Please help - at the point of giving up :(

If he was mine, I would get his saddle checked first, then get thermal imaging done, of whole horse and saddle. If shows nothing I would then see what he is like with a pro on board. if still playing up, I would then get the vet out.
 
I wondered about feed too. I used to have a mare who couldn't eat any refined sugar at all - even one Polo mint sent her completely loopy! I'd change to a straw or grass chaff to avoid both molasses and alfalfa - we have another who can't manage even a sniff of alfalfa!
NB lucerne is another name for alfalfa.
 
Andiamo said:
my horse is extremely sensitive to feeds and ingredients, he can't have anything with molasses (Molichaff has it), or sugar beet - would send him bonkers.
Both of those things could tip a grain and/or sugar sensitive horse over the edge. I did a lot of research into feeds and nutrition, in a quest to get the right thing for my horse (to make him sane and ride-able). I've experimented with a lot of different things...and found really that he is intolerant of molasses and sugarbeet, alfalfa and grains....which has made finding the right feed difficult.
I tried Simple Systems - a good simple feeding regimen, but I found that it was a hassle as you need to soak the lucerne nuts for 24 hours.
This company also does feeds for sensitive individuals: http://www.thepurefeedcompany.com/ - Jason Webb from Australian Horse Training (he works with remedial horses) - uses these feeds at his place, and some other remedial trainers recommend this feed.
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Isnt alfalfa the same as lucerne??
 
Stomach ulcers ?
I understand that that girths make this worse ? Could it be why he is lovely until ridden ?
I am no expert but just a thought
Good luck
 
Chestnuttyy. So sorry to hear about your frustrations and I know you've had a lot of responses already! I've recently heard of a similar story to yours so you are not alone! I would strongly suggest getting a vet to assess the behaviour. Also the longer you leave it, the more 'learned' the avoidance behaviour can become. I do hope that things sort themselves out for you. Good luck
 
Its just a thought but could it possibly be a neurological disorder? You said that when he plays up 'he acts like he doesnt know what to do with himself' so maybe theres something wrong with his brain? Its just a thought as these past few months more stories seem to be popping up about horses having 'mood swings' that turn out to be tumours etc. Im not saying yours has one but when you have the vet out it may be worth suggesting it? Good luck though and keep us posted on any results and hopefully any progress!
 
wench said:
If he was mine, I would get his saddle checked first, then get thermal imaging done, of whole horse and saddle. If shows nothing I would then see what he is like with a pro on board. if still playing up, I would then get the vet out.
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I'd rather see OP work through this backwards. vet first, saddle, a second opinion from a chiro on the horse's back, and possibly another physio (OP what quals does the one you use have?). Then pro.

Thermal imaging is a waste of money, IMHO. There is a reason why vets don't use them much.
 
Andiamo said:
my horse is extremely sensitive to feeds and ingredients, he can't have anything with molasses (Molichaff has it), or sugar beet - would send him bonkers.
Both of those things could tip a grain and/or sugar sensitive horse over the edge. I did a lot of research into feeds and nutrition, in a quest to get the right thing for my horse (to make him sane and ride-able). I've experimented with a lot of different things...and found really that he is intolerant of molasses and sugarbeet, alfalfa and grains....which has made finding the right feed difficult.
I tried Simple Systems - a good simple feeding regimen, but I found that it was a hassle as you need to soak the lucerne nuts for 24 hours.
This company also does feeds for sensitive individuals: http://www.thepurefeedcompany.com/ - Jason Webb from Australian Horse Training (he works with remedial horses) - uses these feeds at his place, and some other remedial trainers recommend this feed

What I have found works for mine, is grass (turnout), soaked hay, and I feed him Allen & Page "Fast Fibre" - it provides all the nutrients for a balanced diet but it has no heating ingredients or sugars in it. If you call Allen & Page's customer line and explain the issue to them, they'll send you some samples, maybe even send a free bag of feed to try. So, mine gets Fast Fibre 2 KG per day across 3 feeds per day, and he is in competition level work 5 times per week, like yours. It keeps the weight on him, and it made a difference in his ridden temperament within a few days.

I'd try changing his diet ASAP, since yours sounds like he could be sugar sensitive like mine. The sugar beet would make mine behave the same as yours.

I hope this helps.
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Molichaff Calmer is NOT molassed, it is an excellent low sugar complete feed which is specifically for horses with a low tolerance to sugar and it also contains Magnesium and calming herbs. Molichaff is a brand name not a description of mollased chaff. Lucerne is alfalfa.
 
chestnuttyy said:
but the thing with him is he's an extremely stressy individual anyway, and when he exhibits this 'behaviour' it's like he doesn't know what to do with himself rather than a sudden reaction to pain. Of course, I may be wrong.
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You have just described how my boy behaves when given mollichaff . . . it took him a while to really show this but now if given mollichaff he behaves like he wants to crawl out of his own skin - it makes him seriously unhappy and sends him right round the twist. I now feed him Alfa A Molasses Free and a low cereal, high starch balancer and he is much, much better.

Good luck getting to the bottom of this - I've been where you are and it's not fun.

P
 
Just one other thought, splints are often caused by concussion and if that is the case he could have jarred himself through his shoulders which can be very painful. If the vet doesn't find anything specific I would still do a bute trial as this the best thing for jarring with also no riding on hard ground.
Hope you get things sorted.
 
I'd have a scan done where his splint has appeared, a mare belonging to my friend went slightly lame after a lesson and the next morning was hopping. We had her scanned and she has actually fractured her fetlock a while ago without showing any lameness, a bone fragment has now infected the tendon sheath. Horses are very resilient to pain and his splint may look like nothing as he's not lame but I wouldn't be riding a horse that is veru obviously in pain. JMO
 
Thanks so much for your suggestions everyone. The thought of a neuro disorder has crossed my mind and I will mention it to the vet when I speak to her today.

Having his saddle checked at the weekend as by chance a very good master saddler is comin to the yard to see a few other horses.

Im sort of thinking about changing feed but not sure...
 
I had a TB just like that. Fortunately he also cribbed which made me think of ulcers. Tried some of my husband's tablets (he has ulcers too!) and within 48 hrs he became the sweetest horse. Now ridden regularly by my 9yo daughter who canters him in the field, jumps him and hacks out. Up to 90% of horses have ulcers, but most just get used to the pain and show no symptoms. Hope you've got insurance though, as the horse tablets cost nearly £1000 a month!
 
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