Not sure what to do- kids pony

[Wishfilly]

I get what you are saying about how you could not loan her to a child, but at 13hh, is it possible she would suit a small adult too? That could be an option for the future.

Are you able to pay for any professional help with the rehab work, if you are getting nervous (understandably) about handling her?

Although it's tricky, people have given some suggestions on this thread- it doesn't feel like she is at the end of the road yet?

 

[Glitterandrainbows]

Mine was like this I have some threads about it at the time and now she is good as gold and I trust her as much as you can any horse x

 

[I don’t like mondays]

I get what you are saying about how you could not loan her to a child, but at 13hh, is it possible she would suit a small adult too? That could be an option for the future.

Are you able to pay for any professional help with the rehab work, if you are getting nervous (understandably) about handling her?

Although it's tricky, people have given some suggestions on this thread- it doesn't feel like she is at the end of the road yet?

Thanks Wishfilly. I’m going to ask if our instructor can come and lunge her once her Pssm is controlled enough. I won’t be able to afford her every day though so will need to build my confidence back up

ETA: yes good point about her being suitable for an adult in the future. Plus it sounds like there’s things I can do to try and help her. We’ve not given up on her yet. She deserves a good chance first

 

[I don’t like mondays]

Mine was like this I have some threads about it at the time and now she is good as gold and I trust her as much as you can any horse x

Thanks Gillterandrainbows. I’d love to get back to that position with this pony. Does your horse have PSSM? I’ll have a look for your thread

 

[I don’t like mondays]

If I get the management wrong with my pssm mare, we have behavioural issues 15-20 minutes into work, could be the same with your pony?

Thanks Rex, yes that sounds very similar to our pony. It tends to be after that period of time. I only added vit E at the point we started having issues so hadn’t really dealt with the PSSM then (I was so focussed on the arthritis and assumed that was her main issue). I really hope all these changes I’ve made the past few days to manage the Pssm will have a huge difference

 

[Glitterandrainbows]

No she had a old injury that we found through x ray I took her for a full lameness work up and got it all sorted also what are you feeding her ? I’d definitely get a mot done on her as mine had me in tears before now she’s a dream

 

[I don’t like mondays]

No she had a old injury that we found through x ray I took her for a full lameness work up and got it all sorted also what are you feeding her ? I’d definitely get a mot done on her as mine had me in tears before now she’s a dream

She had a full lameness work up and bone scan a couple of weeks ago and si and hock arthritis was found (and she was injected), I also tested for Pssm1 and found she has that

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I have no experience of managing PSSM but I certainly have experience of alfalfa causing problems, to the extent that although we have had horses that can tolerate it, we don't use it at all now. I certainly wouldn't be thinking of pts at this stage. I hope you can sort her out but I wouldn't allow your daughter to try to do any more than very basic handling atm.

 

[Glitterandrainbows]

I would stick to the treatment plan given and positive reinforcement it’s hard what you are going through now but it’s rewarding once your through the other side

 

[maya2008]

My old SJ pony was 13.3hh. I bought her as a young adult and she stayed with me for life. She had pssm which we controlled partly through appropriate diet but mainly through exercise. When coming back into enough work after a break (she had two - injured herself on loan, and again as an older pony requiring surgery) she always reared, you just had to listen to her, give breaks as needed and gently push her to do a bit more each day until she was healthy again. Healthy, she was amazing, brought my daughter properly off the lead and looked after her as this tiny dot 5yo on 13.3hh pony. She was also the one equine I have ever really trusted out jumping and was just great.

BUT once older age began to set in, and the problems from an earlier field injury/scar tissue compounded, we couldn’t manage the pssm well enough. She adored my daughter and held on for her, lighting up with joy to see her each day, but I had to pts when it became clear that the pain was just too much.

Having had her, I would pts without a doubt, a pssm pony with medical issues that would lead to them being unable to be in full work. She was in so much pain from her muscles at the very end, despite fighting to the last for her little girl.

 

[I don’t like mondays]

My old SJ pony was 13.3hh. I bought her as a young adult and she stayed with me for life. She had pssm which we controlled partly through appropriate diet but mainly through exercise. When coming back into enough work after a break (she had two - injured herself on loan, and again as an older pony requiring surgery) she always reared, you just had to listen to her, give breaks as needed and gently push her to do a bit more each day until she was healthy again. Healthy, she was amazing, brought my daughter properly off the lead and looked after her as this tiny dot 5yo on 13.3hh pony. She was also the one equine I have ever really trusted out jumping and was just great.

BUT once older age began to set in, and the problems from an earlier field injury/scar tissue compounded, we couldn’t manage the pssm well enough. She adored my daughter and held on for her, lighting up with joy to see her each day, but I had to pts when it became clear that the pain was just too much.

Having had her, I would pts without a doubt, a pssm pony with medical issues that would lead to them being unable to be in full work. She was in so much pain from her muscles at the very end, despite fighting to the last for her little girl.

Your late pony sounds like such a special pony. The rearing is the same as our girl


I’ve had our girl tested and she has PSSM1. Im really hoping the changes to diet (plus rugging) might help enough for me to be able to get her back into work

 

[Wishfilly]

Thanks Wishfilly. I’m going to ask if our instructor can come and lunge her once her Pssm is controlled enough. I won’t be able to afford her every day though so will need to build my confidence back up

ETA: yes good point about her being suitable for an adult in the future. Plus it sounds like there’s things I can do to try and help her. We’ve not given up on her yet. She deserves a good chance first

Your late pony sounds like such a special pony. The rearing is the same as our girl


I’ve had our girl tested and she has PSSM1. Im really hoping the changes to diet (plus rugging) might help enough for me to be able to get her back into work

Hopefully, with careful management, you will be able to manage the rehab and bring her back into work. FWIW, I do think if you can't get her comfortable and the striking out etc continues long term, then PTS may be the only option. But it sounds like very early days with the rehab- only two weeks in?

I also get the concern about your daughter not having anything to ride and losing confidence, and your worries about the future. I do think if you can figure out her management, there may be long term homes out there for your pony.

But I do understand that long term it may not work out.

If you're able to work with your instructor hopefully you can rebuild your confidence with her?

 

[Dexter]

I have to disagree, not only from personal experience of a PSSM horse managed without magnesium, which she cannot tolerate, but also the many horses I've seen over the years who have been given magnesium calmers and have adversely reacted to them.

there is something going on with the OP's pony, it might be a seasonal change, feeling the cold, response to arthritic changes - but the simplest and quickest tests are to up the rugging and strip back the diet and start over. I suspect the alfalfa is the main culprit but, from experience, I wouldn't assume, is start from scratch.

Yes, the adverse reaction is due to the calcium and magnesium being out of whack. Its why calcium calmers work for some horses. But magnesium is absolutely vital for PSSM type 1 horses, unless you have the exception. Its not something I have heard of before today with PSSM so its not common. And I said, the magnesium was added after the issues started and appears to be helping, as theres been a noticeable improvement with the changes suggested. The OP has stripped back the diet and started over. The details are all on another post they made.

 

[I don’t like mondays]

Hi everyone, I’ve made changes to my pony’s diet (for PSSM), she did stop rearing for a short while but became slow and reluctant to walk forward, not over tracking, like she’s stuck in mud (took her for an in hand walk which lasted 7mins becusse she was constantly planting). Have now taken her off grass and soaking her hay. Decided to try and walk her in hand today and when I asked for trot she went up and struck out with a front leg and caught me (luckily I’m not hurt). Any ideas of what this could be? She’s had bone scan, si and hock injections (X-rays and scans showed arthritis). I’m thinking this is more then Pssm now as her muscles feel soft and she’s on the most sugar free clean diet ever but still can’t trot. I’m also concerned that her response to pain is to strike out like this. I know SI arthritis has a poor prognosis so I’m wondering if it’s the SI? She didn’t massively improve after the injections and has rapidly got worse (she was injected 4 weeks ago). Vet was at a loss, said to get her working and work through it basically.

Do I give this more time, call it a day or send her for more tests? I don’t feel like I want to put myself at risk or max myself out financially. Thanks
ETA the vet didn’t scan suspensories. Could they cause rearing and shuffling behind in hand? She’s not been lame or done much under saddle

 

[SEL]

Has the vet run bloods? That's the best way to see if the muscle disease is under control. A course of robaxin & Bute would cover any underlying issues and see if you can get her moving. You do need to insist at times with a PSSM horse. If she's reluctant to walk forward then I'm not surprised she's resistant if you ask for trot.

It does take time but if you want a positive result then you need to persevere. I know that sounds unsympathetic but you either need to dig deep and help the pony or admit defeat and pts

 

[planete]

Try and ask only for what she can give. I had such resistance to doing anything but shuffle from my PSSM2 pony that I gave up trying to push him and just let him go at his own pace. He would then pick up and start walking out by himself after sometime ten, sometimes twenty minutes as he loosened up. If he was having a particularly shuffly day I did not ask for trot. All this was done in hand and I only got on if he showed willingness to go forward. Thankfully he is responding well to vitamin E and Lamicore. I know PSSM2 is very different from PSSM1 but have a read of the Equifeast website who sell products geared to PSSM horses. I changed my management this Autumn when the vitamin E no longer seemed to work and have got great results, he actually cantered on both reins this week for the first time in two years. I also believe that my pony is less likely to over react when asked for something uncomfortable now he knows I will listen to him if he tells me he cannot do it. He no longer bites and rears at me. I spent a long time limiting our in hand walks to half an hour as I knew he would hit a wall if we went on longer.

My pony also had a thorough loss of performance examination in an equine hospital which turned up nothing, so the rearing, striking out, proper biting, battering me with his head to keep me away was purely due to the PSSM. He is kind and easy when he feels well.

 

[I don’t like mondays]

Thanks SEL and planete, I really appreciate the input (PSSM is so tricky and vets seem to know little about it so having others experience is a big help).

In addition to pssm1 she’s got quite bad SI joint arthritis from her recent scan and also hock arthritis so I’m not convinced all this can be PSSM? I’ve drastically overhauled her diet & management the past 4 weeks and she’s gone from walking nicely 1 week post injections (but random rearing) to now shuffling behind and planting (and doing a huge rear today. She wasn’t just resistant, she went bolt upright). Her muscles feel lovely and soft which is what is baffling me re PSSM. I’ve not had he blood test yet (admin at the vets messed up the appointment booking last week). I’m going to speak to the local vet hospital Monday to get her back in, they can check Pssm bloods then and also scan suspensories, check ulcers (she has zero ulcer symptoms), the vet also mentioned xraying neck (as long as this can go on the current insurance claim). We’re at the stage where we can’t even walk rehab now, feels like she’s getting worse every week. Sounds like it can take years to get a Pssm horse right but my daughter will have grown out of this pony within the next year or so :-(

 

[Jenko109]

Cut your losses and put this pony to sleep. You are clearly both suffering.

 

[SEL]

Thanks SEL and planete, I really appreciate the input (PSSM is so tricky and vets seem to know little about it so having others experience is a big help).

In addition to pssm1 she’s got quite bad SI joint arthritis from her recent scan and also hock arthritis so I’m not convinced all this can be PSSM? I’ve drastically overhauled her diet & management the past 4 weeks and she’s gone from walking nicely 1 week post injections (but random rearing) to now shuffling behind and planting (and doing a huge rear today. She wasn’t just resistant, she went bolt upright). Her muscles feel lovely and soft which is what is baffling me re PSSM. I’ve not had he blood test yet (admin at the vets messed up the appointment booking last week). I’m going to speak to the local vet hospital Monday to get her back in, they can check Pssm bloods then and also scan suspensories, check ulcers (she has zero ulcer symptoms), the vet also mentioned xraying neck (as long as this can go on the current insurance claim). We’re at the stage where we can’t even walk rehab now, feels like she’s getting worse every week. Sounds like it can take years to get a Pssm horse right but my daughter will have grown out of this pony within the next year or so :-(

It's difficult when the vets aren't really proactively helping. I've just had a scan through your old posts and you've had a rough ride with horses.

I toughed out rehab with my PSSM mare (who then went onto damage a suspensory in a tricky place), but it isn't easy. Muscles take more than a few weeks to recover from damage and most of the PSSM crowd have long reined etc for 6+ weeks at walk before even attempting trot. Drugs are helpful to those deep lumbar muscles to relax (physio also helpful)

My difficulty with calling time on your pony is she seemed to be just what you wanted until she went out on grass and damaged her muscles. That's a very typical PSSM trigger. Is she better on Bute? That would suggest the arthritis is more if a problem and possibly harder to fix.

 

[Wishfilly]

Thanks SEL and planete, I really appreciate the input (PSSM is so tricky and vets seem to know little about it so having others experience is a big help).

In addition to pssm1 she’s got quite bad SI joint arthritis from her recent scan and also hock arthritis so I’m not convinced all this can be PSSM? I’ve drastically overhauled her diet & management the past 4 weeks and she’s gone from walking nicely 1 week post injections (but random rearing) to now shuffling behind and planting (and doing a huge rear today. She wasn’t just resistant, she went bolt upright). Her muscles feel lovely and soft which is what is baffling me re PSSM. I’ve not had he blood test yet (admin at the vets messed up the appointment booking last week). I’m going to speak to the local vet hospital Monday to get her back in, they can check Pssm bloods then and also scan suspensories, check ulcers (she has zero ulcer symptoms), the vet also mentioned xraying neck (as long as this can go on the current insurance claim). We’re at the stage where we can’t even walk rehab now, feels like she’s getting worse every week. Sounds like it can take years to get a Pssm horse right but my daughter will have grown out of this pony within the next year or so :-(

What does your daughter want to do? I'm obviously not suggesting that you PTS or not on the say so of your daughter, and I fully understand it's a difficult conversation to have. Is she ever going to trust this pony again? Does she want to give the pony more of a chance, or would she rather have something to ride?

I'm sorry to hear she's actively getting worse (apols if I'm reading this wrong, but her movement is getting worse as well as her behaviour?), and I've got no useful suggestions. I hope the vets can offer some sort of answers, because I think if you had some clear answers about what's causing the issues, it might make your decision easier?

Do you think the behaviour is a pain response, or something else?

 

[Dexter]

Whereabouts are you? I think it would be useful for you if someone experienced with PSSM came and had a look at the pony and you, even if it was just moral support and conformation that you are on the right track.

 

[planete]

SEL is right about the long-reining. I forgot to mention I have done a lot of it and still alternate riding with long-reining.

 

[SEL]

The other thing to throw into the mix with hind end issues is making sure the hoof balance is ok. Depending on how your insurance is being used up X rays might be worthwhile

 

[I don’t like mondays]

What does your daughter want to do? I'm obviously not suggesting that you PTS or not on the say so of your daughter, and I fully understand it's a difficult conversation to have. Is she ever going to trust this pony again? Does she want to give the pony more of a chance, or would she rather have something to ride?

I'm sorry to hear she's actively getting worse (apols if I'm reading this wrong, but her movement is getting worse as well as her behaviour?), and I've got no useful suggestions. I hope the vets can offer some sort of answers, because I think if you had some clear answers about what's causing the issues, it might make your decision easier?

Do you think the behaviour is a pain response, or something else?

My daughter is really upset by the whole thing, esp because a few weeks ago when she tried walking the pony in hand she reared, spun and double barreled in her direction, meaning she can’t help with rehab now. She tried to put the pony’s rain sheet on the other night and she ran away again double barrelling (I put a head collar on and calmly did the rug myself). It’s frustrating if you’re a kid and you want to do your pony yourself and as the pony is getting worse it’s hard for my daughter to stay positive and see an end in sight (we’ve owned for a few months and the pony has been out of action half this time). She’s been waiting so long for a pony, she just wants to have fun, rehabbing is fine but this behaviour isn’t

Yes, movement is getting worse despite completely changing the diet to forage plus, vit E (natural), magnesium, basic chaff and taking off grass, soaking hay, rugging more. At first she’d walk nicely in hand (but randomly go up). Now she’s shuffling behind, planting. I can’t lunge her (she plants, won’t move even with a whip), or walk her out in hand without planting every stride

I don’t know if it’s behaviour or pain. I’m thinking of sending her to the vets to get more tests and if nothing additional (to the PSSM and arthritis) is found then sending her away for rehab livery. I don’t have any help day to day, it’s just me so it’s hard

 

[I don’t like mondays]

SEL is right about the long-reining. I forgot to mention I have done a lot of it and still alternate riding with long-reining.

I agree, long reining is great, I’d happily long rein this pony and spend months getting her stronger if I could (I spent more than a year rehabbing my late horse from KS surgery). The issue I have is that I can’t seem to do anything with this pony at the moment. She won’t even walk in hand now

 

[SEL]

Is she getting enough to eat off grass? There's a lot flagging up ulcers there. Presumably if you've had to take her out of a field then she's in a small area on her own? I wonder if back in the field with a muzzle might help the behaviour.

 

[I don’t like mondays]

The other thing to throw into the mix with hind end issues is making sure the hoof balance is ok. Depending on how your insurance is being used up X rays might be worthwhile

Thanks SEL. I’ve had the feet xrayed

 

[SEL]

Is there an instructor or experienced freelancer who could cast their eye over the leading situation? I was seriously ill a few years back and one of my horses just became a nightmare to handle. I literally didn't have the strength (mentally or physically) to deal with it but it was my freelance friend who said she is taking the 'p', took her off me and told her off! Butter wouldn't melt....

 

[I don’t like mondays]

Is she getting enough to eat off grass? There's a lot flagging up ulcers there. Presumably if you've had to take her out of a field then she's in a small area on her own? I wonder if back in the field with a muzzle might help the behaviour.

She’s in a smaller pen within the field, with her friend next to her (there’s hardly any grass in the field as a whole but as it’s big there are enough shoots to eat if she has the whole thing). She’s got ad-lib hay so constantly eating. She’s only been in the pen within the field for 2 nights now

 

[I don’t like mondays]

Is there an instructor or experienced freelancer who could cast their eye over the leading situation? I was seriously ill a few years back and one of my horses just became a nightmare to handle. I literally didn't have the strength (mentally or physically) to deal with it but it was my freelance friend who said she is taking the 'p', took her off me and told her off! Butter wouldn't melt....

This is what I need but our usual instructor is really booked up and hasn’t got back to me :-( I’m thinking if I can get the vet to check a few other things (ulcers, suspensories, Pssm bloods) and if she’s clear that I should send her off for a month for rehab and to get her out of any behavioural things. It’s just me so hard to try and lunge or long line while she’s being like this. We also don’t have electricity where I keep her so if I can get her moving I’m limited with the day light