Please help diagnose - Long

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Shay

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I own a 13 yo 13.2 coloured Cob X ridden mainly by my 10 yo daughter. He is a rescue and has problems with his back following from a broken knee as a foal. We have had him just over 2 years but have a complete history all the way back to the woman who rescued and backed him. His last owners had him for 6 years and we are still in contact.
He is in fairly heavy work - ridden 6 days a week. Competed - mainly SJ - most weekends. He gets good rest periods and isn't stale. He is very fit. His back, tack and teeth are regularly checked. Weight fine.
He hunted last wednesday. He has hunted regularly this season and is quite up to it. My daughter says nothing odd happened. He didn't slip, hit a fence, wasn't kicked. He has the next day off - that is fairly normal.
The next night he trashed his bed. He's normally fairly tidy for a gelding with a propensity to lie in his own poo. But he pulled the banks down and really made a mess. I wonder if he got cast.
The next day (friday) dd rode him he was really odd. He was spooky and resistant. I rode him in case he was mucking up - he is a pony and they do sometimes. No good. He just would not go forward.
Tried again Saturday hacking out. Normally you can pretty much rely on him going forward on a hack. No good. He just would not go forward for her. It took 40 mins to go less than a mile. But when we turned around - no problems. So I was pretty sure he was just being a pony - although this was far more than anything we had seen before. So just in case I stuck him on bute and rested.
So - this morning (wednesday) tried again with her instructor. Still no good. He was running backward, half bucking, rearing a bit. Really not him. Instructor pulled the saddle off him and he was sensitive on the withers. If you rub at them he is clearly uncomfortable - but I hadn't noticed anything grooming him. He has a small rug rub - but as a fully clipped and hogged he usually does this time of year. Nothing raw or sore. Instructor also felt he was guarding a hock. He has mud fever at the moment but he is prone to it. All the scabs are dry, there is no redness or inflammation.
So - pony now on box rest. On Bute. I've vandalised a rug and cut out a great patch over the withers to leave that completely free and open but he can't go rugless becuase he is fully clipped. Salt polutice for the withers (which he doesn't mind a bit - no sign of soreness this pm) Mud fever treatment as usual, although the break from muddy feilds should help. Saddler due next week. Back guy as soon as I can fix a date. Teeth were only done a couple of months ago. Can't spot a broken one or anything so I'm leaving that for now. On Instructor's suggestion and with the support of YO and my vet who I have spoken to today we're leaving it until after the weekend to see what happens before facing the call out fee.

Any suggestions? What more can I do?
 
Nothing.
Don't ride until the back person and saddler have been out as if it is a problme on his withers you dont wanna be putting a saddle on them if they are sore and make him resent it!

Sounds like you are doing al lthe right things, if you want to exercise him, id loose school or lunge him

They can fracture their withers but I would have thought your daughter would have noticed if it happened out hunting, unless he did it if he did get cast in the stable. (This can be diagnosed by x-ray by vets, but back person might be able to indicate if it is olikely to be this).

Cant really think of something else that would cause this much pain over the withers.
 
Sounds like you have covered every eventuality. Could be that hes tweaked something and just needs a rest, he does get quite a lot of work by the sounds of it. Could have slipped in field, ground been hard then slippery and could be something as simple as that.

Or maybe he just wants a sick note from work haha! Hope you get to the bottom of it anyway.
 
Sounds like he got cast and has damaged something. I would get a full physical check by a vet - only vets are able to give a diagnosis which appears to be what you want.
 
I'd echo the got-cast-and-hurt-something diagnosis. Is he the same on the lunge without a rider? What about hoolying around in the field with his mates - is he still doing that? Or faffing about loose schooling him is he still stiff and sore? If pretty much yes to all that, then he's defo hurt something. If he was mine and he's weight bearing on all 4 legs, I'd probably give him a week off and re-evaluate at the end. If he's still the same or worse or anything new develops then I'd get the vets in for a full work up. Good luck - he sounds lovely x
 
I agree with the others - got cast and hurt himself. I'd give him a week off (minus the bute probably, as that will mask whatever is sore) and see how he is then. I also wouldn't have the "back person" out until the vet has been. If his back is sore then it's probably because he's sore somewhere else, so you end up treating the symptom and not the cause. Give him a week off and have a look at the end of it.

Hope he's on the mend soon
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Thanks all.

I just want him better as quick as possible! There seems to be a run of this at our yard as from last night almost half the horses are in lame or with mud fever!

Ned is 100% sound ridden and not. (Although obviously we won't ride again for a while!) Unfortunately he can't lunge - he only goes on the right rein. If you turn to go left he just spins around and carries on. He's always been that way. When we got him we were told basically not to bother. I suspect now is not the time to address that particualr issue! I've had him on the walker this morning and he was fine with that - if bored. I'll graze him in hand later.

It isn't bad enough to have the vet out just yet - if he isn't better by the end of the weekend I will. At least having him in gives us a bit of a chance to blitz his mud fever.
 
Ye, get rid of that stupidly irritating bacteria infection (mud fever) Its SUCH an annoying problem!! gah! lol So 2 birds with one stone hopefully in this time off!
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I hope he gets better and feels more himself soon and if he doesnt I am sure the vet will be able to do a much better job of telling you (or at least suggesting) whats wrong than we have
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I think I probably mis-named the post. I'm not very experienced at this! I just wanted more thoughts on what might be up and what to try next and you've all been great. Thanks.
 
We had a an almost identical problem with our mare last year, various people told us to get her teeth checked (we already had) have her back and saddle checked (we already had) change her feed, have her shoes changed etc - after listening many various suggestions I called the vet out and it ended up being soft tissue damage in both front feet - luckily it didn't end up being navicular just extremely similar, after about 6 months of treatment/boxrest and slow bringing back into work she is now (cross fingers) sound. If in doubt get the vet out.
 
Oh great....

We've now had back, saddle and teeth all checked. The back was sore when seen but warm salt compresses for 4 days had sorted the whithers. Teeth and saddle both fine. The good news is I found a saddler who didn't try to sell me a new saddle or muck about with the old one for no reason!

Ned still in, still not right. He has mud fever, but it is dry and cool. No signs of infection, no lameness. Vet on monday....
 
[ QUOTE ]
Oh great....

We've now had back, saddle and teeth all checked. The back was sore when seen but warm salt compresses for 4 days had sorted the whithers. Teeth and saddle both fine. The good news is I found a saddler who didn't try to sell me a new saddle or muck about with the old one for no reason!

Ned still in, still not right. He has mud fever, but it is dry and cool. No signs of infection, no lameness. Vet on monday....

[/ QUOTE ]

Good news re. saddler but sorry to hear he's still not right. Sounds like time for a vet visit? Hope you get it sorted soon.
 
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