Horse refusing to trot

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JeffreysMams

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My lovely willing mare has changed over last few months. She hacks fine. She walks, trots and canters fine, with or without tack on lunge etc. Refuses to trot when ridden. Have had 3 saddle checks, 3 trips to vets. Osteo came and she is worse. Physio found no issues, great after bodyworker for a bit. Had SI/ stifles medicated, hocks medicated, back x rayed and still no answers. Horse shows mild 1/10 intermittent lameness in right hind so lameness assessment is difficult. Had ulcers and scoped clear but this problem continued. The pain is the route cause of the ulcers I am sure. Anybody else had anything similar? Thanks
 
I am having a very similar issue with my pony. He is only 7. He had a full set of clean X rays when I got him. We are in the early days of investigations. Vet said it could be any number of issues so a process of elimination. Vet says he doesn't look obviously lame on the lunge but it could be too subtle to see. He has started on a bute trial with no ridden work for a week and then see what he is like under saddle.

Things the vet thinks it could be.

1 Saddle - checked by saddle fitter and no difference.
2. Ulcers he is not girthy and still has very good appetite.
3. Lameness or pain somewhere that is not obvious. Vet checked his back and doesn't think it is that.
4. Liver
5. Worms, unlikely as his worm counts and saliva tests came back low and he is not underweight but he is a good doer but I am late with his encysted redworm treatment.
6. Behavioural he has not been straightforward since I got him and he is not a naturally forward going pony. Previous owner used to ride him in spurs and my instructor finds it easier to get him going than I do. But vet doesn't think this is the case as his behaviour in every other way has improved hugely since I got him and he is much easier to handle on the ground.
7. Muscular.
 
Right hind lameness is often a sore gut problem particularly when intermittent. The expert on this type of lameness seems to be a guy called Tom Beech of you can get your horse to him. Otherwise, I'd be asking your vet about treating for hind gut ulceration and feeding a gut support diet starting with oily herbs.

I hope you get on top of it.
.
 
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assuming youve had nerve blocks and x rays?
When mine still wasn't right after scoping clear, treating hock changes found on a bone scan i went to see Tom Beech, he was very helpful and gave us a 3 month rehab plan, which worked
 
Have you xrayed feet? I went through all the above, New Forest pony, bought barefoot with what looked like excellent feet. Even after nerve blocking his feet, he was still reluctant to move. So we scoped and found ulcers. However after treating ulcers etc he was the same: stopping when asked for a transition to trot or canter. So we revisited feet and after X-rays, discovered he had very thin soles. Put shoes on and he’s been amazing since. He has a tendency to get cresty and is an EMS candidate so has always been kept accordingly - so vet thinks he’s just got crap feet; despite all our management.
 
mustardsmum said:
Have you xrayed feet? I went through all the above, New Forest pony, bought barefoot with what looked like excellent feet. Even after nerve blocking his feet, he was still reluctant to move. So we scoped and found ulcers. However after treating ulcers etc he was the same: stopping when asked for a transition to trot or canter. So we revisited feet and after X-rays, discovered he had very thin soles. Put shoes on and he’s been amazing since. He has a tendency to get cresty and is an EMS candidate so has always been kept accordingly - so vet thinks he’s just got crap feet; despite all our management.
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Ignore this if you already keep him on a dry lot.

I do understand why you would prefer to shoe your pony and why he might prefer that too, but I would expect a vet to realise that of an EMS pony was kept on a dry lot on low sugar hay at a body score no more than 2.5/5 they probably wouldn't have crap feet and offer you that option to try.

I suspect (no testing in the early days) I've had EMS horses who couldn't do barefoot with access to grass but were rock crunching kept off it.
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ycbm said:
Ignore this if you already keep him on a dry lot.

I do understand why you would prefer to shoe your pony and why he might prefer that too, but I would expect a vet to realise that of an EMS pony was kept on a dry lot on low sugar hay at a body score no more than 2.5/5 they probably wouldn't have crap feet and offer you that option to try.

I suspect (no testing in the early days) I've had EMS horses who couldn't do barefoot with access to grass but were rock crunching kept off it.
.
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I was going to ignore, but decided to explain for others in case they anre experiencing similar - I did not go into detail as I did not want to sidetrack the post! My boy ticks all your boxes for optimal weight etc. He is on a dry lot in the day with a trickle of soaked haynets then he goes out late in the evening in a muzzle (basically never out without a muzzle, so he can be social!) and absolutely managed correctly. Bloods show insulin levels normal and we’ve maintained that for a year. I had a lami/EMS pony before so am (sadly) all too familiar with best management of these ponies and luckily as I have my own land at home and I can provide correct care for him. This pony unfortunately, even when correctly managed, seems to just have rubbishly thin soles. I am not anti barefoot or anti shoes, my approach was optimising the correct diet, pads in boots but this still wasn't enough, so hence xrays and on vet's advice as despite our close management, it was not enough, he just wasn't growing the sole. We found with careful management (muzzle and restricted time) he's been able to return to having time out with his friends. So sometimes, optimal care does not always result in the perfect foot and I think in my boys case; genetics are probably playing a part. It’s been over two years to get rid of the fat pads and most of the neck, and now he looks and rides beautifully and he's not stopped once since being shod. Some might say its a sticking plaster putting shoes on, but honestly, why would you leave your pony sore when you can have them comfortable? Once you have their care optimised, if thats not working, you have to change something.
 
Goldenstar said:
Were the hind limbs nerve blocked?
If not how and why was decision taken to medicate stifles and hocks .
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No they were not as lameness was intermittent and so mild. He tried SI / stifle last June and it made a difference but not this time. Next step is full lameness work up with nerve blocks but intermittent nature makes this difficult and reaction is only when ridden. Vet is not really making any suggestions.
 
Zoeypxo said:
assuming youve had nerve blocks and x rays?
When mine still wasn't right after scoping clear, treating hock changes found on a bone scan i went to see Tom Beech, he was very helpful and gave us a 3 month rehab plan, which worked
Click to expand...
Thanks so much. I have never heard of him and he is not too far away and looks interesting.
 
Zoeypxo said:
assuming youve had nerve blocks and x rays?
When mine still wasn't right after scoping clear, treating hock changes found on a bone scan i went to see Tom Beech, he was very helpful and gave us a 3 month rehab plan, which worked
Click to expand...
Thanks - I have never heard of him and he’s not too far away so might be worth a visit.
 
ycbm said:
Right hind lameness is often a sore gut problem particularly when intermittent. The expert on this type of lameness seems to be a guy called Tom Beech of you can get your horse to him. Otherwise, I'd be asking your vet about treating for hind gut ulceration and feeding a gut support diet starting with oily herbs.

I hope you get on top of it.
.
Click to expand...
Will definitely look at hind gut support thank you. Tom Beech looks interesting too.
 
SO1 said:
I am having a very similar issue with my pony. He is only 7. He had a full set of clean X rays when I got him. We are in the early days of investigations. Vet said it could be any number of issues so a process of elimination. Vet says he doesn't look obviously lame on the lunge but it could be too subtle to see. He has started on a bute trial with no ridden work for a week and then see what he is like under saddle.

Things the vet thinks it could be.

1 Saddle - checked by saddle fitter and no difference.
2. Ulcers he is not girthy and still has very good appetite.
3. Lameness or pain somewhere that is not obvious. Vet checked his back and doesn't think it is that.
4. Liver
5. Worms, unlikely as his worm counts and saliva tests came back low and he is not underweight but he is a good doer but I am late with his encysted redworm treatment.
6. Behavioural he has not been straightforward since I got him and he is not a naturally forward going pony. Previous owner used to ride him in spurs and my instructor finds it easier to get him going than I do. But vet doesn't think this is the case as his behaviour in every other way has improved hugely since I got him and he is much easier to handle on the ground.
7. Muscular.
Click to expand...
Muscular is interesting as she reacted so positively to bodyworker who came out. She is due next week so will be interesting to see if it helps again.
 
ycbm said:
Right hind lameness is often a sore gut problem particularly when intermittent. The expert on this type of lameness seems to be a guy called Tom Beech of you can get your horse to him. Otherwise, I'd be asking your vet about treating for hind gut ulceration and feeding a gut support diet starting with oily herbs.

I hope you get on top of it.
.
Click to expand...
This is very interesting.

I have the vet coming on Friday to discuss ulcers, as I am sure my mare has something going on internally. Yesterday, I lunged her in a headcollar to see if she was less stuffy without her tack - and it was the o/s hind where she wasn’t taking as deeper step.
 
I'd scan suspensory ligaments but wouldn't bother with Tom Beech - he has confidently misdiagnosed a lot of horses I know of including mine. Those aren't the stories that make it onto social media though.
 
scats said:
She can trot happily now under saddle, but unfortunately she can’t/wont canter.
But she is worked in trot regularly with no problems.
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I would be happy just knowing she is comfortable and we can hack, have the odd trot, maybe do some pole work so thank you.
 
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SEL said:
I'd scan suspensory ligaments but wouldn't bother with Tom Beech - he has confidently misdiagnosed a lot of horses I know of including mine. Those aren't the stories that make it onto social media though.
Click to expand...

That interesting. I know of others who were "fixed" but broke again with the same issue a short while later. I wouldn't rate him highly on the orthopedic stuff but I till think/hope he's good on the hind gut issue.
.
 
SO1 said:
I am having a very similar issue with my pony. He is only 7. He had a full set of clean X rays when I got him. We are in the early days of investigations. Vet said it could be any number of issues so a process of elimination. Vet says he doesn't look obviously lame on the lunge but it could be too subtle to see. He has started on a bute trial with no ridden work for a week and then see what he is like under saddle.

Things the vet thinks it could be.

1 Saddle - checked by saddle fitter and no difference.
2. Ulcers he is not girthy and still has very good appetite.
3. Lameness or pain somewhere that is not obvious. Vet checked his back and doesn't think it is that.
4. Liver
5. Worms, unlikely as his worm counts and saliva tests came back low and he is not underweight but he is a good doer but I am late with his encysted redworm treatment.
6. Behavioural he has not been straightforward since I got him and he is not a naturally forward going pony. Previous owner used to ride him in spurs and my instructor finds it easier to get him going than I do. But vet doesn't think this is the case as his behaviour in every other way has improved hugely since I got him and he is much easier to handle on the ground.
7. Muscular.
Click to expand...
Just to let you know we scoped and also x ray feet as suggested by Mustard. No ulcers and hooves fine. Blood tested and liver is looking like it is the issue. GGT 147 should be 49 or less. Would never had expected it to be liver but it was on the list of things to check from my vet.
 
SO1 said:
Just to let you know we scoped and also x ray feet as suggested by Mustard. No ulcers and hooves fine. Blood tested and liver is looking like it is the issue. GGT 147 should be 49 or less. Would never had expected it to be liver but it was on the list of things to check from my vet.
Click to expand...
Glad to hear your pony scoped clear and feet were ok! It is such a process of elimination isn't it, and it can be costly getting to the bottom of it all. But at least you now have an answer and I hope your pony is now on the path to recovery.

@JeffreysMams how is your pony doing?
 
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