Not willing to go forward....pain? behaviour? opinions..

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Meeko

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Hi all

Heres the issue, is it pain or behavior - she has the physio out on Wednesday which was already booked before this, teeth up to date and waiting on saddler ringing me back to get saddles checked over again.

2 days ago - working in arena, warmed up fine in walk, asked for trot and started swishing tail and swinging head refusing to go into trot. I immediately thought there was a problem after asking three times so left the arena up the track where she then chose to trot with her ears forward. Took her back in arena and she done the same again, so again I left the arena where she again chose to trot back towards her stable, i turned her around and trotted into the arena where we finished our session with no further issues.

Next day we were XC schooling, different saddle and no problems here at all.

Yesterday, back into the arena with both saddles (dressage and jumping), dressage on first, asked for trot and she done the same again with the tail swishing, headed out the arena and she chose to trot herself up the track! Changed saddles into the one she done the XC in the day before, asked for trot in the arena and again she refused to go forward, headed to the exit and she chose to trot. We then had around 5 minutes of work with no problems. Changed back into Dressage saddle and done another 10 minutes of work. Walked for a few mins, asked for trot and again she refused until I turned her towards the exit. We then had a good 15 minutes of decent work, very good work actually.

This morning I lunged her, no problems here - other than when turning her out into the field I noticed she is heavily in season as she started messing around with the other mares! All mare turnout, no geldings in sight.

So - is this pain?? Is she napping?? Is she being a hormonal mare in season??

Like I said, the physio is out on Wednesday, teeth up to date and will get saddles checked again.... she has me baffled!
She is on Agnus Castus for her seasons and behaviour as she can be moody/spooking when in season, but she has never acted like this before.

All opinions welcome :)
 
If this is new behaviour then it's always pain IMHO

Whether that be due to seasons, saddle fit, or veterinary issues.

I would get the vet first personally
 
I would be inclined to think there’s pain/discomfort somewhere. Fact she’s trotting up track and ok Xc schooling doesn’t necessarily point to behaviour - they are often more forward than when schooling. I’d get your checks done and go from there. If nothing obvious and still difficult post season I’d look at getting vet out. If only napping in school have you considered the surface - dry weather has made some deeper.
 
It sounds like pain to me, that is usually the case when behaviour changes suddenly - and can be when behaviour changes gradually. I would suspect that she has discomfort somewhere which is made worse by the surface of the arena but it could be a niggle in the joints/ a saddle fit issue, or indeed anything else which might be affected by the going.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
It sounds like pain to me, that is usually the case when behaviour changes suddenly - and can be when behaviour changes gradually. I would suspect that she has discomfort somewhere which is made worse by the surface of the arena but it could be a niggle in the joints/ a saddle fit issue, or indeed anything else which might be affected by the going.
Click to expand...

+1. I'd also be thinking that the surface is exacerbating an existing problem, particularly if it's deep.
 
Thanks everyone

The arena is slightly deeper with the weather yes.

We mainly do BD dressage so she is schooled 3-4 times per week, but we havent done as much schooling recently and been doing more hacking
 
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paddi22 said:
how deep is your arena? if she was stiff or sore anywhere a deep surface would make it worse
Click to expand...

THIS!! My horse was napping badly in our sand school, but problems vanish on the new surface next door. She's tweaked something somewhere and the deep sand is making it worse.
 
Meeko said:
Hi all

Heres the issue, is it pain or behavior - she has the physio out on Wednesday which was already booked before this, teeth up to date and waiting on saddler ringing me back to get saddles checked over again.

2 days ago - working in arena, warmed up fine in walk, asked for trot and started swishing tail and swinging head refusing to go into trot. I immediately thought there was a problem after asking three times so left the arena up the track where she then chose to trot with her ears forward. Took her back in arena and she done the same again, so again I left the arena where she again chose to trot back towards her stable, i turned her around and trotted into the arena where we finished our session with no further issues.

Next day we were XC schooling, different saddle and no problems here at all.

Yesterday, back into the arena with both saddles (dressage and jumping), dressage on first, asked for trot and she done the same again with the tail swishing, headed out the arena and she chose to trot herself up the track! Changed saddles into the one she done the XC in the day before, asked for trot in the arena and again she refused to go forward, headed to the exit and she chose to trot. We then had around 5 minutes of work with no problems. Changed back into Dressage saddle and done another 10 minutes of work. Walked for a few mins, asked for trot and again she refused until I turned her towards the exit. We then had a good 15 minutes of decent work, very good work actually.

This morning I lunged her, no problems here - other than when turning her out into the field I noticed she is heavily in season as she started messing around with the other mares! All mare turnout, no geldings in sight.

So - is this pain?? Is she napping?? Is she being a hormonal mare in season??

Like I said, the physio is out on Wednesday, teeth up to date and will get saddles checked again.... she has me baffled!
She is on Agnus Castus for her seasons and behaviour as she can be moody/spooking when in season, but she has never acted like this before.

All opinions welcome :)
Click to expand...

I don't even try to school my mare when in season - as soon as I ask for any collection she clearly tells me it's uncomfortable - especially on her right rein - no problems at any other time
 
Sounds like pain. Please get the vet to be sure before you label it as behaviour. And even then don’t necessarily trust the vet... I learnt that the hard way.

Normally sudden changes on behaviour and a horse acting out of character is the sign of pain.
 
I would say pain. Very similar behaviour to my lad who had SI issues, as soon as he refused to trot with a tail swish and bunny hop I knew it was playing him up x
 
HI glad she was fine this morning, just a thought though, if she was hacked out forr 15 mins, she might have worked off any stiffness prior to going into the school. I've got the physio coming out to Mr B this week, he just doesn't feel quite right and although if I work him in walk for a while then pop him into canter he then feels OK, I know that he's not. I'm continuing to hack him in walk on a good surface but won't school him again until he's had a thorough check.
 
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