horse making faces.....

[L&M]

One of my horses has recently started making faces when I go to girth him up. I have had his saddle checked, which did need some adjustment, but this was done last month and he is still repeating the behaviour. I had the vet out also and he cannot find any back issues and checked teeth etc, so cannot explain it, (typically the horse did not re-act when I saddled him up for the vet!!)
He did react in a similar way a couple of times over the very cold spell in winter, but put it more down to having a full clip and removal of warm rugs before tacking up.
Any ideas?

 

[Weezy]

Full, gassy belly from the spring grass?

 

[L&M]

That's very interesting as he is farting like a good un and pooping like a cow at the moment!! I also heard his belly grumbling whilst grooming today.
He doesn't do it all the time, but seems to be more frequent since they have been out 24/7 so wonder if you are onto something?

 

[Cyberchick]

He's got the hump!

 

[L&M]

Ha Ha! Mind you he can be a grumpy git at other times so maybe he is just rebelling because I have taken him away from his spring grass?!

 

[Cyberchick]

Thats like taking me away from cake.lol

 

[cmarychapman]

Sounds like Weezy maybe right maybe try bringing him in at least an hour or so before you ride. HP got abit grumpy straight after he was clipped I put it down to him being more tickleish than normal. Found if I put saddle on with very loose girth left it for 10 minutes while I faffed around then gradually tightened it up he was fine. I tend to use a mounting block to just hop on so I dont have to have the girth fully tight to mount that helps too. My old pony used to black out if you did the girth up too quick so I'm used to the softly sofly approach but I think all horses appreciate it.