News on my boy - could it have been ulcers and not KS?

Another update, and things are still going well. He's been lunging well in the equi ami. And today I tacked him up and put on the martingale that had freaked him out so badly last year. He was totally chilled to be tacked up. I lunged him a few minutes gradually tightening the girth (I think I will always have to be careful like this). He never batted an eyelid. Though he was not into lunging today and kept stopping and turning in. He doesn't see the point in countless circles. Anyway, I stood him at the mounting block and he stood rock steady for several minutes whilst I leant over him and put my foot in and out of the stirrup. His ears were pricked and he was totally relaxed. I REALLY wanted to get on him, but decided to be sensible. I had my long flappy coat on, I didn't have my body protector, and I was all on my todd in the thick fog. So that will have to wait until I have one of my liveries here to help me. But I am very very happy with him so far. :)
 
Hopefully. I mustn't get too excited, but today I really felt as though he would be absolutely fine with me getting on him. I hope I am not wrong, but the vibes were coming through that he was really fine with it, and at one point he bent his head around to look at me as if to say 'Well are you getting on or what?' :D
 
that is great, fingers crossed. I can only imagine how you must be feeling, with such excitement, hope and nerves, along with the worry of disappointment

hugs
 
Had been following this with interest - so glad it's going well! I've been thinking about horses like these recently. Does anyone notice a pattern with tight pectoral (?) muscles in horses that are girthy? Between their front legs? Obviously it's not the be all and end all, that must be triggered by under lying issues. But I've been inking about the ones that arrive really twitchy to tack up. I work really hard on getting them to accept tacking up as something positive - i often won't ride them until I can put the saddle open without any real reaction. But it seems they are always better tacking up once they are less tight under their chest, I've always put that down to the physio work making them more comfortable everywhere, but I'm starting to wonder how related it is?
 
NP - I have a massage routine with my mare taught by my physio and I do it before I ride...even if I am just going down the road. It includes her pectorals and I have to stand at her chest and pull my fingers up from the girth line right up the muscle a few times. If I don't do this, she is girthy...if I do it, she is not :)

Wagtail...what an absolutely lovely update. I have to admit i wasn't that sensible backing Molly...I knew it was the right time for her so despite being alone I sat on her and let her have a wander. I take my hat off to you though as your restraint will mean you can be full of confidence when you do it with help.

I will continue to follow this thread with hope and interest :D
 
Norfolk Pie said:
Had been following this with interest - so glad it's going well! I've been thinking about horses like these recently. Does anyone notice a pattern with tight pectoral (?) muscles in horses that are girthy? Between their front legs? Obviously it's not the be all and end all, that must be triggered by under lying issues. But I've been inking about the ones that arrive really twitchy to tack up. I work really hard on getting them to accept tacking up as something positive - i often won't ride them until I can put the saddle open without any real reaction. But it seems they are always better tacking up once they are less tight under their chest, I've always put that down to the physio work making them more comfortable everywhere, but I'm starting to wonder how related it is?
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That is interesting, because one of the first things I noticed about my boy were very over developed tight pectoral muscles. They still are larger than average, but much squishier right now. Hope this doesn't change once I start riding him again.
 
coffeeandabagel said:
That brought a little tear to my eye - and hoping ne day that will be me with my boy!
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I really hope so!

Emilieu said:
Brilliant update :D
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Thank you.

soulfull said:
that is great, fingers crossed. I can only imagine how you must be feeling, with such excitement, hope and nerves, along with the worry of disappointment

hugs
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You got that right! I am so hopeful, but also feel sick to my stomach in case it all goes wrong again, like it has done before. This time though I have been doing something different, in that I am treating him for ulcers, and looking back at my old posts regarding rehabbing him after the KS op, he was never quite this relaxed before, so I am really hopeful.

googol said:
Sounds good so far!! Have my fingers rightly crossed for u Wagtail and willing it all to work out!!
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Thank you.

_GG_ said:
NP - I have a massage routine with my mare taught by my physio and I do it before I ride...even if I am just going down the road. It includes her pectorals and I have to stand at her chest and pull my fingers up from the girth line right up the muscle a few times. If I don't do this, she is girthy...if I do it, she is not :)

Wagtail...what an absolutely lovely update. I have to admit i wasn't that sensible backing Molly...I knew it was the right time for her so despite being alone I sat on her and let her have a wander. I take my hat off to you though as your restraint will mean you can be full of confidence when you do it with help.

I will continue to follow this thread with hope and interest :D
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That was very brave of you. I really had to give myself a good talking to! I can't afford to be injured, especially at this time of year. I might try that massage trick too. Thank you.
 
Well, I got on him! :D The vet arrived early for another horse so I was really rushed, but he didn't bat an eyelid. Stood really still for me to get on and walked off when asked on a long rein with a low neck. I only had time to do one 20 metre circle on each rein though before having to get off and help the vet with the foal. But I'm delighted! What a good boy. :)
 
Fantastic news! So ive been bad at keeping up, do the vets believe ulcers are the root cause and not the KS now? Brilliant. :) happy pony and happy owner!
 
Brilliant news Wagtail. I would say short confident strides like this are better for both of you than a long session. It will give him a great confidence boost too as he must have a little apprehensiveness in his brain from his past discomfort. Really great :D
 
Delicious_D said:
Fantastic news! So ive been bad at keeping up, do the vets believe ulcers are the root cause and not the KS now? Brilliant. :) happy pony and happy owner!
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No, actually the vet didn't think he had ulcers. Last September I had the vet come to see him after he continued with his 'explosions' after the girth or roller were tightened. Vet said he was eating well, his coat was glossy and droppings normal, so he was confident that the reactions were due to his back pain. I therefore gave up with my boy as he had been through so much with a hock operation and then the removal of five spinal processes, and still not right. However, I just decided a couple of weeks ago to get him some abprazole (same as gastroguard) and just treat him myself without scoping. After a week I tried him again with the saddle and he didn't react. I have been gradually building it up each day, and including the equiami lunge work. Then got on him today! I am now going to concentrate on building his top line up before doing too much ridden work.

YasandCrystal said:
Brilliant news Wagtail. I would say short confident strides like this are better for both of you than a long session. It will give him a great confidence boost too as he must have a little apprehensiveness in his brain from his past discomfort. Really great :D
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Thank you. Yes, I think a couple of circuts was all he needed. I will just do five minutes walk once a week ridden now until I can build up his top line again.
 
Wagtail said:
No, actually the vet didn't think he had ulcers. Last September I had the vet come to see him after he continued with his 'explosions' after the girth or roller were tightened. Vet said he was eating well, his coat was glossy and droppings normal, so he was confident that the reactions were due to his back pain. I therefore gave up with my boy as he had been through so much with a hock operation and then the removal of five spinal processes, and still not right. However, I just decided a couple of weeks ago to get him some abprazole (same as gastroguard) and just treat him myself without scoping. After a week I tried him again with the saddle and he didn't react. I have been gradually building it up each day, and including the equiami lunge work. Then got on him today! I am now going to concentrate on building his top line up before doing too much ridden work.
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Fab news :). When dee's ulcers play up she scours (but i suspect hers are hind gut ulcers). Im really pleased that he's had the positive reaction on abprazole and clearly the time off has helped too. :).

Out of curiosity, why did you choose abprazole rather then gastroguard?
 
Delicious_D said:
Fab news :). When dee's ulcers play up she scours (but i suspect hers are hind gut ulcers). Im really pleased that he's had the positive reaction on abprazole and clearly the time off has helped too. :).

Out of curiosity, why did you choose abprazole rather then gastroguard?
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Well as the vet didn't think he had ulcers, and I didn't really want to put him through the scoping, and a livery client of mine had just had great success with Abprazole, I decided it was just easier and less hassle all round to just try some of that. Obviously, if he needed on going treatment in future after any insurance ran out, it would be a fraction of the price too.

Shadeyoak said:
Fab :D
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Thank you. :)
 
Perfect_Pirouette said:
I have been following this thread. I am very pleased for you!

I need a bit of your luck now! Ulcers are just absolutely the bane of my life.
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You can say that again! We are going to keep the mare here permanently on a preventative dose because hers keep coming back.

We really have had a lot of bad luck at the yard over the past three years. It's been one horse after another. I was joking with the vet this morning that he would have to open up a branch office at the yard! I think my clients and myself keep the whoe practice, Rossdales and AHT in work! :o
 
Wahoo that's is absolutely fabulous :). I am so so pleases for you both. You must be grinning like a Cheshire cat
I love your idea of just keeping it a few mins at a time. It will so build his confidence.
Emil lost all confidence in cantering after his ulcers and he only had his for a little while. It took much longer for him to gain back his confidence to canter than it did for them to appear and be treated. It's so great now to see him truly enjoying cantering and even jumping again :)
I'm so hopeful it will be the same for you x
Could you pm me where you get meds pls. As would like to get some for when I start to take him out and about and insurance does not cover 'preventative' gastrogard, which as he is now scoped clear his would now be:(.
Seems its not just the 12 month rule now, they add this one in too :(
 
wow! I just read this thread though from start to finish really hoping you'd get on before I got to the final page ;D
Well done what an amazing feel good story!
 
soulfull said:
Wahoo that's is absolutely fabulous :). I am so so pleases for you both. You must be grinning like a Cheshire cat
I love your idea of just keeping it a few mins at a time. It will so build his confidence.
Emil lost all confidence in cantering after his ulcers and he only had his for a little while. It took much longer for him to gain back his confidence to canter than it did for them to appear and be treated. It's so great now to see him truly enjoying cantering and even jumping again :)
I'm so hopeful it will be the same for you x
Could you pm me where you get meds pls. As would like to get some for when I start to take him out and about and insurance does not cover 'preventative' gastrogard, which as he is now scoped clear his would now be:(.
Seems its not just the 12 month rule now, they add this one in too :(
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As I said in my PM, it is a very interesting point you make about the cantering. Unwillingness to canter was one of my boy's main symptoms which we put down to kissing spine. Now I am unsure what it was due to. I guess I might know more once we progress that far.

poiuytrewq said:
wow! I just read this thread though from start to finish really hoping you'd get on before I got to the final page ;D
Well done what an amazing feel good story!
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Thank you. Yes, I feel pretty on top of the world right now. :)
 
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