Pony just isn't happy

[MummyEms]

We have a 12 (rising 13) all-rounder pony.
We bought her as an experienced jumping pony... she arrived in a very poor condition (bought unseen as i will work with and help whatever we buy as it is my job and always has been)... so I knew she needed to gain lots of top line and muscle and fitness.
She was very angry on the ground, defensive with humans (ears back loads of the time, un trusting), napping when ridden both hacking and jumping.
My daughters are both experienced and so...
Fast fwd about 8 months, tons of hacking, strengthening, excellent nutrition, brilliant managemenof, of plenty of turn out with company, low stress environment, stable over night as no shelter or hay in the herd field, comfy stable with ad lib hay, pony club, lessons, a few low key shows (still nappy)...

Her bodies improved quite a lot. Muscle wise and strength wise... she looks better and is physically fitter and quite enjoys hacking and cross country fun rides, but still tends to be behind the leg and naps now and then...


The biggest thing is, she is still so angry. So Cross with the world. Still refuses to go forwards at times . The napping in the show jumping is extremely bad still and she just seems furious and so irritated with any one even near her, in stable or out.


I am not one to beat, smack and force... when certain trainers have said to do this it just makes her worse and even more feet planting.

Does any one have any similar expertise or thoughts / intuition?

Thank you so much for reading and sorry it is long.

 

[mini-eventer]

Have you had a vet out at all?

 

[MummyEms]

Sorry yes, meant to write that in there.
We had vet for basic check (we actually suspected she may be in foal when she first arrived as her belly was so protuding) so paid for him to check. Also told him about her issues... she was very new at the time and so he said he cannot find anything obvious, no foal (!) build her up condition wise etc and then re assess.
She's had back lady a few times plus all new good fitted tack etc etc

 

[MummyEms]

She's not had any blood tests nor x rays etc

She is fully insured

 

[Gloi]

If she hasn't been scoped for ulcers I would discuss that possibility with the vet.

 

[splashgirl45]

When my mare got grumpy I knew there was something wrong and I got the vet to run bloods and she had cushings, once she was on the medication she went back to her normal sweet self so might be worth testing

 

[AmyMay]

If she’s an ‘experienced’ jumping pony, could she simply be sour?

I’d certainly keep her out of an arena and wouldn’t be showjumping her. And I would also have a full work up done.

 

[Zoeypxo]

Ulcers or PSSM first come to mind.

 

[AmyMay]

Do you know her jumping history? Was she an affiliated jumping pony?

 

[MummyEms]

She came over from Ireland and has most definitely had a rough hand.

Not BS no but lots of upper level unaffiliated before us.
We've taken her to 3 shows with their pony club. Never again until I get to the bottom of this. Either something is wrong or she literally hates going to jumping competitions.

She really is so agitated and ears back nearly all of the time around everybody. Never seen a pony like it.

 

[ycbm]

She's been an angry, furious, irritated, severely nappy pony for 8 months? I'm afraid she's overdue for an ulcer scoping and a complete performance workup , even if ulcers are found, because you still need to find the cause of them. I hope you can help her, she sounds like a very unhappy girl.
.

 

[AmyMay]

She came over from Ireland and has most definitely had a rough hand.

Not BS no but lots of upper level unaffiliated before us.
We've taken her to 3 shows with their pony club. Never again until I get to the bottom of this. Either something is wrong or she literally hates going to jumping competitions.

She really is so agitated and ears back nearly all of the time around everybody. Never seen a pony like it.

So you have no reliable history on her.

Turn away, vet and fingers crossed for a happy outcome.

 

[MummyEms]

She's been an angry, furious, irritated, severely nappy pony for 8 months? I'm afraid she's overdue for an ulcer scoping and a complete performance workup , even if ulcers are found, because you still need to find the cause of them. I hope you can help her, she sounds like a very unhappy girl.
.

She's eating, hacking and happy in her field with the horsey herd.
But yes I feel terrible that she still isn't content
We lost our pony of a lifetime after a long battle which I'm just finishing off paying off to the vet hospital in Newmarket.

I fully intend to call the vet tomorrow.

Today was the first time I had taken her out for my daughter to SJ in months and being as her condition and fitness and hacking has improved I honestly thought she would be happy to go around at the very low level we we entered. She isn't and hence me on here tonight and calling vet tomorrow for full checks everywhere. Just wanted to talk to knowledgeable people about it on here tonight, you know when you cannot stop thinking about something.

 

[SEL]

Bloods are always on my list when a pony isn't happy. My littlest cob who is usually full of beans was flat and unhappy over Xmas - nothing obvious but bloods showed elevated AST. Still stuck as to whether it's muscle or liver so we're addressing both.

If yours came with a bloated belly then I wonder if there was a worm problem which has left some gut issues.

 

[MummyEms]

Bloods are always on my list when a pony isn't happy. My littlest cob who is usually full of beans was flat and unhappy over Xmas - nothing obvious but bloods showed elevated AST. Still stuck as to whether it's muscle or liver so we're addressing both.

If yours came with a bloated belly then I wonder if there was a worm problem which has left some gut issues.

Yes bloods are going to done ASAP.
No we worm counted her twice and she was Below 50 even when she first came looking awful. That was my first worry too

 

[HopOnTrot]

She sounds like she’s in pain somewhere, I would start with physio and then onto the vet, it could literally be anything!

 

[AmyMay]

She sounds like she’s in pain somewhere, I would start with physio and then onto the vet, it could literally be anything!

You start with a vet, and then a physio on their recommendation….

 

[MummyEms]

Yes and we have had the physio already. I'll call vet first thing tomorrow.
Really grateful for everyone's replies

 

[Cortez]

It could just be her personality. Some horses are just grumps, mares especially sometimes don't always want to do what you want to do.

 

[splashgirl45]

She may have female problems and I can remember how they affected me in my youth. Maybe regumate might help if that sort of thing is diagnosed

 

[Equi]

She may have something or she may just be a grumpy mare. As you said she probably had a bit of a no nonsense upbringing and just doesn’t really care to have People being near her. If vet clears her try not to go too far down a rabbit hole unless you really think she’s got a medical issue..sometimes you have to accept their personality.

 

[marmalade76]

Apart from having her properly checked out by a vet, I would stick to doing the things she enjoys and not keep trying to make her do things she obviously doesn't.

 

[Highmileagecob]

She sounds to have pain somewhere. A blood test can check for raised amyloids (?) which in turn indicate inflammation. Then unpicking the puzzle of where the pain is.

 

[Cortez]

She sounds to have pain somewhere. A blood test can check for raised amyloids (?) which in turn indicate inflammation. Then unpicking the puzzle of where the pain is.

NOT amyloid, perhaps you mean cortisols? The pony has been checked by a vet I believe.

 

[Goldenstar]

The pony needs a proper work up from a vet that specialises in that type of work
She may well have ulcers but the the big question is why she has them .
Good care and kindness and schooling can make horses with really serious things wrong with them look well.
If I where I would start at home and get the vet to do trot ups , flexions lunging on the hard and soft and perhaps ridden
Let the vet see the pony in the stable and her attitude to life
Videos are useful as well

 

[Alibear]

As others have said, vet, bloods, and ulcer scope would be worthwhile, as would a lameness workup.
If you want to take things a bit steady, once you're sure her stomach is fine, you could try a good generous bute trial. If she improves, you know she has pain somewhere, and then you get the fun of finding out where and if it's soft tissue or bone.
Good luck, it sounds like she's landed in a good place.

 

[Kirstd33]

Just wondering what happened with this pony? Did the vets get to the bottom of it?

 

[Bobthecob15]

Sounds like a couple of mares I’ve known. One had ulcers, they were treated successfully but the anger in the stable continued…more assessments and turns out her back is very very sore from poorly fitting saddle. Is now on a strict physio routine and new saddle.

Other one is badly affected by her seasons, can’t be ridden when in season at all. She’s going to have either the marble implant or the injections

 

[MummyEms]

So she had sooo many scans, checks, scoped, bloods done, back xray, all came back OK.
So she's on regumate!

 

[MummyEms]

She may have something or she may just be a grumpy mare. As you said she probably had a bit of a no nonsense upbringing and just doesn’t really care to have People being near her. If vet clears her try not to go too far down a rabbit hole unless you really think she’s got a medical issue..sometimes you have to accept their personality.

Exactly this!!! But very nice to know for sure now that everything's okay physically xx