Help with behavioural issues

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Nik and Ed

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Hi. Looking for advice from anyone with similar experience. I bought my horse 2 months ago. For 5 weeks he was perfect. Now he won't be caught or have a headcollar on. When we do get him in the stable he's at the back of the box looking scared. It's a struggle to get near him. Once the headcollar is on I can tack him up and ride but I am reluctant too as not sure whether he's in pain vet has told me there is nothing wrong with him . Chiropractor has aligned his bits and bobs and tells me his poll area is so so sore. Such a dramatic change in behaviour. Any advice would be welcomed.
 
Sounds to me as though he has been badly frightened - any intruders in his field or stable? If he was mine I wouldn't be tiptoeing round him, I would carry on as normal as possible - normality is what overcomes fear. And time, so long as the problem has not recurred.
 
JillA said:
Sounds to me as though he has been badly frightened - any intruders in his field or stable? If he was mine I wouldn't be tiptoeing round him, I would carry on as normal as possible - normality is what overcomes fear. And time, so long as the problem has not recurred.
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Wise words. But the poster has only had him for two months. I'd go back to treating him like a new horse and spend time establishing a relationship. Talking to him, stroking him, and visiting at odd moments for no other reason than to make contact so he looks forwards to seeing you and your approaching him. Then otherwise continue with normal routine so long as the two approaches do not conflict, if you see what I mean. Got one here with a parallel problem.
 
What about his head pain? He was about 20hh when the chiropractor had hold of him. As she treated him he relaxed his head came down and for about 3 or 4 days he was back to normal. Cuddling and nudging me. Happy to be stroked. Within a week he was back of the stable again. It's so upsetting to see. If there any chance his previous owner was medicating an injury?
 
Unless you had him vetted with blood tests you will never know so there is no point mulling that over. If he was back to normal after the chiro then he has some form of discomfort. Id explore this further with the vet esp around the poll. Hes maybe gave himself a good crack on the head while he has been with you and its just not quite right yet.
 
When you say the horse has poll pain did the chiro explain more about why? could he have fallen over and hurt himself in the field or could it be an old injury, is he sore anywhere else?

I had a mare that was very headshy when we got her and the physio told me she had scar tissue in the poll area, she was very wary of anyone touching the area but the physio told me to try and put very light pressure on it everyday which in time she accepted, I also got a prolite pad that went under the headpiece on the bridle as she couldn't stand any hard pressure on the area, physio think she may have hit her head at some time or as a young horse she may have been ridden quite hard forced into an outline which may have damaged the soft tissue there.

If you can't get any further info from the chiro I would want the area scanned or X rayed not sure how they would do it in that area but I am sure they can do something to get a proper look.
 
Nik and Ed said:
What about his head pain? He was about 20hh when the chiropractor had hold of him. As she treated him he relaxed his head came down and for about 3 or 4 days he was back to normal. Cuddling and nudging me. Happy to be stroked. Within a week he was back of the stable again. It's so upsetting to see. If there any chance his previous owner was medicating an injury?
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I suspect the chiro only gave a temporary relief, now every time the headcollar goes on it will trigger the pain again so he tries not to let you put it on, it could be an old injury but very unlikely it was medicated and now causing issues, your chiro should have done 3 things, 1 referred the issue back to your vet for further investigation, 2 given you an exercise plan to help improve the area and keep on top of the treatment she has started, 3 arranged to come back to see how he responded to the initial treatment, if they have done none of these things then you need to get the vet and look for a better physio who will do the 3 things listed above.

Could he have either pulled back when tied up, a common cause of poll damage or got his head under a fence or something and gone backwards bashing it in the process, I had a pony with a similar issue, he arrived here with a very sore poll and with a few weeks of me massaging twice daily and physio treatment he was fine.
 
If the horse has poll pain that profound the chirp ought to be referring you straight to your vet .
In fact it's not legal for them to put their hands on OP's horse unless they have asked permission .
This sort of things make me very angry horses suffer when these therapists don't tell owners that the horse needs a vet .
I see it too often ,these training in one area people fiddling on taking people's money when the horse needs the only professional who can diagnose what's wrong doing a proper assessment .
 
Chiropractor is doing 3 treatments and advised me to go back to the vet if he's not better. The vet had already seen him and said there was nothing wrong with him. Will persevere then go back to the vet.
 
Thank you. Will persevere. Chiropractor has been out twice and is coming out again. She's given him exercises. If he's not better in a few weeks will ask the vet to come back.
 
Nik and Ed said:
Chiropractor is doing 3 treatments and advised me to go back to the vet if he's not better. The vet had already seen him and said there was nothing wrong with him. Will persevere then go back to the vet.
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Fair enough but if you go back to a vet maybe try a different one if they thought there was nothing wrong in the first place as there obviously is something going on.
 
I noticed you said about tacking up in your first thread. Is this the only time he is difficult - in the stable when having a headcollar on to be tacked up, or is he fussy about having a headcollar on at any time?
 
Nik and Ed said:
Headcollar at anytime. Fine with the bridle though.
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Headcollar pulls on the poll if you touch the lead rope. Bridle will pull mainly on the mouth unless you are using a curb bit.


lilly1 said:
I'd be tempted to xray his poll.
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So I would definitely do this, with a new and more open minded vet. You chiro is breaking the law. He/she has found an issue and the horse should have been referred back to a vet.


If you got bloods from a vetting I would have them tested for bute and for the drug I've forgotten the name of which acts as a long term sedative.
 
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