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darkshines

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Just wondering what other people think before discussing with vet (they are booked to come out). Few things going on for my girl, mostly behavioural, and I'm now wondering if at least some of them may be connected. She is not the type to grin and bear anything she disagrees with, she's pretty clear when she isn't happy about something but the difficulty comes in working out what the cause is. We've recently moved and all of these issues were present beforehand but they have gotten worse since.
- She's not great at standing at the mounting block and this is always the first thing to go if she's uncomfortable, previously due to saddle fitting or feet issues but resolved when cause was found and fixed. It has been a fairly consistent issue for a while now, reluctance to walk up to the block in the first place or walking up then swinging her bum out.
- For some time she has been becoming increasingly spooky, jumpy and refusing to walk past things that wouldn't have bothered her in the past. This is worse when ridden, she has always been more confident with me on the ground next to her but seems more clingy just now. Have been making allowances due to new yard but still getting worse despite otherwise seeming settled.
- Right rein has always been her stronger one but she's getting worse on the left, drifting in towards the middle of the school and bending towards the outside. Not so bad on the lunge but given the choice she will try to turn back onto the right rein. I'd put this down to a training/balance issue but now not so sure.
- She can be grumpy around her belly, brushing or girthing but this has also become worse, pulling faces and snapping (forwards at the air, not at me) when the saddle is put on and sometimes when rugging too.
- During the summer a vet commented on her breathing heavily after exercise but this was put down to allergies. Couldn't say if it's still as bad or not as I haven't been working her so hard recently due to the other issues.
Physically she seems fine, no lameness or reaction to being touched anywhere (other than previously mentioned intermittent grumpiness around belly). She is a good-doer, slightly overweight and coat in excellent condition. No illnesses in the time I've had her other than mild sweet itch. She competed regularly with her previous owner but has had a more relaxed life since coming to me almost 2 years ago.
I have my own thoughts (which I've purposefully not mentioned in case of influencing answers) and as I've said I will be talking to the vet but just interested to see what others think in case I'm on completely the wrong track. TIA
 
I would be pointing to the grumpiness around her girth etc as being classic gastric or hindgut ulcer symptoms, and the stress of moving may well have exacerbated any she had before, especially if she had any time without food (travelling etc). I would be asking vet about diagnosing by therapy, rather than scoping because endoscopes can't look at the intestines - ask about peptizole or gastroguard if you can afford it (I gather insurers usually insist on scoping and that is another stressor, apart from being prone to provide false negatives).
If she is prone to them, consider her diet and reduce any sugars but increase any fibre, and maybe some of the products like EGUSIN might help
 
I would discuss the possibility of stomach ulcers with the Vet. Generally there is often a physical cause in cases such as yours, but they are the harder to find things that are wrong.

Another thought, if she had a virus rather than allergies causing the breathing issue, they can take a surprisingly long time to fully recover from.
 
She is showing signs that could be attributed to pain, it can be difficult to find what is hurting where though. Often pain in the hind leg joints can lead to muscle spasms in the back for example.

Pain anywhere in fact can lead to problems with the back which might explain reluctance to allow you to mount?

I would approach a good equine vet for an examination / trot up and take it from there
 
Good points raised by Faracat and Wheels.

How old is your mare? Has the mounting block issues been a problem with the previous owners too or only since you had her, or only when you think there's something else wrong? Has a good saddler checked her saddle fit recently?
 
Mine showed similar symptoms before her PSSM was diagnosed. I spent 3 months treating for ulcers and not getting the results expected before sending off hair for PSSM.
 
Mine was similar after a recent move but I tried to cover all bases. Gym/ground exercise and a massage/physio sorted him. She felt he had been bumped in the journey, and she undid the knots which solved the spooking and general uptightness.
Hope you can find the issue soon. I also put him on a course of protexin which helped with the change of grass.
 
The first two things you mention scream 'pain' to me and reading further down, I immediately thought 'ulcers'. This would be my starting point with the vet, unless your farrier has also mentioned foot problems, in which case, I would start there.
 
Thanks all.
Npage she's 13. The mounting issue was a problem on and off with previous owner too, it usually is a once every now and then thing but becomes the standard as soon as something is bothering her. Feet and saddle have been the issue in the past but both fine just now as are teeth (checked over summer).
Mounting problems and unevenness in school were making me think back pain but the increasing stressy and grumpy behaviour started me wondering about ulcers although she doesn't appear a typical case. Going to talk over with vet anyway and organise a physio visit
 
I would get a second / third opinion on saddle. I had a horse I went through thousands buying saddles for and was let down time and time again by different Saddlers. She did nearly everything you describe. Found a saddle for her myself, all stopped immediately and didn’t return.
 
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