Old stubborn horse bringing back into work

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Ljh__Equestrian

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I need help with my 17-year-old OTTB. He has been out of work for 1 1/2 at least because we found out that he has very mild arthritis in his jaw but nothing that should stop him from being ridden, plus we also got a new horse that I was working with so had no priority for him. But now that horse is being sold and he is sitting in the paddock doing nothing. But before he was 'retired' I struggled a lot with him being really good in summer and going to pony club and jumping and having a really good time and then in winter he would not want to move and would kick out and shake his head and not move forward, in the walk but majorly in the trot. That was a couple of years ago but now it doesn't matter what time of the year it is he won't move at all. I need help figuring out solutions to getting him more forward and enjoying his work again because I want to start riding him again.
 
I wouldnt be surprised if the arthritis has spread, if he hasnt had anything done with him. I would get him checked over.
Long reign, and do some fun stuff before you hop on providing he is fine to be ridden. He will have little top line or muscle if he has been out of work. So i would build some first.
 
I guess you could try a bute (or Danilon or whatever) trial to see if it is pain causing the issue.

If not you could try supplementing with Vitamin E - just a thought because you mentioned he used to be worse in winter (when he may not have been getting sufficient fresh grass to meet his Vit E needs).

Also, another thought, has he been tested for Cushings?
 
Ljh__Equestrian said:
before he was 'retired' I struggled a lot with him being really good in summer and going to pony club and jumping and having a really good time and then in winter he would not want to move and would kick out and shake his head and not move forward, in the walk but majorly in the trot.
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That doesn't sound "stubborn" it sound uncomfortable in colder weather.
 
Change your mindset to "Old sore horse bringing back into work"

It doesn't mean he cant come back into work, but it will need to be sympathetically to his issues as a old horse.

He will be weak and sore - i'd start with ground work / inhand before a program of a few weeks walking straight lines before introducing trot. He will need a saddle check now and once he has muscled up. I would involve a physio. It is a strong possibility you might need veterinary help controlling his pain.

If you are not prepared to do this, then leave him retired IMO
 
He's not ancient but he's an OTTB who likely is sore elsewhere and he is not young. He's not been in work so will have lost muscle. Does his saddle fit? He has arthritis in his jaw at the very least - maybe get some bitting advice or try bitless bridles? Get a once over by the vet.
Maybe I am reading this wrong but it seems he was put to grass while another "younger more forward?" horse was available but now you want him to be your ridden forward going horse because the other one is going? I feel sorry for him as he is not a machine and he probably has quite a lot of wear and tear on his joints. Maybe go easy on him or allow him to retire?
 
Ljh__Equestrian said:
I need help with my 17-year-old OTTB. He has been out of work for 1 1/2 at least because we found out that he has very mild arthritis in his jaw but nothing that should stop him from being ridden, plus we also got a new horse that I was working with so had no priority for him. But now that horse is being sold and he is sitting in the paddock doing nothing. But before he was 'retired' I struggled a lot with him being really good in summer and going to pony club and jumping and having a really good time and then in winter he would not want to move and would kick out and shake his head and not move forward, in the walk but majorly in the trot. That was a couple of years ago but now it doesn't matter what time of the year it is he won't move at all. I need help figuring out solutions to getting him more forward and enjoying his work again because I want to start riding him again.
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Please have him scoped for ulcers and xrayed. Any horse ive ever had like this was uncomfotable! it seems to be his way of telling you!!
 
Thank you everyone for your responses and I think that because we do not have the money or the capabilities I am just going to forget about riding him. We tried him on bute and that didn't seem to help and I have tried bitless and in a halter and he does the same thing. I rode him bareback the other day and he wasn't happy at all so I think he might have a bit of a sore back. I will continue to do a bit of inhand work with him but I think I will fully retire him. It is annoying but I have a 6 year old standie that I am starting to produce now so he can go back to being retired. Thank you everyone for your responses it has helped. We might try putting him on vitamin E and see if that helps but we'll see.
 
Ljh__Equestrian said:
Thank you everyone for your responses and I think that because we do not have the money or the capabilities I am just going to forget about riding him. We tried him on bute and that didn't seem to help and I have tried bitless and in a halter and he does the same thing. I rode him bareback the other day and he wasn't happy at all so I think he might have a bit of a sore back. I will continue to do a bit of inhand work with him but I think I will fully retire him. It is annoying but I have a 6 year old standie that I am starting to produce now so he can go back to being retired. Thank you everyone for your responses it has helped. We might try putting him on vitamin E and see if that helps but we'll see.
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What's the vitamin E for 🤷‍♂️
 
Ljh__Equestrian said:
Thank you everyone for your responses and I think that because we do not have the money or the capabilities I am just going to forget about riding him. We tried him on bute and that didn't seem to help and I have tried bitless and in a halter and he does the same thing. I rode him bareback the other day and he wasn't happy at all so I think he might have a bit of a sore back. I will continue to do a bit of inhand work with him but I think I will fully retire him. It is annoying but I have a 6 year old standie that I am starting to produce now so he can go back to being retired. Thank you everyone for your responses it has helped. We might try putting him on vitamin E and see if that helps but we'll see.
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"Annoying"? Poor horse, he can't help being "annoying" by showing the wear and tear of his old age. I hope you will give him all the care and help that he will need in his retirement, I really do.

P.S. If bute hasn't helped him to feel less pain then vitamin e isn't going to magically fix whatever is hurting him.
 
Ljh__Equestrian said:
I need help with my 17-year-old OTTB. He has been out of work for 1 1/2 at least because we found out that he has very mild arthritis in his jaw but nothing that should stop him from being ridden, plus we also got a new horse that I was working with so had no priority for him. But now that horse is being sold and he is sitting in the paddock doing nothing. But before he was 'retired' I struggled a lot with him being really good in summer and going to pony club and jumping and having a really good time and then in winter he would not want to move and would kick out and shake his head and not move forward, in the walk but majorly in the trot. That was a couple of years ago but now it doesn't matter what time of the year it is he won't move at all. I need help figuring out solutions to getting him more forward and enjoying his work again because I want to start riding him again.
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I’d be really careful if it’s in his jaw ? We had a mare who loved her work but started napping it was only when she stopped eating that we found out she’d broken her hyoid bone as it was arthritic ( they only saw it as they created for dental issues ) We were absolutely distraught to think of the suffering we had put her through by having a bit in her mouth !!
I must stress I had to argue with the vets to keep on trying to find what was wrong as I was treated like a neurotic owner as I’d had the vets round constantly saying something wasn’t right !
He doesn’t sound happy at all please don’t put it down to behaviour as it’s nearly always physical !
Hope you get him well unfortunately we weren’t so lucky and lost our mare
 
confusedmum said:
I’d be really careful if it’s in his jaw ? We had a mare who loved her work but started napping it was only when she stopped eating that we found out she’d broken her hyoid bone as it was arthritic ( they only saw it as they created for dental issues ) We were absolutely distraught to think of the suffering we had put her through by having a bit in her mouth !!
I must stress I had to argue with the vets to keep on trying to find what was wrong as I was treated like a neurotic owner as I’d had the vets round constantly saying something wasn’t right !
He doesn’t sound happy at all please don’t put it down to behaviour as it’s nearly always physical !
Hope you get him well unfortunately we weren’t so lucky and lost our mare
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Sorry x ray not created ( predictive text ) !!!!!
 
Cortez said:
"Annoying"? Poor horse, he can't help being "annoying" by showing the wear and tear of his old age. I hope you will give him all the care and help that he will need in his retirement, I really do.

P.S. If bute hasn't helped him to feel less pain then vitamin e isn't going to magically fix whatever is hurting him.
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it will if hes deficient
 
We are not just chucking him back into the paddock because of the younger horse. He prefers retirement and I just wanted to see what he would be like I can see that he isn't happy being ridden so I am doing what's best for him and retiring him for good. I also wouldn't be surprised that he has arthritis/other pain in other parts of his body which is why I am not pushing him to be ridden again. I am going to only do what is best for him and he is happy, sound and healthy in the paddock so that's where he will stay.
Trickywooo said:
Hmm nice. Use old horse until he "annoyingly" breaks, then chuck in a field and move on to younger horse.
Poor bugger!
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I presume you know he is "sound and healthy" because you've had a vet to look at him? Or have you just plonked him in a field and hoped for the best?
A horse that is in pain with only light ridden work is likely still in pain moving around the field. If you haven't done so already, please get him examined by a vet to determine whether he requires more thorough forms of pain management than "retirement".
 
He has been examined by the vet and they said that he is ok to be in the paddock and he is happy and healthy.
Trickywooo said:
I presume you know he is "sound and healthy" because you've had a vet to look at him? Or have you just plonked him in a field and hoped for the best?
A horse that is in pain with only light ridden work is likely still in pain moving around the field. If you haven't done so already, please get him examined by a vet to determine whether he requires more thorough forms of pain management than "retirement".
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