Nova - what's going on with her?

[J_sarahd]

February is the month of doom
For even the sanest horse IMO!
Give her until April, let the weather warm up and everyone to get over their winter high jinks!

Very true!! I want as many feet on the ground as possible during the time I bring her back!

 

[J_sarahd]

The norm used to be giving a horse 12 continuous weeks off and without shoes to repair their hooves.

Hunters had summer off and competition horses had winter. Of course nowadays there are far more leisure horses that are never in anything beyond light work.

I've posted about it before but some well respected farriers wrote an article detailing how they are seeing so many more hoof dysfunctions and diseases due to shoeing year round/no 3mth break.

Not that I've looked but I'd not stumbled across any papers by vets/physios etc but antidotal evidence is that there are more issues that keep reoccurring and the horse isn't given enough time to "right" itself.

The fact that she is 3 and out of racing at the most I'd have done 6wks pottering about and then turned away, although knowing me who's slower than a snail probably a week to check buttons then let down. I'd imagine her immature body(incl hooves) needs a rest and time.

I had an ex racer scope the same as yours; very few grade 1/2 ulcers and scars from healed ulcers, so his out of racing regime was working. He wasn't scoped because he displayed any ulcery symptoms. That was 2011/12 but I'm sure he had 6wk gastroguard course so 2wks doesn't sound like long at all.

She’s had a few little breaks in her time since I got her. And it’s actually not been a great deal of ridden work - mostly hacking and long-lining, testing we have walk, trot and canter (not much of the latter) in the school and done a few pole exercises. I do agree that perhaps I have overdone it a little, but I was following the guidance of several professionals, including my physio. A long break is overdue for her though, I agree. I think I am being selfish by wanting to keep her in work until Christmas - I have nothing else to ride and whilst I do lack motivation in the winter, I will probably get FOMO.

The little sit after two weeks is just for my own sanity - I think my anxiety will go crazy if I don’t know if the ulcer treatment has worked or not, especially with no booked in rescope. But then again, she might show me that in her day to day handling.

 

[TPO]

She’s had a few little breaks in her time since I got her. And it’s actually not been a great deal of ridden work - mostly hacking and long-lining, testing we have walk, trot and canter (not much of the latter) in the school and done a few pole exercises. I do agree that perhaps I have overdone it a little, but I was following the guidance of several professionals, including my physio. A long break is overdue for her though, I agree. I think I am being selfish by wanting to keep her in work until Christmas - I have nothing else to ride and whilst I do lack motivation in the winter, I will probably get FOMO.

The little sit after two weeks is just for my own sanity - I think my anxiety will go crazy if I don’t know if the ulcer treatment has worked or not, especially with no booked in rescope. But then again, she might show me that in her day to day handling.

In no way a fun alternative to riding but maybe doing something like Rider Reboot during her break will help keep you focused? Then your core will be in top form for any 4yr old jinks!

 

[Alibear]

This has made me feel better about the plan we’ve been given. I was thinking it was odd/short, but a success story of similar is good to hear. I’ve looked into releve to be fair but didn’t know if it was just a bit too much for her

Yes the re-leve can be quite potent, hence I switched to the balancer once the grass came through

 

[J_sarahd]

Yes the re-leve can be quite potent, hence I switched to the balancer once the grass came through

It’s definitely a good choice for when she is in more work as I have heard really good things about it!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I did think this too. Previous horse was on 6 weeks meds, friends horse was on 4 weeks. All I can do is see what she’s like after the two weeks.

Can always get some more.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Mine love the saracen soak stuff but it sends them off there rockers so they only get it in summer very occasionally, I am not brave enough to give it to them in winter I would be launched into orbit ?

 

[tda]

Just had a look at the details of Saracen releve, is anyone else concerned about feeding GM soya as a main ingredient ?

 

[Chianti]

I’ve been doing so much reading on ulcer treatment as my boy was treated with cytotec and sucralfate each time so I don’t really know much about the other types of treatment and I read a lot of positives and negatives about the injections. But my friend got her horse injected and said he was absolutely fine.

That’s interesting. To be fair I am thinking of cutting out all feed with just a small handful of something as a carrier for supplements and lots of hay, especially as she will be going on her winter break soon anyway.

The ulcer injections completely changed my pony's personality. He went from a pony that a child could handle and ride to one that was very defensive about being touched, especially by unknown people. I changed vets after the treatment and the new vet said it was something that could happen. They are very painful for the animal.

 

[ycbm]

Just had a look at the details of Saracen releve, is anyone else concerned about feeding GM soya as a main ingredient ?

Yes. I have had one horse who I simply could not keep weight on until I removed it from his diet. I looked it up and soya is apparently inflammatory and can be very bad news for any horse which already has an inflammatory condition.

I won't now feed it to any horse.
.

 

[AandK]

My exracer had grade 2&3 squamous ulcers that were cleared (confirmed by scope) after 4 weeks gastroguard. After the clear scope he then had a tapered down dose of half a tube for two weeks then quarter for two weeks.

 

[J_sarahd]

The ulcer injections completely changed my pony's personality. He went from a pony that a child could handle and ride to one that was very defensive about being touched, especially by unknown people. I changed vets after the treatment and the new vet said it was something that could happen. They are very painful for the animal.

This was my concern and I think my vets. So we have gone with oral syringes - our first one tomorrow so I will see how she is with them

 

[McGrools]

The norm used to be giving a horse 12 continuous weeks off and without shoes to repair their hooves.

Hunters had summer off and competition horses had winter. Of course nowadays there are far more leisure horses that are never in anything beyond light work.

I've posted about it before but some well respected farriers wrote an article detailing how they are seeing so many more hoof dysfunctions and diseases due to shoeing year round/no 3mth break.

love this. My exracer is 7 weeks into her shoeless break and doing fab. Xx

 

[Chianti]

This was my concern and I think my vets. So we have gone with oral syringes - our first one tomorrow so I will see how she is with them

It's such a difficult balancing act. Mine had the ulcers return so the vet wanted to treat them 'more aggressively'. I hope the syringes work for your mare.

 

[J_sarahd]

She had her first syringe this morning and actually behaved herself. She’s not a bargy horse like my old pony, but you never know how they’ll react. I just hope she carries on behaving herself as I am in no doubt that she will catch on to what’s happening in a few days!

 

[J_sarahd]

I need some help. So I syringed Nova on Saturday morning and she was fine but the YO has messaged me this morning saying she’s really struggling to get it in her and aside from me going down every morning (which I can do but it may be quite difficult), I’m at a loss as to what to suggest. Any suggestions? As I obviously want her to get the most out of this treatment!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

You might have to try a syringe with something nice in it a few times it kind fools them into letting you do it.

My Louis was awful to syringe so I just offered a syringe with mint essence and a bit of water everyday and let him lick it, then after a few days I could syringe it and his no bother I can do it without a headcollar.

I give him his prascend this way everyday.

For now it might be worth putting her bridle on it gives you a bit more control and it's easy to just put the syringe behind the bit to get it on.

 

[Squeak]

I've never tried one so don't know how well they work but something like this could be worth a go?

https://wormers-direct.co.uk/medibit-horse-worming-bit/

 

[Gloi]

I've never tried one so don't know how well they work but something like this could be worth a go?

https://wormers-direct.co.uk/medibit-horse-worming-bit/

These work well if you are only using them for an occasional worming but if you used one daily the horse will soon cotton on and become hard to get any bit in.

 

[J_sarahd]

Is it possible to change the time she gets it? So vet said in the morning but would it still work if I brought her in and tied her up in the afternoon, mucked out, syringed her and then spent time grooming etc before feeding her dinner? That way I’m not relying on someone else to do it?

I know obviously the gastrogard doesn’t know what time of day it is haha but I suspect it’s all about how empty her stomach is?

 

[Bernster]

Not sure about the timing thing but Finn now has a nice array of tasty things to help with some of the meds he’s had to have recently, inc oral syringe ones - I’ve just got some apple juice, honey, a pouch of baby food (with fruits they can eat) and apparently custard works too although no local shops had cartons of custard so I got the other stuff instead!

 

[Slightlyconfused]

Doenst matter what time.

Though ibhad rotator cuff injury from one of mine giving gg, this was before the injection and to be fair.he body slammed you with needles in bum as well ?, so he had a longer dose mixed in with grated carrots and chaff. I know it needed to be on an empty stomach but i couldnt move my arm for three weeks after being shaken about for a week.


I am like you and would have a small sit on and long rein etc. To check then turn away till april.

 

[J_sarahd]

I had a 5 minute sit today and getting on is better and the walk is better - no headshaking and in a nice long and low frame. I did, perhaps stupidly, ask for a couple of trot transitions and it resulted in the throwing her head, trotting for two strides and then planting. So that feels like it’s not improved. Obviously she has only had a week of GG so if it is ulcers, that’s not long enough to properly see a change. She has been fine to trot on the lunge and in the long lines so it’s something about having a rider on that is causing it.

She is on her break now. She will have physio around Christmas time and then before she comes back into work, as well as a saddle check. And I’m just going to give her lots of hay and her supplements. Hopefully she comes back into work next year as good as she was and if not, then it’s another call to the vet.

 

[J_sarahd]

So she is officially back in work. She had the physio a few weeks ago for a trot up and sign off to start work again and she was feeling better than ever. She has been quite tight in her lower back but it was much better this time.

She’s been back long-lining and had a walk out in hand. Apart from some freshness to start with, she’s been really good. I’m not expecting anything of her, I just want to slowly bring her back and for her to (hopefully) not be presenting the same symptoms she was pre-holiday. I’m really nervous to get on her in case those symptoms are still present but I suppose I need to just sort that out if it happens.

Saddle fitter is booked for 20th, which gives me time to get her to the point where I can at least walk her in the school.

She was a bit girthy when I put her roller on so I’m a bit disheartened about that but it was less than before and I’d forgotten to give her chaff beforehand (completely out of practise!)