I need a bit of help please

[littlelessbloom]

Recently my pony has just been showing a few signs that I’m a bit concerned about.

She’s reluctant to let me groom her neck and will often not let me near her in the stable to take off her rug, groom her neck or tack her up.

She’s biting me more when putting her saddle on.

She’s reluctant to let me do up her noseband.

She tries to run off if I check or do up her girth on the floor.

She’s difficult to get on, despite a few weeks of trying to train her.


She’s become groggy to ride and doesn’t want to go forward a great deal (I have recently stopped using spurs on her). Canter is a struggle to get at times.

These symptoms are all much, much worse if I’m riding her directly from the field as opposed to in the evening when she’s had a few hours in her stable but she will still exhibit them if she has been in her stable.

She’s been on acid ease for a few months and she was great for the first few weeks. She’s had her teeth checked recently and I’ve booked her in for another saddle fit.

I’m thinking it may be ulcers?

 

[Jellymoon]

I think it could be that her saddle is very uncomfortable. Do you think that could be possible?

 

[be positive]

It could be numerous things, possibly ulcers but the neck/ doing up noseband issues sound more of a physical problem somewhere that is causing related tightness or pain elsewhere, you really need a decent vet to give her a fairly thorough check as it could stem from almost anywhere and will be better than everyone taking wild guesses and you going round in circles for months trying various things.

 

[littlelessbloom]

I think it could be that her saddle is very uncomfortable. Do you think that could be possible?

Yeah that was one of my first thoughts. I’m in the process of trying to arrange another saddler to come and give me a second opinion on her saddle

 

[littlelessbloom]

It could be numerous things, possibly ulcers but the neck/ doing up noseband issues sound more of a physical problem somewhere that is causing related tightness or pain elsewhere, you really need a decent vet to give her a fairly thorough check as it could stem from almost anywhere and will be better than everyone taking wild guesses and you going round in circles for months trying various things.

okay, thank you. I will speak to my vet. I was always going to talk to them, I just thought others may have experienced the same sort of thing

 

[be positive]

okay, thank you. I will speak to my vet. I was always going to talk to them, I just thought others may have experienced the same sort of thing

I have but the cause was different each time, everything from foot pain through to saddle fit and related physio being required to back and hock problems which is why a proper check is needed, the one thing I have never had diagnosed is ulcers although they were considered a few times before the primary issue was found.

 

[Widgeon]

I have but the cause was different each time...

Exactly this...I was going to go for hock problems, but that's because that's what the problem was when I starting seeing some of those symptoms. You'll probably get a whole range of potential answers on here! Good luck with the vet, I hope you can get to the bottom of it relatively soon.

 

[littlelessbloom]

Okay thank you. I will get a second opinion on the saddle fit as a first port of call and then go from ther

 

[Leandy]

How long have you had this horse and how experienced are you? The other possibility is that she has found she can intimidate and get the better of you and is taking the mickey by just doing less and less for you. Are you confident around her?

 

[littlelessbloom]

I’ve had her for 3 years so not particularly long. We’ve had similar issues before - getting on, being a bit sensitive around the tummy if out on grass too long (though this was more in the summer) and lethargic but jogging in winter. But these issues all sort of seemed to go away.

I’m very confident around her and feel I am very clear on boundaries. Perhaps I could be better, but then again, couldn’t we all. Things like her swinging around in the stable, I usually just head collar her as it gets a bit dangerous if I just chase her round. When I tack her up, I do it slowly and don’t shout at her or punish her if she does go to bite me or gets fussy with her head. I just carry on confidently but slowly. As for getting on, I repeat and repeat the same thing and she normally eventually just goes “okay” and stands still and lets me get on. Just as an aside, she stays stood still when I get on her.

 

[JackFrost]

Cushings is another possibility. It can produce lots of weird and rather generalised symptoms. It can affect younger horses too, but definitely worth considering if she is pony type and over about 10 years. It can be tested for with a simple blood test, and is usually treatable.

 

[littlelessbloom]

Just had a look at Cushings symptoms and she does fit a few. Never thought of it as I’ve only known two horses with it and they were both old and I thought it only really affected older horses. That’s my ignorance. She’s 8

 

[Scotsbadboy]

I would be thinking vet before saddler to be honest. Sounds like she needs a thorough work up and some bloods taken. She is clearly unhappy and desperately trying to tell you so

 

[Leandy]

I’ve had her for 3 years so not particularly long. We’ve had similar issues before - getting on, being a bit sensitive around the tummy if out on grass too long (though this was more in the summer) and lethargic but jogging in winter. But these issues all sort of seemed to go away.

I’m very confident around her and feel I am very clear on boundaries. Perhaps I could be better, but then again, couldn’t we all. Things like her swinging around in the stable, I usually just head collar her as it gets a bit dangerous if I just chase her round. When I tack her up, I do it slowly and don’t shout at her or punish her if she does go to bite me or gets fussy with her head. I just carry on confidently but slowly. As for getting on, I repeat and repeat the same thing and she normally eventually just goes “okay” and stands still and lets me get on. Just as an aside, she stays stood still when I get on her.

Thank you for the background. Then I agree with the others that the most likely issue is physical discomfort.

 

[JackFrost]

Just had a look at Cushings symptoms and she does fit a few. Never thought of it as I’ve only known two horses with it and they were both old and I thought it only really affected older horses. That’s my ignorance. She’s 8

It's an easy one to rule in or out. It's increasingly suspected that though it's usually older horses that get tested for it, some of them may have had it for many years, and in their younger years just presented vague 'odd' symptoms and behaviours, which were ignored or remained a mystery. 8 would be young, but not so rare, and it can be managed very well these days.

 

[littlelessbloom]

Vets coming on 9th to assess. Hopefully it’s something easily fixable

 

[Shysmum]

I wouldn't try to ride until the vet has been. Could be something serious.

 

[littlelessbloom]

I wouldn't try to ride until the vet has been. Could be something serious.

Oh no I’m definitely not going to. She will still be turned out and everything as normal and I’ll do groundwork and stuff with her to keep her mind active