pony cant reach down to ground

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weebarney

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Brought my pony in from the field 2 days ago he went out fit and healthy and when he came back in he could'nt reach the ground to eat his feed, he was pawing the bucket in frustration. When i lifted the bucket up he tucked straight in. He gets his hay on the floor as well so ive had to put it in a net so he can reach it. He was the same yesterday so i gave him half a bute last night to see if that helps.
I've had a look and a feel over his neck back body and legs and he doesnt seem obviously sore anywhere. Was hopin it might just be a pulled muscle that would go over a few days but thought i'd see if any one has experienced similar as i'll probably be getting the vet tomorrow if he hasnt improved
 
My horse did a similiar thing and I got a call from the Y.O to say Rommy couldn't put his head down, and was in considerable pain. He was in a right state and we called the emergency vet out. Unforunatley he'd reared in the field and gone over and landed awkwardly on his neck. I had to feed him from over the door mangers, and tied nets up for him. The vet gave him anti inflammatory drugs and he was okay after a couple of days. Sadly in my horses case the damage to his neck caused wobblers syndrome to develop at an alarming pace. I think he'd always had wobblers but the traumatic neck injury just brought in to the fore. He was put down at Liverpool Hospital just months after his neck injury with severe wobblers that could not be operated on. I am not suggesting such a thing could happen in your horses case but I would calle the vet out as a matter of urgency. After all if he can't put his head to the floor he must be in considerable pain - the equivalent of a crick in your neck. He would also be quite stressed as being a flight animal they rely on being able to move around quickly.
 
def an emergency - I would call the vet asap and I would figure out another way to feed hay from a higher level, the jerking motion surely wouldn't help.
 
I'm really sorry if I scare you but my old pony did the same and rapidly developed Wobblers with a very sad ending. Call the vet urgently as they may be able to give stronger anti inflamatory drugs. Sadly my old ponies spinal cord was compressed by all the swelling which is why he couldn't put his head down. Hopefully your case won't be the same but for your peace of mind and your pony's comfort I honestly would get the vet asap even if it is out of hours.

Good luck and please keep us posted
 
get the vet and physio out! My sisters horse has come in a few times from the field and has looked uncomfortable and been unable to reach down...it always happens when he's been being daft in the field - he pulls a muscle in the base of his neck - vet gives him anti iflamms and physio gives him a few sessions and he's right as rain - until the next time he is stupid in the field!!

Make sure you raise his water! most horses have haynets so can reach them anyway but if he has water on the floor you don't want to leave him with out any!
 
Get the vet. Not being able to reach the ground is quite serious and generally is caused by damage somwhere along the cervical vertebrae. Check behind the poll at the 1st cervical vertebrae (the atlas) as damage here almost always results in not being able to reach down. (It may be obvious to you as soon as you feel along here if somethings not right).

Hopefully, it may be muscle damage as this would be alot less serious. I hope everything works out well. Fingers crossed. XX
 
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