misbehaving or lameness

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midnight1

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Hello
Im hoping someone can help me!!!
I own a lovely grey irish sports horse, he is 7yrs old and has been a star in the dressage ring and jumping. He has been very easy in evry way and i have owned him since he was 3.
My problem started in november. He came in from the field lame behind and with a swollen hip. He was on box rest for a week and bute for about 10 days. I started bringing him back in to work just before xmas and he still didnt seem right, so he had a further three weeks off. I started working him again and again he wasnt right so he has been at the vets. There was no sign of lameness or discomfort, we did dicover he was anemic. This has all since been solved. I have started bringing him back in to work and he keeps throwing his head around violently everytime i ask for a downwards transition. Also in canter on the lunge he always goes disunited which he has never done before? I have been told he is just taking advantage of all the time hes had off and trying to scare me. I dont believe this and feel he is in discomfort. He has recently had his teeth done and his tack and back were checked last augest.
please help im really not sure what to do!!!!???:confused:
 
If he didnt do it before I would say unfortunately he is tying to tell you something.
I used to own a little mare who was forward going but safe. I remember one day she jogged the whole ride, ok nothing too bad there but then we were talking to a dog owner and she was leaping forwards, not like her at all, I thought she was being naughty She then started having muscle spasms on her shoulders, so I got the vet and she was diagnosed with Navicular. Looking back, there were more symptoms but I just didnt realise at the time.
I hope you get to the bottom of it.
 
Thankyou for reading and replying!!!
He has had the physio since and she could not find any discomfort anywhere.
I have spoken to the vet and she was talking about a condition that can occur from a hip injury and it can sometimes take months to heal as it is so high up the leg. also that it is very hard to diagnose.
 
I'd echo what others have said. Your horse sounds an easy, willing boy so if he's had a nasty injury and then starts behaving totally out of character it's a dead cert that he's still in pain somewhere. He's lucky to have a mum so dedicated to getting him right again. If the vets have warned that his hip injury could take a long while to heal, I'd be tempted to turn him away for 6 months. Time can be an amazing healer x
 
Believe in yourself - if you think your horse is uncomfortable, get him sorted out dont listen to others unless they are well qualified to comment on diagnostic proof!
 
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I agree with all other posters, he is telling you something and it's so nice to read that you are listening. :)
I wonder if another type of body worker might be worth an assessment? Sometimes just a different professional can pick up something missed...

Equine touch is not diagnostic of course but might be something he appreciates along with any other treatment or rest. All my horses love it and there have been big changes in one or two of them.
 
Agree with everyone else. There is highly likely something not right especially with going disunited on the lunge in canter. It sounds like when he is asked to step under more with his hind legs something is bothering him.
I had an equine body worker look at my horse last year and was impressed with every thing she could tell just by watching my horse walk and trot in a straight line. Has your physio ever had you do leg streaches with your horse, just wondering how he would react?
 
I would query whether he has damaged his sacro-iliac joint/ligaments.

Hard to diagnose but can cause head tossing, tail swishing, hollowing of the back, disuniting and bucking and bunny hopping when in canter.

Just going through a similar thing with our new pony took 5 months to diagnose.
 
Thanks everyone!
The physio has worked on him about three times and i have been doing some leg stretches. He has started to become uncomfortable when i do his hind legs so i have stopped doing it?He isnt a stressy horse and looks pretty dozy sometimes but there is definatly alot of tension behind?My vet has put me on to someone who does acupuncture to release some of that tension? At the moment hes on box rest!!!
 
Mystified said:
I would query whether he has damaged his sacro-iliac joint/ligaments.

Hard to diagnose but can cause head tossing, tail swishing, hollowing of the back, disuniting and bucking and bunny hopping when in canter.

Just going through a similar thing with our new pony took 5 months to diagnose.
Click to expand...

Absolutely agree with this. The mechanics of the hip and sacro-iliac are very closely linked due to the shared anatomy of the ilium bone, so chances are if one is injured, the other one will be involved. Glut muscles and hamstrings will probably be tight to guard these joints especially if there is any residual inflammation. These muscles are key in the downward transition, so if they're tight, probably explains why he doesn't like doing this.
 
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