worse stood in than better.
Another suggestion is to get a good physio to check him, they are more used to looking at these type of problems than a vet and will give exercises that may help his recovery.
Click to expand...
thank you very much for your advice!! he has already had a physio see him several times and work with him, they couldn't find anything wrong with him either!
Kath x
 
Wagtail said:
I'm afraid my guess would be kissing spines as this behaviour is typical of a horse withthis condition. Xrays are the way forward so at least you should know one way or the other. Let us know the results.
Click to expand...
That's what i thought may be the problem too, but the vet has said that it isn't kissing spines, we are all at out wits end now...
he went in for blood tests and an x ray today, they showed nothing, so he is going back in for a bone scan soon, i will be sure to update you all!! thanks so much everyone for all the shared experiences and great advice!! :D
Kath x
 
Do you ride bare back? I wouldn't suggest doing it now until you have results of X-ray in case it is kissing spines, but it would rule out the saddle completely...

Just a thought??

Perhaps a physio may also be an idea? My vet doesn't necessarily see things that my physio would. I go to her first if there is ever an issue. I would go down that route and see what a physio has to say.

Good luck, i hope it's nothing serious and is resolved soon.

<<<<good vibes and hugs>>>>
 
BorgRae said:
Do you ride bare back? I wouldn't suggest doing it now until you have results of X-ray in case it is kissing spines, but it would rule out the saddle completely...

Just a thought??

Perhaps a physio may also be an idea? My vet doesn't necessarily see things that my physio would. I go to her first if there is ever an issue. I would go down that route and see what a physio has to say.

Good luck, i hope it's nothing serious and is resolved soon.

<<<<good vibes and hugs>>>>
Click to expand...

yeah, until a few weeks ago i would ride bareback once or twice a week, but not for long as Im not very balanced, hehe :)
He always seems to be happier when i ride bareback for sure, but we have used more two different saddles and he is no different with each of them?
he has had a chiropractor out several times, she hasn't been able to find anything so we went to the vets after she had checked him :) but i totally agree with u there :)
thank you so much, i really appreciate it! :D
Kath x
 
If it helps I also have a mare with severe kissing spine and she has never ran backwards or felt like she will lay down like my boy does.. She has also been treated by Donna blinman,, the problem u will have is if u are just going to a standard vet they will scope for ulcer.. Where abouts are you? Also I had my boy see a physio a few times she helped to get rid of the tightness in his ribs she had found but as she couldn't diagnose an ulcer being a physio she was only getti g rid of the symptoms and not the cause..
 
Ginger Bear said:
If it helps I also have a mare with severe kissing spine and she has never ran backwards or felt like she will lay down like my boy does.. She has also been treated by Donna blinman,, the problem u will have is if u are just going to a standard vet they will scope for ulcer.. Where abouts are you? Also I had my boy see a physio a few times she helped to get rid of the tightness in his ribs she had found but as she couldn't diagnose an ulcer being a physio she was only getti g rid of the symptoms and not the cause..
Click to expand...

we r using a really good vets near Wiltshire, the next thing they r going to look for is a stomach ulcer as the blood tests haven't shown anything so far. He has seen a physio several times, she hasnt been able to find anything wrong even after a couple of sessions working on his hindquarters and poll
thank you for the advice, i will take it into consideration! :D
Kath x
 
just wanted to let everyone know that we found out what the problem was, he has kissing spines and spondylosis. We are praying for a miracle in the hope that he doesn't have to be retired; he is only eleven and it's awful to think that he may have to be retired. Thanks to everyone who replied to the original post and for all your support!
Kath x
 
the vets are trying one last thing as a last resort, but its likely that he wont be able to be ridden again. Glad to finally know what it is though, as you said. Thank you :') x
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top