Really worried - sorry really long

H

Hovis_and_SidsMum

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Had an awful day yesterday. Sid came up from the fields with 4 big lumps down his neck - on inspection they turned out to be some really nasty bites. Poor boy.
Then I noticed what looks like a kick mark on his right leg. It looked only superficial, had scabbed over nicely and didn't seem to bother him when I ran my hand around his leg and around the cut.
To be safe we trotted him up and down before riding him and all seemed fine - no sign of lameness at all.
Hubby then went for his lesson in the school. All was fine until about 3/4 of an hour in when he was cantering. All of a sudden on one of the corners Sid appeared to stumble, tried to recover his balance for a few steps and then went down heavily onto his knees. Hubby leapt off and Sid got straight up and ambled off. Instructor and I got to him and he seemed fine - almost a case of "whats all the fuss?". His legs etc all seemed ok.
Hubby got back on after a few minutes and Sid was fine all the remainder of the lesson (hubby only trotted him then walked him off).
Any ideas on what could have caused this? I feel sick even thinking about it - it was awful to watch. Sid and Hubbys better rein is the left and this happened on the right rein. H said he felt Sid glance at something to the outside of the menage then sharply bring his head back round just before he stumbled.
We're ringing the back person today, the farrier was due tomorrow anyway so will check his feet etc. The dentist is coming next week also.
Am really worried - just a freak accident or something more serious?
 
Um . . . his neck hurts? Horse use their necks for balance and his was almost certainly compromised - either stiff or sore or both - as a result of whatever trauma cause the lumps.

I'm not saying that for sure (I don't go for internet diagnosis on the whole) but there are two possible scenerios if that's what it is. One is he just tripped normally but was unable to save himself early enough. Another is that when he turned his head it hurt in the same way that your neck does when you have a crick in it. So long as you are still or move it slowly and carefully it's bearable but if you move quickly or in the wrong way it can feel like being stabbed.

I have a theory that quite a few "behavioural" problems have this root - the horse turns its head instictively towards a noise or motion and then reacts to the sharp pain. Eventually, if it went on for long enough and/or hurt enough, the horse might simply learn to avoid that motion but in the short term reaction is going to triumph.

Given the amount of trauma you described I would get the horse checked out but I don't think you should panic yet over one incident, especially on a day where you alread knew the horse wasn't 100%. If it happens again then it's probably something to look into more thoroughly but for now just monitor the situation and get him checked if you suspect he may have sustained an injury.
 
Thanks for all this. I'm sure I'm worrying over nothing and my instructor certainly felt I was being an over protective mum.
The lumps on his neck were just really nasty bites so we treated them, covered him in fly repellant and put his fly rug on. He hates it and seemed more peed off with that than falling.
I've never seen a horse go down like that though and it was horrible to see.
 
Just spoke to the YO - they've checked him over this morning and he's fine. Other than being grumpy about wearing his fly rug.
I can't help worry about him but hopefully that will be the first and last time.
 
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