VioletStripe
Well-Known Member
Right, this might be a bit of a ramble, so apologies in advance. I am currently awaiting a call from the vet to discuss but I wouldn't mind having some opinions as well - it could also be good for me to write it all out and collect my thoughts!
My horse has been a little bit off for most of the winter, he's an overheight 6yo Connemara, in light/moderate work. I've been putting it down to the weather, and the fact they have had VERY VERY little turnout. Think about 3hrs at a time here and there, completely irregular sometimes going for about a month without any. Also no ad lib hay while being in ( mega
- he's kept at part/full livery, unfortunately fields have been very wet, but the no ad lib hay has ticked me off)
I've had all the checks regarding saddle, back and teeth. All came back completely clear - physio couldn't believe his improvements and could only find one bit of mild tightness.
He just seems to be very unpredictable. Some days he seems fine, and other days it's very apparent. He's not what I'd call girthy, but he looks round when I do up the girth before I get on and the last couple of times I've ridden when I've checked the girth after the first few minutes of walking round to loosen up he's done a little rear and shot off. This is fairly recent. Happened both in the school and on a hack. He's never had problems with this girth before and he hasn't got girth galls.
He doesn't have his usual spark and work ethic. Again, I put it down to weather and frustration at not being out, or maybe boredom. But it happens in the school as well as on hacks. Quite reluctant to move forward, but when he does he's not stiff or sore, doesn't appear lame at all. When I do give a command to move forward with my leg (literally a squeeze) he flicks his tail and bucks or plants and moves backwards, and to me it appears to be the pressure on his stomach because he responds much better to a voice command. On the lunge he's fine, and when I started riding without my leg and just using my voice and encouraging nudges as opposed to squeezes he was much more willing.
He doesn't seem sore through his back - physio (who is also trained in McTimoney Chiro) saw him in December and he was fine, and he has no reaction to me pushing and prodding at his back. Grooming he can be a bit funny around his tummy, particularly between elbow and armpits, but this has been apparent for a while and I put it down to him being a ticklish one...
He hasn't had colic before, I've tried mixing up riding routines and doing different things, switching to a vit and mins supplement, supplying a salt lick, but it doesn't seem to have made much of a difference, hence why I'm in a bit of a worry. He's a very kind, honest horse with bags of character but he just seems off. Worming is up to date, I follow a program done by my local feed merchant and it's never been late. He started eating his droppings occasionally, hence why I added a supplement. He hasn't lost condition but come winter they do get 2 feeds a day - I guess the yard did this as a preventative for the time of year?
Sorry for the ramble. If anything's unclear then I apologise!
My horse has been a little bit off for most of the winter, he's an overheight 6yo Connemara, in light/moderate work. I've been putting it down to the weather, and the fact they have had VERY VERY little turnout. Think about 3hrs at a time here and there, completely irregular sometimes going for about a month without any. Also no ad lib hay while being in ( mega
- he's kept at part/full livery, unfortunately fields have been very wet, but the no ad lib hay has ticked me off)I've had all the checks regarding saddle, back and teeth. All came back completely clear - physio couldn't believe his improvements and could only find one bit of mild tightness.
He just seems to be very unpredictable. Some days he seems fine, and other days it's very apparent. He's not what I'd call girthy, but he looks round when I do up the girth before I get on and the last couple of times I've ridden when I've checked the girth after the first few minutes of walking round to loosen up he's done a little rear and shot off. This is fairly recent. Happened both in the school and on a hack. He's never had problems with this girth before and he hasn't got girth galls.
He doesn't have his usual spark and work ethic. Again, I put it down to weather and frustration at not being out, or maybe boredom. But it happens in the school as well as on hacks. Quite reluctant to move forward, but when he does he's not stiff or sore, doesn't appear lame at all. When I do give a command to move forward with my leg (literally a squeeze) he flicks his tail and bucks or plants and moves backwards, and to me it appears to be the pressure on his stomach because he responds much better to a voice command. On the lunge he's fine, and when I started riding without my leg and just using my voice and encouraging nudges as opposed to squeezes he was much more willing.
He doesn't seem sore through his back - physio (who is also trained in McTimoney Chiro) saw him in December and he was fine, and he has no reaction to me pushing and prodding at his back. Grooming he can be a bit funny around his tummy, particularly between elbow and armpits, but this has been apparent for a while and I put it down to him being a ticklish one...
He hasn't had colic before, I've tried mixing up riding routines and doing different things, switching to a vit and mins supplement, supplying a salt lick, but it doesn't seem to have made much of a difference, hence why I'm in a bit of a worry. He's a very kind, honest horse with bags of character but he just seems off. Worming is up to date, I follow a program done by my local feed merchant and it's never been late. He started eating his droppings occasionally, hence why I added a supplement. He hasn't lost condition but come winter they do get 2 feeds a day - I guess the yard did this as a preventative for the time of year?
Sorry for the ramble. If anything's unclear then I apologise!