Horse has become touchy round belly and while tacking up

[WackyWelsh]

I have a 10 year old cob X, just bought him a few months ago.
He’s lovely, wouldn’t ever dream of biting or kicking, but lately he’s been a bit touchy. We moved him to summer grazing a few weeks ago but he got loose poos so we moved him back to his old field, which doesn’t have an awful lot of grass. He still has the squits though and occasionally he’ll get a bit tense and put his ears back if you touch round his girth area, but not all the time. I wormed him a few days ago and I ordered Protexin gut balancer.
There’s also two hardish lumps I’ve found either side of his back, just under/behind where the back of the saddle sits. They’re not very noticeable until you run your hands along his back, and if you ‘massage’ them they almost go softer..also one is harder than the other. And he went to bite my mum yesterday while I was grooming and brushed over that general area. He’s also been touchy to tack up lately, moving away when you go to put the saddle on and getting grouchy with the girth sometimes. We’ve got a saddle fitter coming out next week hopefully and are also getting the back lady out.

Sorry for the essay, but he’s not completely himself lately while grooming/tacking up and even sometimes while riding he feels like he’s a bit tense and not using himself. I just want to get him sorted out! I haven’t ridden since I’ve noticed this.

 

[be positive]

The lumps sound like a build up of false muscle probably due to saddle not fitting but can be because he is holding himself incorrectly through his back, can be due to the saddle or discomfort elsewhere, I would get the saddler out as a priority as it all may be due to that but it does not really explain the loose droppings they could be grass related, due to a worm burden, pain somewhere, possibly his back or, as I think you may suspect it could be ulcers, I would get the vet in to check him and if nothing is found ask about having physio to cover all bases.