horse is suddenly acting weird, need help....

[OrangeAndLemon]

He needs to be seen by a vet. £200 is nowt in the grand scheme of horse ownership and vet fees, I’m afraid. Is he insured?

Mine managed to get an eye condition on the last day of the initial exclusion period. It eventually cost a few £k because after months of treatment with little improvement, he finally needed minor surgery on both eyes.

Could I have waited another day? With hindsight, yes but at the time I didn't know when the exclusion ran out and as they vet said "they don't mess about with eyes" - I'd initially asked if they could see him sometime that week - they said they'd be there within an hour

 

[Lurfy]

I don't know if it has been mentioned, but what type of hay and how much is he getting in 24hrs?

 

[moorhillhorses]

Grass changes set my horses into a tizzy! ESPECIALLY this time of the year. Do a Ponease Ulc fix course it keeps them happy and comfortable xx

 

[Boulty]

I’m sorry that the people who should be supporting you are being a bit dismissive. If your parents will be paying the vet bill then unfortunately you are going to have to play along with at what point they’d be happy to have them out. (Although if you’re not happy I would keep pushing them so that you have the peace of mind of him being examined)

In the meantime I would definitely get some videos of what he’s doing & send them to your vet. (There may be some members on here happy to have a look for you as well?)

It’s a difficult one as some horses DO appear fine for a few weeks when settling in & then get a bit overwhelmed & silly before settling again but there also could be something more serious going on. (Eg some horses can develop gastric ulcers as a result of stress that can make them very stressy because they’re sore)

The shivering COULD be stress / adrenaline related (my pony occasionally does it if he’s worried & my Welsh used to stand and quiver whilst waiting for the off if I took him hunting) but it also could be a sign of something serious medically & obviously the vet having a look in person would help tell the difference. (Would be more concerned if he’s also struggling to hold his back feet up when you pick them out)

 

[ponyparty]

Basically, there are infinite things that could be going on here and he needs to be seen by an expert.

Best case scenario, you(r mum) pays £200 for a vet visit and you get peace of mind. Can you frame it to her that if she does this now, it could head off a more serious/expensive problem in future?

 

[misst]

As everyone has said it does sound as if a vet visit is needed if only for reassurance and I doubt it will cost that much. Show mum this thread. It does sound as if you'd benefit from some trusted experienced support. Do you have an instructor who could help/speak to mum/reassure you?

 

[ponynutz]

People who can't afford veterinary care shouldn't have horses.
Sick and tired of seeing animals suffering because people are too fecking irresponsible.

op is 15…

 

[axe1312]

I wonder if there has been confusion with the call out cost quoted? I can imagine £150+ potentially being out of hours, dire emergency situation. As opposed to £50-£60 ish being for a call out at some point that day to fit in with other calls?

oh okay, yes that doesn sound possible, he seems fine today, but he is always fine in his field. all his symptoms apear once brought it, worked, stabled etc.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

oh okay, yes that doesn sound possible, he seems fine today, but he is always fine in his field. all his symptoms apear once brought it, worked, stabled etc.

When he is in, are there other horses in with him?

 

[axe1312]

I cannot understand how anyone who knows anything about horses doesn’t think this horse need to see a vet urgently. And I cannot imagine any vet saying a visit isn’t necessary for the symptoms described. I also don’t know any vet that charges £200 for a call out fee.

I’m sorry you’re in this position aged 15 and not able to make decisions for yourself. Horses are expensive. Is the horse insured for vet fees?

no, we was told not to insure him. and his symptoms arent showing in the field. which is why people arent as concerned

 

[axe1312]

Just give him plenty of hay and if you are sure the chaff us the same as before, you can give him that but do stop the pellets.
In general better for condition means more starch and sugar, which are probably what has upset him. What brand are you using?

spillers Pegasus. he was too have soaked hay because his previous owner said he coughs on hay

 

[axe1312]

When he is in, are there other horses in with him?

yes a mare next door, and a stallion and pregnant mare opposite

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

no, we was told not to insure him. and his symptoms arent showing in the field. which is why people arent as concerned

You need two types of insurance as a first time owner of a 14yo gelding who passed a vetting.

The first is the standard vet fee insurance which costs around £50 a month and usually has around a £200 excess but will provide a range of levels of cover. Even if you just go for the basic catastrophy cover you will be covered for injury and colic surgery.

The other type is public liability insurance which covers in case the horse causes injury to others. I get mine through World Horse Welfare and it costs around £50 for the year but will save me becoming bankrupt should the horse get onto a road and cause a crash seriously injuring an innocent party.

 

[axe1312]

Just to throw something else into the mix, could he be having a reaction to his jabs? My friends horse, who I ride, had a terrible reaction to his jabs this year - never had a problem before. And I’ve heard anecdotally of a few others the same (I have no stats to back this up).

He needs to be seen by a vet. £200 is nowt in the grand scheme of horse ownership and vet fees, I’m afraid. Is he insured?

yes he did have a reaction, his neck swelled up, the vet said his symptoms arent related to his reaction. we gave him bute for a few days, and the lump is smaller, but still there.

 

[HappyHollyDays]

no, we was told not to insure him. and his symptoms arent showing in the field. which is why people arent as concerned

Not everyone insure but if you aren’t going to your parents need a back up plan because accidents happen. Third party/public liability is essential for you and the pony and there are very reasonable injury only policies.

 

[axe1312]

Have you checked your paddock for any plants that could cause allergy or poisoning? Do you know where your horse grazed before? Might there have been a lot of ragwort , for instance?

I am only asking this because you say he " circles in his box" . Are these circles really tight ?

he is on a plain grass field, no tree etc. there is some green plants on it but i dont know what they are. and the circles are as wide as his stable

 

[axe1312]

Not everyone insure but if you aren’t going to your parents need a back up plan because accidents happen. Third party/public liability is essential for you and the pony and there are very reasonable injury only policies.

when he gets a saddle and he start leaving the yard, he will get public liability insurance

 

[axe1312]

It's entirely possible that the (locally accepted as the best) horse vet in the area has spoken to the OP's mum, unpicked the symptoms described and the general situation, and advised, as many do, to monitor things and call back if needed.

I think the £200 call out is a misunderstanding/Chinese whispers thing.

yes thats exactly what they said. they said they dont think are needed at the moment, but if things get worse, call them back.

 

[Red-1]

If he is symptom free in the field, it is far more likely that he is simply upset.

I would read up on various conditions though, as knowledge is power.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

when he gets a saddle and he start leaving the yard, he will get public liability insurance

Under the 1971 Animal Act you have a strict liability from the moment you own him. It doesn't have to be am accident off the yard, it could be an accident on the yard or while he is unattended. Even someone breaking into the yard and getting injured by him.

 

[axe1312]

I don't know if it has been mentioned, but what type of hay and how much is he getting in 24hrs?

soaked hay, he has 2 big nets overnight, none in the day

 

[ponyparty]

Advised by whom, not to insure him? I would not take any more advice from that person.

Could it be possible that he is just not used to being stabled? If he was used to being out almost all the time with previous owners, the new routine could be upsetting him?

 

[axe1312]

Advised by whom, not to insure him? I would not take any more advice from that person.

Could it be possible that he is just not used to being stabled? If he was used to being out almost all the time with previous owners, the new routine could be upsetting him?

both my instructors, my yard owner, my mum. his previous owner had him for 5 weeks, and lived out 24/7. she claimed he had been stabled before and was fine. but when we first got him home he was completely fine.

 

[axe1312]

Advised by whom, not to insure him? I would not take any more advice from that person.

Could it be possible that he is just not used to being stabled? If he was used to being out almost all the time with previous owners, the new routine could be upsetting him?

they all said that its better to have a bank account and put money away each month, as i have one horse, and 4 dogs.

 

[Patterdale]

Oh for goodness sake, the horse sounds unsettled, they’ve spoken to the vet who isn’t concerned, I don’t think there’s any need to wind up and panic this poor girl (who can’t force the vet anyway) to the extent that has been done here.
Just follow your vets advice and keep an eye on it.

 

[Patterdale]

And I don’t insure my horses either. It’s not mandatory and it’s an incredibly expensive gamble which you may win but will more than likely lose.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

they all said that its better to have a bank account and put money away each month, as i have one horse, and 4 dogs.

and how at 15 are you going to put money away? If your Mum is quibbling about paying £200 then she wouldn't be happy paying my last years worth of vet fees which came in at around £15,000.

Please, please, please get insurance. As for your current issue, if your vet isn't concerned and experienced people that see him in the flesh aren't worried either then I would at your age probably have to go along with that. I'm assuming your parents aren't horsey?

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

And I don’t inside my horses either. It’s not mandatory and it’s an incredibly expensive gamble which you may win but will more than likely lose.

You're not an inexperienced owner with their first horse.

You're right, insurance isn't right for everyone and every horse. I'm risk averse so I will always take the public liability insurance. As for vet insurance, if you have the discipline to put aside £100 or so each month to build up a pot then it is a sensible alternative. Until you have that pot you have the risk of needing something like colic surgery which could require £5k to £10k. If you have an older horse who you wouldn't put through colic surgery then again, a savings pot is a sensible choice.

 

[millikins]

Assuming OP hasn't made a typo, the previous owner only had him 5 weeks and she's had him 2, so poor horse has had 2 massive changes in a very short timespan and now has a stallion to contend with that he can't run away from. If he's only doing this when stabled, he may well just be very frightened and upset. Can you move him to another stable OP or leave him out if he's happier in the paddock?

 

[Hormonal Filly]

I would highly, highly recommend insuring him. Even if it is just for the first year for vet fees. Get some quotes. Without insurance I would be in serious debt. The fact the previous owner only had him 5 weeks is strange unless she is a dealer? He just sounds like he is settling in.

Hope he settles down.