Hive mind help needed...

[Wheresthehoofpick]

So here goes. Long one sorry. Might want to make a cuppa??‍♀
My gorgeous new girl is more complicated than first appeared.
15.3 cob ISH cross. 12 this year.
Arrived in December. Was super.
Settled beautifully. Affectionate. Lovely to ride.

Was always v grumpy to tack up. I everything checked. We think she has suffered with badly fitting saddles. She came with a girth sore. Boot rubs and tail bandage rub


Jan/ Feb time she became very itchy. Had hives. Bargy, bad tempered in the stable. Wanting to be scratched made her aggressive.
Then hormones kicked in. Total witch in the stable.
So vet has her on piriton and we have stopped all hard feed. She has emerald green grass nuts, linseed oil. That has sorted the hives

A month later we began regumate. That has definitely worked.

We wanted to try this before looking at ulcers. I had thought her skin issues had triggered ulcers but I did the acupressure ulcer test someone shared. She is completely unresponsive. Her only ulcer symptom would be girthiness.

A month ago she started ridden headshaking. Now ridden in a nose net and mask.
Clearly I have a sensitive flower.

She is super ridden. I have done lots of ground work with her too which has helped her manners and set some boundaries about personal space.

I definitely haven't got the right saddle for her yet. She hates my solutions saddle despite amazing fitting help she just doesn't like it. We are in a Black Country that suits her but isn't quite right for me.

How can I help her going forward.... I believe that nutrition and alternative therapies can work. Her system clearly needs some support.
I have a fab holistic vet who is coming to review her. Her coat is now gleaming. She has fantastic feet.
Where should I go from here?

 

[nutjob]

Interestingly my headshaking horse also suffered from hives. He couldn't be turned out on growing grass, fine in the winter but first sign of warm weather he would either colic or get very extreme hives. Lumps the size of saucers in some cases. Mine was a gelding so not hormonal but he would be grumpy and generally agitated which I think was an unsettled digestive system as a precursor to some frightening colics.

The only thing which helped mine was getting him off grass although fine with hay, haylage and grass nuts.

If she is sensitive it's worth starting anything new at a very low dose to see how she reacts. I nearly lost mine when he had to have a dexamethasone injection as the hives were so bad he was going demented, this gave him laminitis. Good luck.

 

[cauda equina]

It might be worth doing the Equibiome test

I've just had one of my horses tested and the results fitted very closely with his problems
I haven't done the dietary changes yet so am unable to report any improvement but I believe @Tiddlypom has seen very good results with hers

 

[Regandal]

For peace of mind I would get her scoped. They don’t all look ulcery. My vet said ‘no way’ and he had grade 3 ulcers.

 

[Widgeon]

For peace of mind I would get her scoped. They don’t all look ulcery. My vet said ‘no way’ and he had grade 3 ulcers.

Yes this, I have nothing else useful to add I'm afraid (sorry) except to back up this. The only way to really tell is to look.

 

[Wheresthehoofpick]

So update time.

We have a new saddle and she is a different horse.
She is off the piriton. No hives. Skin completely fine. So it must have been the hard feed.
I've kept her on Regumate and will do this year.
Headshaking has pretty much stopped since new saddle. I always ride in a fly mask and nose net but I think maybe she was worse with spring pollen. It's just not a thing now.
Phew ...... new horses are such a nightmare. Curved balls all over the place.