Horse dislikes being ridden

[Connemara24]

Hi, what the title says really. He is 24years old, I'm not sure if he's in pain or just really doesn't want to be ridden anymore, I would quite happily retire him if so but being ridden helps to manage his laminitis. He shows no signs of back pain. His saddle got fitted 4 months ago. He's absolutely fine when ridden his ears forward the whole time trys to avoid the longer rides though, but doesn't do anything nasty just tries to go the other way. He puts his ears back when I put the saddle on and is girthy but he's much better doing this since using positive reinforcement (he never use to do this but started when I got a part loaner who is gone now they use to gallop him everywhere, and he is quite a sensitive horse).He refuses to walk on the ground when we are leaving for a ride, so I rode him to the gate and he was fine ridden. He only hacks lightly only walk and trot from 30 mins to an hour. I have thought about ulcers but he is still very much interested in food. Any advice/ ideas very much appreciated. Thanks

 

[Iznurgle]

A vet check wouldn't go amiss, particularly because he's an older lad. Ground work and in hand work might be alternatives for exercise if he's prone to laminitis.

 

[ihatework]

I think when they get to that sort of age and you know them well it’s well worth taking note of personality changes.

Personally if I were riding a 24yo they would get annual blood screening, acth, and probably strategic use of bute if they were a bit creaky.

If then perky and happy to be ridden I’d ride. If not I’d retire.

 

[Connemara24]

Thank you much appreciated.

 

[Connemara24]

Forgot to put he does get grumpy when putting rugs on (has got better but still puts ears back somtimes), and use to be grumpy with being brushed, but he doesn't anymore as used positive reinforcement and that seems to have worked..thanks

 

[Regandal]

Sounds like an ideal candidate for having ulcers. Scoping is the only way to diagnose them, not too expensive if the vet can do it on your yard.

 

[HashRouge]

I'm not sure the amount of riding that you're doing will really be doing much to manage his laminitis. I would get a vet check done, but if nothing wrong (other than being older) then I would just let him retire.

 

[AUB]

Horses have very small frontal lobes. They can’t lie, plan ahead or rationalise. So no, it’s definitely not that he “just really doesn't want to be ridden anymore”. A horse doesn’t go “you know what? I’m 24, I’m done. I’ve paid my dues, now let me retire.”

I’d say a vet check is in order.

 

[Melody Grey]

Depending on what's happening, four months can be a significant interval since the last saddle check. A lot can happen over that time if weight or topline has been gained or lost. Not sure whether he's shod or barefoot, but have you considered him being footsore if its longer rides you think he's uncomfortable with? Weather conditions underfoot lately might have softened his feet?

 

[Cortez]

Good grief the poor old lad is 24, let him retire.

 

[snowangel5]

Good grief the poor old lad is 24, let him retire.

I agree with you

 

[View]

A vet check, then teeth and saddle check, and if nothing found, listen to the horse. Some horses are ready to retire younger than others.

 

[Connemara24]

"Not sure whether he's shod or barefoot"
He is shod on all fours always has been I think.Thanks. ?

 

[Connemara24]

Thank you everybody, very helpful.

 

[ester]

Vet job initially but also you probably know your horse best once they get to that age and whether they are themselves or not. Having had a vet conversation where my longterm vet said well he looks alright and I was like ermm yeah but he's just not himself you know (he's been retired since and happy)

 

[Winters100]

One of mine is an oldie, probably approaching her 20s, although exact age unknown. If she was showing this behavior I would retire her immediately. I doubt this type of work makes a big difference in managing lami, and you could see if he is happier moving in other ways, loose schooling or taking him in hand from another horse, walking in hand, or maybe look for somewhere that he could retire on a track system. To me this sounds as if he is really trying to tell you that he has had enough.

 

[Leandy]

If this started with a loaner who was working him harder, I'd say he is uncomfortable for some reason. If on balance he is no longer enjoying it, it is time to retire him. 24 is pretty old! You'll have to manage laminitis risk in other ways. I doubt this amount of work is having more effect than if he is out 24/7 anyway. Turn him away.

 

[maya2008]

With the history of laminitis, do you perhaps have a slightly rotated pedal bone somewhere that could be arthritic? I have this with two of mine. The solution for a while was a lighter rider. One would still be fine with a child on (but doesn’t have the temperament for that) and the other will have tiny tots on only from now. Grazing muzzles help a lot in the summer to help with grass intake and weight.

The one with the more acute onset also had an injection into the joint and that helped hugely. Went from crippled to sound in the field, then able to tolerate light work again with a light rider.

 

[Frano]

Discuss with your vet. A lot of older horses are better being kept in light work. But they are all individuals.

 

[Birker2020]

I'd get a vet check, he might need steroid in his coffin joints or something.
A sachet of bute a day will keep him ticking over so long as he remains happy but that would be for your vet to decide.

Mine was better staying in light work as she was arthritic, my previous vet said I had two choices when I didn't want to go down the bute route. I could retire her in which case she'd be put to sleep within a few months as she'd just fall apart, or keep her going with a sachet of bute as light work was the 'glue' that kept her together. She was also a bit girthy but this dissappeared with physio as she had sprained one of the muscles that go down the side into the girth area and nothing to do with ulcers so a physio might be a good idea if the vet agrees.

As it happened she did very well on half a sachet of bute a day for many years before I had to up it to one. When I had to up it to two it was only for a short period on the vets advice and then I stopped riding her.

She was put to sleep not long afterwards for other reasons.

24 these days isn't that old for horses and not everyone is in the position where they can retire a horse and have another so its best to have the honest conversation with your vet and if he says to continue to ride then carry on.

 

[Connemara24]

With the history of laminitis, do you perhaps have a slightly rotated pedal bone somewhere that could be arthritic? I have this with two of mine. The solution for a while was a lighter rider. One would still be fine with a child on (but doesn’t have the temperament for that) and the other will have tiny tots on only from now. Grazing muzzles help a lot in the summer to help with grass intake and weight.

The one with the more acute onset also had an injection into the joint and that helped hugely. Went from crippled to sound in the field, then able to tolerate light work again with a light rider.

Thank you. I'm 8st and hes 15hh around 445kg. He did have quite bad laminitis but he had Xrays taken and I think it showed mild rotation, the vet sent the xrays to the farrier.

 

[Connemara24]

I'd get a vet check, he might need steroid in his coffin joints or something.
A sachet of bute a day will keep him ticking over so long as he remains happy but that would be for your vet to decide.

Mine was better staying in light work as she was arthritic, my previous vet said I had two choices when I didn't want to go down the bute route. I could retire her in which case she'd be put to sleep within a few months as she'd just fall apart, or keep her going with a sachet of bute as light work was the 'glue' that kept her together. She was also a bit girthy but this dissappeared with physio as she had sprained one of the muscles that go down the side into the girth area and nothing to do with ulcers so a physio might be a good idea if the vet agrees.

As it happened she did very well on half a sachet of bute a day for many years before I had to up it to one. When I had to up it to two it was only for a short period on the vets advice and then I stopped riding her.

She was put to sleep not long afterwards for other reasons.

24 these days isn't that old for horses and not everyone is in the position where they can retire a horse and have another so its best to have the honest conversation with your vet and if he says to continue to ride then carry on.

I think he most likely has arthritis, I'll organise a vet visit I think. Sorry about your horse and thank you for your reply