Mystery Symptoms

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Hopalong

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My 14 hh Welsh cob pony is currently off work with the following symptoms - Kicking up to his belly with back legs - sometimes violently. Always under saddle but also sometimes in the field as well. Also tries to rub his flanks against anything available ridden or not. Not good to have back legs shod if farrier lifts them too high. No sensitivity when touched/brushed. And here's the killer - it only happens from Sept to March. All symptoms go in the late spring/summer and he's a lovely ride. When happening he's lethal to ride and gets worse, agitated to the point that he's dangerous/rushes/kicks and feels like he might bolt. This is year 3. Year 1 I had only just bought him and it was late winter so by the time was doing any serious work with him it had stopped, 2nd winter he was off work anyway with spavin in his hock so this winter is the first time it has really been an issue.

Have so far tried worm count and appropriate wormers (incl for mites), bute for a week to see if it is a pain response, had saddle checked, tried different girths, had him clipped and not clipped. Tested for sand colic and on a de itch supplement. I’m currently waiting on the Chiropractor to check out his back. Both my vet and I are mystified - any ideas gratefully accepted!
 
Sounds very like Stringhalt - note the comment in red type.

From the Merck Veterinary Manual

Stringhalt is a myoclonic affliction of one or both hindlimbs seen as spasmodic overflexion of the joints. The etiology is unknown, but lesions of a peripheral neuropathy have been identified in the sciatic, peroneal, and tibial nerves. Horses of any breed may be affected; it is rare in foals.

All degrees of hyperflexion are seen, from the mild, spasmodic lifting and grounding of the foot, to the extreme case in which the foot is drawn sharply up until it touches the belly and is then struck violently on the ground. In severe cases, there is atrophy of the lateral thigh muscles.

Mild stringhalt may be intermittent. The signs are most obvious when the horse is sharply turned or backed. In some cases, the condition is seen only on the first few steps after moving the horse out of its stall. The signs are often less intense or even absent during warmer weather. Although it is regarded as unsoundness, stringhalt may not materially hinder the horse’s ability to work, except in severe cases when the constant concussion gives rise to secondary complications. The condition may also make the horse unsuitable for equestrian sports (eg, dressage).

Diagnosis is based on clinical signs but can be confirmed by electromyography. If the diagnosis is in doubt, the horse should be observed as it is backed out of the stall after hard work for 1-2 days. False stringhalt sometimes appears as a result of some temporary irritation to the lower pastern area or even a painful lesion in the foot. The occasional horse with momentary upward fixation of the patella may exhibit a stringhalt-like gait.

In chronic cases, tenectomy of the lateral extensor of the digit, including removal of a portion of the muscle, has given best results. Improvement may not be evident until 2-3 wk after surgery.

Prognosis after surgery is guarded—not all cases respond. This is not surprising because the condition is a distal axonopathy. Other methods of treatment include large doses of thiamine and phenytoin.
 
I thought mites but you have already considered that. Ulcers. Run hand along horses belly - anything irritating there?
 
Sounds like ulcers to me, especially as it gets better when he's on more consistent forage (grass). The mare at our yard with them is not sensitive to groom but starts napping when you ride her.
 
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