Misbehaving or something more....?

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ginger_dressage_pony

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So my little ror turned dressage horse is currently in disgrace! On Sunday I was competing,one elementary and one medium test. So, before my first warm up I got on him and as I was half on, he went to jog forward, I gathered up my reins but didn't yank him in the mouth, just went to stop him jogging off accross the lorry park while I got my stirrups etc. Anyway, he had a total meltdown, running backward and totally out of control. He stopped, and after a minute I gave him a squeeze to ask him to go forward towards the warm up, and he and ran backwards into a strand of non electric tape which divides the lorry park from a piece of grass. I sat quietly, and he probably went 5 horse lengths before she stopped at the fence, and I just waited a while whilst he settled down, and then instead of squeezing him forward, I went to turn his head slightly away from the fence, towards the arenas, thinking he would just take a step that way, and he reared up and slipped over slightly, leaving me in hospital with 8 broken ribs me a punctured lung. He proceeded to jump a 5 bar gate in and then back out of the rugby club opposite, and then was luckily caught with no harm done (to him, anyway!)
Anyway, before this happened, over Xmas I Was hacking him up our farm lane when I thought he must have heard or saw something which spooked him, one minute marching along as normal, next minute whipped round and was trying his upmost to unseat me. He ran backwards on that occasion into a cattle trailer which was parked next to the lane, and after a couple of minutes of him plunging around, mainly running backwards I managed to get off on this occasion (he has a sensitive mouth so I usually hack in a hackamore) as I didn't feel in the hackamore I had the steering and control I needed in this situation. He was shaking and almost not in control of himself I feel. At the time, I thought he may have heard the hunt locally, and after a few minutes I managed to get back on and we hacked as normal, he was a little worked up but nothing that strange. Having now had this accident on Sunday I am thinking that I should have a chat with the vets etc and see whether there is something going on which has caused this strange behavior. Just wondering what you guys would do/think in this situation, and first port of call for possible issues, eyes/back/brain? He is 15 this year, fit and healthy, competing ele/med and aiming for some adv med this year, so other than this recent episode he is working well and feeling happy in himself. Looking for advice whilst I'm lying in a flipping hospital bed 😭

Many thanks for reading and I look forward to hearing some opinions. xx
 
Ouch, I hope you get more comfortable soon.

Assuming he has never had episodes similar before and it was totally out of character i would be getting a full work up on him when you are well again. It could be something as simple as a sharp tooth, hopefully nothing sinister like brain or spinal problems.
 
I also think if it is out of character then get him checked out, always go with your gut feeling.

Ouch for the broken ribs, my husband assures me that they are very, very, very painful.
 
Wow that was some fall-hope you are on the mend.
i would speak to my vet, tell him whats happened and say you want everything ruled out, then hand the horse over and wait for the bill, my assumption would be that they would start by checking the mouth, then a lameness work up, then spinal checks with brain tumours being checked for last if nothing else is found.
hope it is something nice and simple.
 
Its such an extreme reaction it is more likely to be related to pain than just misbehaving. But even if it is bad behaviour only it is wise to rule out pain first. I wonder if he cracked something running into the cattle trailer. I'm not so sure this is mouth related - you sound very careful of his mouth and the first sign of trouble was him moving forward unexpectedly. I'd be thinking hock, SI or pelvis. Definitely get the vet out.
 
Ow, ow - 8 broken ribs, poor you. Much sympathy. 6 weeks without sleep.

Ditto everyone about the horse. Out of character = something happening that needs investigation.
 
Really sorry to hear this. I broke all my ribs on one side in April so I know exactly what you are going through. Hope they mend quickly and you get good pain killers!!
 
This sounds like an awful experience for you. I have had 2 similar experiences and both had very different endings for me and the horse:
1. Warmblood behaved exactly as you describe above but I managed to come off backwards unscathed, full work up as very out of character showed a brain tumour and he was sadly PST.
2. Full TB, aged 18 ex racer, great for 4 years if sharp and hunted so very fit. Ran backwards spun and reared then bucked, broke my leg very badly Autumn hunting, I recovered got back on following 8 month of field rest for him and recovered for me and 10 weeks later he did exactly the same again out hacking and I came off but was unhurt. Full work up no findings, vet recommended male rider and more work and he went to be a hunt horse until retirement this year a very happy horse.
I hope they have plated your ribs not left them to heal as it stops the agony. Hope this all works out for you.
 
Ouch and get well soon. I broke one rib last summer and that was so painful, so 8 must be excruciating. Hope you have good pain relief.

It's sounds like your horse could be in pain too. These horses are so reactive I doubt it's behaviour ( unless you've upped/changed his food for winter)

Anyway, I have an ex racehorse and he started doing something similar( but not as extreme) and it turned out to be his hocks. This was 5 years ago and he had one set of injections and has had no further hock issues. When you were hacking, was he going down a hill? At the show he may have been tense and this made whatever it was, hurt even more and so thats why he reacted so badly.
I'd be getting the vet out for a loss of performance work up. Will he be having time off while you heal, if so, the issues might settle down until he is being ridden again.
 
could you arrange the Vet work up whilst you are mending, then if something is found you both can be on "box rest" so to speak rather than wait until you are functioning?
 
I had a similar completely out of character moment with my TB this week. Had been schooling for about 25 mins, had just had another little walk break and asked him to go forward again and he completely exploded! Bronced from the bottom end of the school to the other end (and really was giving it some!!) until we were nearly at the fence....I didn't know if he intended staying in the school or trying to jump the fence - ex eventer so more than capable - I didn't fancy the latter so bailed before the decision was made for me. He did stay in the school luckily and just a bruised knee for me. I got back on for 5 mins and he was ok. However was such an extreme reaction for a horse that's normally good as gold that i knew something was up. Had vet out today and he's really sore across his back near SI and also tight in his neck. No ridden work until the physio comes out which unfortunately isn't for 2 weeks unless there's a cancellation so he's on his hols!
I would, if possible, get the vet out to do a work up. It would be so much easier if they could tell us whats wrong rather than having to do something drastic to let us know!
Hope you're on the mend soon, 8 cracked ribs sounds extremely painful! x
 
I would get him checked out. All the horses at our yard have gone a bit crackers this week though. We are putting it down to the cold. 4 people have fallen off this week and my mare was a total idiot today.
 
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