Napping- Naughtiness or Pain?

3Beasties

3Beasties

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 September 2008
Messages
15,574
Visit site
I took on a horse a few months ago. He's a 7 year old, Selle Francais that has been shipped about a bit recently. From what I have been told about him he has always been a bit quirky/difficult.

On the ground he has been almost perfect with me, he's a bit cheeky but hasn't done anything awful, he's been fine to groom, wash, pull and trim!

Since being here he has had 3 months out 24/7 just chilling and then I started to bring him back into work. He is really good to lunge and long rein, will happily march down the road in long reins without a care in the world, if anything he slowed down when we turned for home!

Last week I sent him off to a schooling yard so he could be ridden in a safe environment to see how he was. After almost 4 months of not being ridden he didn't put a foot wrong when he was mounted and took it all in his stride (which I think says a lot about him). However he was reluctant to move far and would plant every few strides and occasionally go backwards. Again nothing awful and with correct riding and lots of pats the rider was able to get him to walk round the school without stopping.

We thought that he was maybe school sour due to be over worked in them so on day 3 he went for a hack in company. Cue more planting and not wanting to go forward, again lots of pats and encouragement and he managed a short hack, stopping every 5 minutes or so apart from on the way home where he didn't stop at all.

Day 4 he went out on his own with someone on foot, again there was more planting and some running backwards. He managed a short ride without incident (apart from the planting!) and when they were getting back to the yard he seemed keen to keep going past it so she allowed him to, he got so far but then planted again, when asked to go forward he responded with massive broncs (on the road!), she stayed on for 4 but then rightly so got off when she could as she felt he would have carried on until she came off. Once she got off him she let him in the direction he hadn't wanted to go and he was quiet as a lamb and more then happy to go forward.

He came home to me that day as I felt that as he is so confident on long reins then the likelihood is that he plays up when ridden due to pain. Does this sound about right to you?

It's a difficult situation as we don't know how bad he was before or if he's always been like this, if the problem is in his head or if it really is a pain thing that everyone else has ignored. I'm going to book the chiro to come and see him ASAP and will also get his teeth checked (although I really don't think it's his teeth) just to be sure but I'm thinking it's not going to be something so simple.

A few people have said it could be ulcers which I he has shown a few symptoms for. He has been seen kicking at his belly and seems to become a bit naughty (rearing and bucking) in hand when he's stabled (therefore fed more?), his old owner also told us he can't cope with hard feed. He does look well in himself though so not a classic 'ulcer' horse.

Other then that I guess it could be anything and will obviously be getting a vet out to give him a going over if Chiro/Dentist doesn't find a problem.

Do you think it's worth sticking him on Bute for a few days to see if he improves?

Any other suggestions or ideas? I really don't want to give up on this fella like everyone else has done but I really can't keep him if he can't be worked.

Jelly tots for those who made it to the end!
 
If he goes out happily with long reins my first thought would certainly be a pain reaction like you say. I'd probably call the vet out and have a thorough once over and then follow up with chiro / physio depending on what the vet finds.
 
I suggest he is experiencing a degree of discomfort/pain; the planting and reluctance to move. He is obviously keen to get back home as he has learnt that at the yard he will then be untacked and free of the discomfort and the rider.

You have to look at the complete package; the bit, bridle, saddle and girth and the rider (position in saddle etc).

He is trying so hard to do what you ask of him but he is n't comfortable doing it, hence he gives the impression of being awkward.

What is he being fed ? best to keep to a simple high fibre diet and fennel seeds/tea is very good for the digestive system whether you are a horse, human, dog and cat.
 
My boy is a SF and could be described as 'quirky' not sure if it is common thing with the breed! He is fizzy on hard feed and has minimal amounts just to try to keep weight on as he is a poor doer. Had bloods etc run and no problems. Mine just seems to run on alot of nervous energy which comes out in dropping weight quickly and sometimes being a pain on the ground and under saddle (erratic and overreactions to things that wouldn't bother him the day before)

I am trying mine on lots of forage and once on spring grass he'll just be getting a balancer with chaff. Also just put him on global herbs ultra calm
 
Stupid phone... Was just going to finish off by saying have you tried him in company hacking out? Mine is better with someone on the ground but less confident when hacked alone. Defo get everything checked as they seem to be a very sensitive breed but also bags of fun and full of personality :)
 
My first port of call would be getting back and teeth checked. My boy went through a phase of severe napping when ridden. He was fine to lead, lunge and long-rein, but would buck, rear, plant, run backwards etc when ridden. It turned out to be his tiny, weeny little wolf teeth which had never caused him a problem before. He's been a different horse since he had them taken out :)

ETA - agree with the above, giving bute would be the worst thing you could do if he had ulcers.
 
SU - Ahh I didn't think about the bute V ulcers, will avoid that for now then!

Texel - He's currently getting chaff and half a scoop of conditioning cubes but I'm going to get some ready grass and fast fibre for him tomorrow.

OE - He still planted when in company although didn't do any broncing, if pushed he may have done though.

The vet is due out for my other horse on Wednesday so I will talk to him about it :)
 
My mare was a dream to ride - hacked everywhere and anywhere. Then last year she would be happily going down the road and from nowhere would rear and spin - didn't matter whether she was on her own or in company. Nothing would stop her.
We then found out that she had foot pain from navicular, PSLD, spavin and arthritis of the fetlock. She wasn't too bad on the long-reins, but could still be a bit of a prat. She has had six months off and we are long-reining her out now - in hoof boots as shoes have been taken off due to the navicular. She seems much more forward going and comfortable, so I feel that the napping and rearing may have been due to foot pain (obviously won't know for sure until I'm back on board in a couple of months). Good luck - I hope you get to the root of the problem...
 
He seems like a genuine sort of horse to me. If he were napping through naughtiness, he would do it long reining too. My two initial thoughts for problems like this presenting only under saddle, would be ulcers and kissing spine. Probably I would lean more towards the ulcers as you have not mentioned any problems saddling, though KS does not always manefest itself that way. I hope you find the root of his problems and that it is something that is easy to fix.
 
Holly Hocks said:
My mare was a dream to ride - hacked everywhere and anywhere. Then last year she would be happily going down the road and from nowhere would rear and spin - didn't matter whether she was on her own or in company. Nothing would stop her.
We then found out that she had foot pain from navicular, PSLD, spavin and arthritis of the fetlock. She wasn't too bad on the long-reins, but could still be a bit of a prat. She has had six months off and we are long-reining her out now - in hoof boots as shoes have been taken off due to the navicular. She seems much more forward going and comfortable, so I feel that the napping and rearing may have been due to foot pain (obviously won't know for sure until I'm back on board in a couple of months). Good luck - I hope you get to the root of the problem...
Click to expand...

Fingers crossed for your mare HH. I had a bit of a set back with my boy yesterday as he started jibbing and refusing the contact. I thought he was going to rear at one point. I rode him gently through it though and ended on a good note. It is so hard when you know they have had a serious physical problem because you tend to think that it is returning when they misbehave. But it could just be them messing about. My lad was obviously sore though I think yesterday. I will take a couple of steps back I think and go back to more pessoa work.
 
wellsat said:
If he goes out happily with long reins my first thought would certainly be a pain reaction like you say. I'd probably call the vet out and have a thorough once over and then follow up with chiro / physio depending on what the vet finds.
Click to expand...

I agree.
 
Wagtail - That's what I think, if he was a pig on the ground too I would think he was possibly just trying it on. I think the fact that he didn't explode after 4 months off when he was first ridden kind says a lot about him.

He loves attention and is a busy type of horse, on longreins he really seems to enjoy himself so it is just ridden that seems to be the problem :)

The vet is due out to mine tomorrow so I'll speak to him about this one too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top