New horse. Sore in poll? What do you think?

charlie76

charlie76

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Our new boy is fine, however, he came to us with a reputation of being tricky to tack up.
I haven't had any problems but when you put the bridle on ear 'flicks' his head for about 5 mins afterwards and if you put any pressure on the headcollar he throws his head up and looks scared/worried. He also does this if he is tied up and moves backwards and the headcollar pulls down on him. He doesn't like the top of his neck/mane being touched.
He panics if you put the bridle on with the headcollar round his neck.
The owner had him for 11 yrs and said he has always been tricky to tack up, could he have been in pain for all this time?

He then jumps as if he is going to get a smack.
I think his is sore in his poll. He works on the bridle in w,t,c but isn't as forward as he could be.


I don't believe he is naughty to tack up as he will open his mouth and almost put the bridle on himself, he looks worried about something.
 
Doesn't sound unreasonable that he could be sore over that area, the reason why you may never know, however one's I have heard like this have usually inadvertently smacked their heads on something as a youngster.

It might be worth having an osteo/chiro check him over although tbh I wouldn't expect any miracle cures, but deffo perhaps consider trying one of those shaped/cut back bridle headpieces (sorry not sure where you get them from but I expect someone can point you in direction) and avoid bits that exert poll pressure.
 
My just backed 4 year old was very sore in the top 1/4 of his neck but was easy to tack up. I instantly got him checked by my McTimony back person who confirmed he was a little out in his neck, maybe due to getting his neck under his leadrope and panicing whilst being tied up? If your horse has done this and not been able to break away (if tied direct to ring or too strong bale twine) this could explain all the headcollar/tieing issues? I would get him checked immediately, £40/£50 quid is nothing if your horse is in pain. My youngster had one visit and now loves having his neck and ears massaged/touched, someting i couldn't do before without him threatening to rear.
 
I think that he is screaming out at you that he is in pain and that something is really hurting. I would definately get all help you can,physio, chiro and Bowen is something I would highly reccomend, it really works!
 
Definately get him checked. My friend's mare had a sore poll and think the vet used H-wave therapy which seemed to work, is expensive but should only need one session. Worth getting sorted as it may turn into a ridden problem.
 
Thanks!

He is an older horse( 15) and has been competing up to 3* so he has managed to be ridden sucessfully like it but I feel there is something not right. Poor old boy.
 
my 4* mare is exactly the same, takes patience (and another 10mins) to put her bridle on! She has been like that since as long as the old owner remembers! Just a quirk! We had her looked at and she is fine, just a habit and she is drama queen!
 
What comes first - the chicken or the egg?????

It's worth checking with a physio visit, but my mare was quite head shy when she came to me as a 3yo, and its only now at the age of 8 that she is finally starting to relax and let me for example trim the hair inside her ears. She is normally checked every 6 months by a physio. Sometimes poll is sore sometimes not, but she used to occasionally pull back when tied up (which wouldn't help).

Do some carrot stretches, and see if he is keen or reluctant to flex!!

Fiona
 
I'd try all the usual routes, osteo, x ray etc and failing that, if nothing obvious and no problems found, shove him on black box treatment for few months, its defo worth a try and wont break the bank.

Dont ask me how it works, it just does!! (or has done for friends and myself for many years) I totally dont understand how a drop or two of something in a water bucket can make a jot of difference...but in reality it just helps!! Really odd!

Good luck, he is lovely looking chap!
 
Another vote for getting him looked at. I've had quite a few horses with this problem to "fix" and the underlying causes have ranged from purely psychological (so far as we could tell and totally justified by the horse's known history) to a sign of something seriously wrong (also in a horse that was performing, but in an average way when he really should have been a super star - sometimes "broken" is relative). It's a bit early to tell, I guess, if there are any other symptoms (he's been off, correct?) but I'd say it's worth looking now.
 
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