Please help - dangerous horse -

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VoyPor

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Hi all.

One of the horses we have had a back problem last year - we had back people out who put his pelvis right - and said he was ok.

However he had to have some time off from being ridden to make sure he wasnt sore etc... he had a few weeks off before being lunged and brought back into work.

However - he has never got any better and he is just dangerous to go near. I am the only one at our place who will go near him - others are scared of being hit by flying hooves - and i dont know whether it's out of bravery or stupidity that i go near him myself.

Just trying to put a rug correct on him - he lashes out - which makes him a very difficult horse to handle.

We dont really know what to do - i personally think it is a mental issue now - and he just doesnt let anyone go near him - we have tried to build his confidence back up so he knows it isnt going to hurt him when people go near him - but it doesnt seem to be working.

Any ideas please?

Thanks.
 
Hi Woeisme - i hadnt even thought of PTS to be honest - just looking for ideas really and people who have maybe been in the same situation.

Thanks for the link.
 
sounds to me like this horse is in real pain and him being aggressive is his way of saying it really hurts.I would get the vet out to see what his opinion is on the horse.I take it the horse is insured because this could be something like kissing spines or severe muscle damage needing work under anaesthetiic
 
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sounds to me like this horse is in real pain and him being aggressive is his way of saying it really hurts.I would get the vet out to see what his opinion is on the horse.I take it the horse is insured because this could be something like kissing spines or severe muscle damage needing work under anaesthetiic

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I would agree with above. Get the vet out first.

What was the horse like to handle before his back pain?

I had a horse like this to handle, get a kick etc when putting the rug on but within 10 months and a lot of Parelli, he is a different horse, very loving.
 
If it was kissing spine for example - what would his lunging work be like - would there be any signs to look for when he is being lunged, schooled, etc.?
 
Melanie Watson (www.instinctivehorsetraining.co.uk) specialises in dealing with horses like this who are difficult, i.e. after a trauma etc. She had mine for 4 weeks last year and he went from demon to angel in no time so I can thoroughly recommend her. Not cheap but I've never heard of anything yet she can't work with and results are _quick_!

x
 
Kissing spine can look different in different horses. It can only be diagnosed conclusively by xray. In the case of my horse she would brace up and be reluctant to move sometimes when ridden, and also had a slight drag on one toe. Over time, the muscles in her hind end wasted. She wasn't nasty, didn't kick and didn't object to being rugged. I don't think the weight of a rug would have aggravated her spine to be honest. It was my weight that did.
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Also things like travelling, at least that's what I think with hindsight, and reversing off ramps.

A lot of these discusions end up with people saying if a horse is that dangerous and can't be dealt with it is best to pts. I don't agree with that, because most horses can be helped in some way. I think you need to do your best to eliminate physical problems before sending your horse anywhere, or getting help in. However, if he's been properly checked over and seems to be sound, I'm not sure that you need to go as far as scans, xrays and things.
 
Just thought I would add, my loving gelding has just been diagnoised with a back problem. The change in his character has been very obvious. He was a really easy going horse, could put him out with anything...then he became every horses worst nightmare,.. he was constantly going at them, kicking, biting. Hes been grumpy with me, (not as bad as you have described), but now hes on danalin at the moment, hes much saner.. I would agree sounds like hes pain somewhere.
I would Discuss with the vet.
 
I think you have the answer above.
The horse sounds like its in pain. Its behaviour is a way of telling you that he is either in pain, or anticipating pain.
You really ought to have the vet out to him and go from there.
 
He has had the vet out to him.

The vet said he looked ok when in walk, trot, canter, and so on.

We had 2 very well regarded back people to look at him who said he was fine apart from the pelvis problem.
 
If he were mine I would try and turn him a way for 6 months (no rugs) and see what he was like when he came back in......I have a very fit horse who is stroppy as hell to tack up / rug.......but nothing wrong with him.....just really fit and well in himself and this is way of showing us......the amount of racing nuts he has is not helping either.........But once the rider has tacked him up and is on him he is as good as gold.
 
Yes remembered pain is something to definitely consider. One of mine for at least a year after a severe wound to his leg would lift up his opposite hind leg for you to the injured one when hoof picking. Although he was healed and pain free it was his memory of pain that caused him to do that.
 
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He has had the vet out to him.

The vet said he looked ok when in walk, trot, canter, and so on.

We had 2 very well regarded back people to look at him who said he was fine apart from the pelvis problem.

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In that case I would look at his feed. Stop ALL feed except hay/haylage/grass give no supplements, or treats or fruit/veg.
I had a mare who became unhadleable because of feed issues. She too had a back problem. Feel free to PM me for any further details
 
"he looked ok" in walk trot and canter.....

Sorry, but I would be asking a another vet for a second opinion.
A few years back I took on a mare who rode beautifully for one girl, and god awful for another. Thought it could be her back, but vet said "No, she works fine for this other lass".
I got a second opinion from another practice and low and bl**dy behold, she has a back problem!
BUT, it took two weeks as an in patient at Liphook, and another 3 weeks as an inpatient for the chiro, before she was anywhere near right.
Unless he has been x-rayed etc etc I would not be ruling his back out.
His behaviour says he is either in pain, or is anticipating pain.
 
Thanks for the replies.

See how he changes - went down this morning to put a different rug on him - put head collar on and lead rope and he was quite strong to start off with.

But once (after 2 minutes) we got over the 'strongness', he calmed down.

He was a different horse this morning - let me put another rug on him - let me go near him and was really well behaved.
 
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