Lethargic horse

[dolloe]

Anyone else’s horse very lethargic the past few days?

She’s quite chilled out anyway, but she’s been really behind my leg the past few days and then yesterday, I cantered her on both reins to start with and she was great, did some baby on and back, and then I asked her for canter after doing some transitions to try and get her off my leg and she just refused to or just cantered on the wrong leg.

For context, she’s currently fed:

Regumate
Magnesium
Speedibeet

Ponease Ulc Maintenance before riding

Saddle was checked about a month ago, physio is due next week and teeth were done in May. She is also getting a bit and bridle check in a few weeks.

She is never schooled for longer than 30 mins, twice a week maximum.

Any ideas? Is it just fitness? Is it baby brain overload (she is 5)? Is it grass/weather? Or could it be something more serious?

 

[Lexi 123]

Why is she on regumate

 

[SantaVera]

Yes it's quite sultry the weather and cool at night I reckon they aren't sleeping too well, I'm not riding today.

 

[dolloe]

Why is she on regumate

Because she was very reactive when in season - didn’t like being tacked up, didn’t like being ridden, nappy, spooky, would rear in hand when I took her away from her field buddies. Got her ovaries scanned and all fine there so the vet said to put her on regumate.

 

[MuddyMonster]

It could be so many things but if there is no obvious cause, I would call the vet to take a look or run bloods before looking at other causes.

 

[Annagain]

How much variety does she have in her work? You mention she schools no more than twice a week but does she do much 'fun' stuff as well? Hacking / fun rides etc? Is she lethargic when doing those things?

 

[Slightlyconfused]

I would run bloods to check all.is ok.

Mine was lathargic coming out of winter, just had no spark, he is 15 so got a full blood workup done and turned out he has cushings.

 

[Birker2020]

Because she was very reactive when in season - didn’t like being tacked up, didn’t like being ridden, nappy, spooky, would rear in hand when I took her away from her field buddies. Got her ovaries scanned and all fine there so the vet said to put her on regumate.

Most of those symptoms could be attributed to pain elsewhere in her body, maybe a full work up from a vet would be cheaper in the long run? Maybe the physio will be able to rule some things out? Has she been scoped for ulcers?

 

[dolloe]

How much variety does she have in her work? You mention she schools no more than twice a week but does she do much 'fun' stuff as well? Hacking / fun rides etc? Is she lethargic when doing those things?

She does go out 3-4 times a week hacking, which varies from 30 minute plods to longer hacks. The last few hacks, she has been pretty chilled - mooching along on the buckle end. It sort of coincides with the magnesium but I thought that wasn’t a “calmer” per se?

 

[dolloe]

Most of those symptoms could be attributed to pain elsewhere in her body, maybe a full work up from a vet would be cheaper in the long run? Or was it only when in season?

The behaviour only happened when in season, otherwise I would’ve probably just got a full work up instead of ovary scan etc. She was a totally different horse when not in season - more aligned to how she is now, but more off the leg.

 

[Annagain]

Has she started to change coat? My old share horse would get lethargic in late summer / autumn when he was starting to change coat. More mid Sept sort of time but she could be starting that a bit early. I wouldn't be too concerned if it's just been a couple of days but if it continues for more than about 2 weeks, I'd maybe think about investigating a bit more.

 

[dolloe]

Has she started to change coat? My old share horse would get lethargic in late summer / autumn when he was starting to change coat. More mid Sept sort of time but she could be starting that a bit early. I wouldn't be too concerned if it's just been a couple of days but if it continues for more than about 2 weeks, I'd maybe think about investigating a bit more.

Yeah, I’ve started to notice it on her neck and chest a bit. I hadn’t thought of that! Thank you

 

[ycbm]

I would want the reassurance of a blood check for possible virus or anaemia if it lasts over a week, I think.
.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Magnesium can make them lethargic but I would ask the vet to run bloods if I were concerned

 

[dolloe]

Okay thank you everyone. I’ll see how she goes the next few days

 

[Dave's Mam]

Dave gets a bit CBA when his winter coat is coming through. Growing winter woollies uses energy & he's also hot & sticky.

 

[SEL]

Dave gets a bit CBA when his winter coat is coming through. Growing winter woollies uses energy & he's also hot & sticky.

I used to have to increase M's feed when it was coat growing season - but there's a lot of coat with natives!

It has been horribly sticky and humid recently. I've felt pretty CBA too

 

[Snow Falcon]

My old chap used to go backwards when changing coat. I found kossolian blood salts very helpful.