Looking for advice

[peanutsmumma]

I have a 6 year old new forest that I have had since a 7mth old foal.

I broke him myself at 4.5 and just did fun stuff up until this year when we took it up a gear with schooling.
He has always loved being ridden, very forward, loves his job.

For the last week or so he just seems a bit 'off'. No lameness or anything like that, he has just lost his spark.

He had his saddle checked about a week and a half ago (routine check) she flocked it slightly and that was that....nothing different.

I think it's a coincidence but the last 4 times I have ridden him since the saddle for, he has been reluctant to round up in trot, he isn't particularly listening and is struggling to stay straight.
He has lost the spark in his eye and the eagerness to be ridden.

His Teeth were due Oct, I can't get hold of my usual dentist so am in the process of finding another one. I've booked physio but she can't come until the 14th Nov, I've also spoken to the saddle fitter just incase it could be something to do with that, she is going to come back out and have a look at him.
I'm also going to book in with a Nutritionist to make sure he is getting what he needs in his feed as he is now doing more.

Can anyone suggest anything else to try? My friend said maybe it's the the change in the season and the weather.....but I'm not so sure.

Thankfully I know him well enough to know something just isn't right.

 

[AmyMay]

The first thing would be to blood test.

I’m assuming you’ve taken his temperature?

 

[peanutsmumma]

The first thing would be to blood test.

I’m assuming you’ve taken his temperature?

Yes temperature is fine

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

Bloods, as @Amymay says. Maybe a low grade infection? Are there any new horses at your yard?

 

[peanutsmumma]

Bloods, as @Amymay says. Maybe a low grade infection? Are there any new horses at your yard?

No new horses and we are well away from the ones that are on the yard.
We only ever use the school on the yard, we are over the bridge on our own as they are grass livery with a 24ft Shelter

 

[ycbm]

I'd probably wait for the dentist and physio, but if they find nothing and bloods are OK, I would get a performance workup. These days it's far from uncommon to find hock arthritis starting at 6 and caught early because you know him so well it could possibly be stopped in its tracks. I hope you find it's just something minor, the saddle adjustment timing does sound very suspiciously coincidental.
.

 

[peanutsmumma]

I'd probably wait for the dentist and physio, but if they find nothing and bloods are OK, I would get a performance workup. These days it's far from uncommon to find hock arthritis starting at 6 and caught early because you know him so well it could possibly be stopped in its tracks. I hope you find it's just something minor, the saddle adjustment timing does sound very suspiciously coincidental.
.

I've taken things really slowly with him as I didn't want to do too much too young.
He doesn't seem stiff or off in his general movement if that makes sense, he just struggles to stay straight.
I have wondered if it could be another growth spurt putting him off balance.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would suspect the saddle tbh. What is he like if you work without the saddle, e.g. lunging/bareback?

 

[southerncomfort]

I think you're just right to get everything checked just in case.

With regards to what you said about food/nutrition....I upped Bo's workload this year and he went a bit flat on me a couple of months ago. I was looking at changing his feed, but realised I wasn't feeding full rations of his current feed.

As soon as I started feeding full rations he perked up and the spring is very much back in his step!!

 

[Poingsettia]

Adding to the suggestions above, is worming routine all up to date including tapeworm?

 

[peanutsmumma]

Adding to the suggestions above, is worming routine all up to date including tapeworm?

Yes all up to date. Done about 3 weeks ago and all clear

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Bloods next week, if he were mine.
They aren’t a lot of money, and well worth doing.

My mare was spirited as a 3yo and lost that spark over the summer. Had her bloods taken end of that year and severe liver disease. Turned out the entire yard were affected (something they were eating) but only her showed symptoms. She has also had a virus recently, that was just not being her normal self and showed on bloods.

Worth doing for piece of mind, I’ll have her (and any future horse I own) done annually now.

 

[[153312]]

No new horses and we are well away from the ones that are on the yard.
We only ever use the school on the yard, we are over the bridge on our own as they are grass livery with a 24ft Shelter

if he lives out i would worry he has eaten something now grass is getting less nutritious/tasty so want full blood panel done for that reason as well

 

[paddy555]

I am finding the grass really weird ATM. I am restricting grass for some and have pulled one completely off grass.

 

[peanutsmumma]

if he lives out i would worry he has eaten something now grass is getting less nutritious/tasty so want full blood panel done for that reason as well

What sort of thing do you mean?

 

[Hormonal Filly]

What sort of thing do you mean?

Any sort of toxic plant, his liver might be compromised. Definitely worth a blood test to check either way.

 

[Lois Lame]

I am finding the grass really weird ATM. I am restricting grass for some and have pulled one completely off grass.

Weird in what way, I wonder? Just curious.
OP, when you say he's lost his spark, do you mean health-wise or performance-wise?

 

[peanutsmumma]

Weird in what way, I wonder? Just curious.
OP, when you say he's lost his spark, do you mean health-wise or performance-wise?

Performance wise. I don't think he is unhealthy (obviously I can't be 100%) he is still his 'annoying' self on the ground but there is just something not right.

 

[Lois Lame]

In that case it does seem to coincide with the saddle adjustment.

 

[paddy555]

Weird in what way, I wonder? Just curious.

gas leading to slightly uncomfortable, leading to unhappy being ridden, blown up a little or a lot, ultimately gaseous colic. I always find a problem late Oct/beg Nov (UK)
Uncomfortable being ridden is either slightly uncomfortable, spooking due to pain, walking badly.
I am using bicarb on 2 ATM which is making a difference,

 

[Boughtabay]

I think you’re right to give everything a check over & I’d probably stick to groundwork until saddle has been re-checked/teeth. I decided own very green slowly brought on 6yo would need some food for winter as he was starting to get left behind by the grass while in consistent work. However, since then he’s had an unexpected 2 weeks off, moved fields and come in at night and suddenly I’ve got a very hefty looking fruit loop to deal with. So don’t change too much in one go! eliminate pain and then add/switch things one by one if you can.

 

[blitznbobs]

Sorry but saddle altered then since that not right when ridden - seems obvious to me …

 

[canteron]

My horse was the same, so difficult to pin point but just a few things not right. One of the big ones was she became reluctant to canter, resistant to travelling and a little bit grumpy.
It was glandular ulcers (not caused by stress as she has a pretty stress free life).
Sure yours isn’t that, but if it persists one of the things to rule out.

There has been a lot of glandular ulcers recently, no one quite sure but possibly the weather condition has helped a particular bacteria to thrive?

One thing you could do is chat to the vet about a Bute trial, if they get better it leads down one path. My horse was considerably worse after a few days, which meant I was comfortably about putting her through scoping.