Rearing youngster

[ycbm]

I would x ray his neck too, a friend's horse had clear back x rays but an issue in the neck at C5. She was paid out lou for explosive bucking in a 6 year old IDx.

 

[paddy555]

before you do anything (other than stopping trying to ride) I would find someone experienced with big young horses and ask them to handle him. (not ride) does he stand up for them or does he behave.
I think you firstly have to eliminate yourself as being the problem. Is he simply thinking I got away with it once, it worked the next time etc.



Possibly now he is getting bigger, stronger, getting more confident etc he has tested you and the answer that he has to behave hasn't been firm enough.
I think you need the answer to this first. The cost will be minimal whereas the cost of tests will be high.
If he passes all the vet checks you will still be left with the problem.
If someone with experience in this area can handle him now then it may be a decision that he is too much horse for you ATM and he will need to be trained professionally in either the hope he comes back to you idc as a reformed character or alternatively if he is going too be too much he will still be sellable as a lovely riding horse for an experienced rider.
(please don't take the above as being rude about your handling, it's not meant to be)

 

[Landcruiser]

At 4 he's still a baby and he's still growing. The bones in his back won't be fused yet. He'll be building muscle and changing shape too. My guess is this started as a pain response to rider/saddle but has progressed quickly to a learned behaviour - because it works. He ditches the rider, or breaks free of the rider - what's not to like for him? I would have a thorough work up with back and neck as a focus before doing very much else. All handling to be done wearing hat, gloves, and on a long line (I'd use a rope halter rather than a normal one). Just for good measure I'd make very sure he's ok with rope and stuff round his legs ie careful de-spooking - because if he DOES get loose with a longline, ideally you want him to stop, not bugger off and panic and potentially injure/kill himself.
Once the source of the pain is known and hopefully fixed, restart with a good pro, such as those already mentioned or Steve Young. You are already ten grand in OP, but you could have 20 years or more of pleasure from this boy if you can put in some time and investment now, good luck.

 

[rescuearacehorse]

Update
Horse had a full workup today and unfortunately has been diagnosed as a wobbler. He is showing "very obvious clinical signs" of it. I'd not even considered it but every test that was carried out, with the vet's explanations was so obvious.
I asked if the dealer would have known this when he was sold to me 6 months ago and vet said it would be impossible to prove, but a good vetting (not an Irish one!) should have found it. It's likely that as he's grown so much over the past 5 months the issue that was already there, was exacerbated to a point of being very obvious. Apparently it's something they grow into.
Vet offered additional diagnostics of CT scan and xrays but felt it would just confirm the obvious, but cost at least another £3.5k.
It's retirement (age 4) or euthanasia, sadly it will have to be the latter as he's huge and although gorgeous, not safe for the farrier or others that need to handle him. Completely heart breaking.

 

[AmyMay]

Really sad news. I’m so sorry.

 

[Kunoichi73]

Very sorry to hear this.

 

[southerncomfort]

Rotten news. So sorry.

 

[ycbm]

Update
Horse had a full workup today and unfortunately has been diagnosed as a wobbler. He is showing "very obvious clinical signs" of it. I'd not even considered it but every test that was carried out, with the vet's explanations was so obvious.
I asked if the dealer would have known this when he was sold to me 6 months ago and vet said it would be impossible to prove, but a good vetting (not an Irish one!) should have found it. It's likely that as he's grown so much over the past 5 months the issue that was already there, was exacerbated to a point of being very obvious. Apparently it's something they grow into.
Vet offered additional diagnostics of CT scan and xrays but felt it would just confirm the obvious, but cost at least another £3.5k.
It's retirement (age 4) or euthanasia, sadly it will have to be the latter as he's huge and although gorgeous, not safe for the farrier or others that need to handle him. Completely heart breaking.

Well done for getting the horse a diagnosis. On the growing into it issue, I had a 10 year old horse who had been born with the congenital deformation of C3/4 and his problems didn't become obvious until suddenly C4 cracked apart one day and he became very ataxic. So it's possible it wasn't known when your horse was sold. My horse had been 5 stage vetted in Holland at 4.

I'm sorry you didn't have better news, but you are making the right decision. I made the same one. Big horse with a huge bright zest for life but he could have been down and unable to get up at any time. Unthinkable.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

So sorry x

 

[rara007]

Sorry to read this

 

[MereChristmas]

So sorry to read this

 

[Horseysheepy]

So very sorry and thank you for the update.

 

[SEL]

I'm very sorry - having seen a horse deteriorating with wobblers I'd make the same call, but it's very hard xx

 

[poiuytrewq]

Really sorry to read this. Doesn’t it show the importance of listening and getting things checked out.
He’s lucky you did listen. I’d be making the same decision.

 

[Birker2020]

So sorry to hear this. I had to pts a lovely 10yr old gelding with wobblers, he had reared over whilst being brought in from the field and hurt his neck, I suspect he was yanked in the mouth whilst being led in his chifney.

He was pts as he was too badly compromised and dangerous to handle from the point of view of being ataxic.

It completely destroyed me at the time especially as he was misdiagnosed as having EHV for weeks before he was correctly diagnosed. Sadly the original vets portable xray machine gave a false picture, it wasn't until he went for much stronger imaging technology at Philip Leverhulme hospital in Liverpool that it was discovered C4, C6 and C7 from memory. There was only a 17mm gap in the spinal column, and there should have been 52mm. The diagnosis provided a lot of answers, I'd suspected he was a wobbler for sometime as he had a lot of the symptoms like brushing his hind fetlocks together, his outside hind leg swinging wide on a tight circle, weird bunny hopping in canter, not picking up his hind feet correctly.

I am so sorry. Feel free to pm me if you want x

 

[ihatework]

Very sad, but kudos for investigating and making the tough (right) decision.
Horses suck sometimes

 

[nagblagger]

Must admit shocked and sorry to read this update. I feel you are making the best decision for your horse and peoples' safety.
Hug

 

[Lois Lame]

I've just read the whole thread - I had missed it until now, somehow. Very sorry to see the outcome.

 

[Widgeon]

I am so sorry. But well done for doing everything right - none of this is your fault.

 

[TPO]

Sorry that this is the outcome. I hope you can find some comfort in knowing that you listened to your gut, didn't accept the original vet opinion, sought help, and then got him looked at again. That's a lot more than some would do.

Sorry that you're facing this but you're doing him the final kindness. Take care of yourself

 

[maya2008]

So sorry it was nothing fixable. You are 100% doing the right thing. Poor horse and poor you. Lots of sympathy here.

 

[Annagain]

Oh that's sad. I'm so sorry but well done for listening to him when he was telling you there was something wrong.

 

[Tarragon]

I have just read the whole thread. It was a good job that you had the investigation done and got the diagnosis and explanation, but so sorry it is such a hard one to get. You are doing the right thing, though.

 

[eggs]

So sorry to read your update - horses can be real heartbreakers.

I had a lovely mare that I had owned from a foal become suddenly seriously ataxic at 12 and she had to be pts on humane grounds.

 

[Peglo]

I’m so sorry this is the final diagnosis. But well done for figuring it out and doing the right thing.
Your attitude on this thread shows how lucky the horse was to end up with you but it’s so unfair that this is the outcome for you both.

 

[eahotson]

I’m looking for some advice please. I bought a lovely RID 4 yr old in Feb. He’d been broken well and although he was obviously weak, he was safe and well behaved to ride.
Since then we’ve hacked about and I’ve been very easy on him.

About 2 months ago I was hacking out with the children and he reared. He then proceeded to rear on the same ride probably 5 more times. I thought he was excited/fresh/frustrated by flies.

Since then he’s got progressively worse. To explore whether it’s just a ridden issue I’ve walked him out and he’s reared and got away from me, galloping off down the road to the yard.

I took him to the vets and they said they couldn’t find anything wrong with him.

I came off him on the road this week when he went bolt upright when a car passed, then plunged and chucked me on the verge. Black eye and concussion but nothing broken.

Today, I didn’t even get out the gate. He felt like he was going to explode as soon as I got on, and explode he did. I got off him, walked him round for a bit, got on again and up he went.

It’s not small rears, it’s slow, intentional bolt upright and staying up as long as he can.

Honestly, I don’t want to get back on him. I’m brave and will ride most horses, but I’ve got young children and I have the feeling he’s going to hurt me.

I suppose what I’m asking is, what would you do in this situation?

How would I get even move him on to someone else? I don’t want anyone to get hurt. I’m accepting I will lose the £10k I paid for him whatever I do.

I can recommend someone good if you are near merseyside/cheshire.

 

[AmyMay]

I can recommend someone good if you are near merseyside/cheshire.

The horse is being put down. Please read the update.

 

[eahotson]

Update
Horse had a full workup today and unfortunately has been diagnosed as a wobbler. He is showing "very obvious clinical signs" of it. I'd not even considered it but every test that was carried out, with the vet's explanations was so obvious.
I asked if the dealer would have known this when he was sold to me 6 months ago and vet said it would be impossible to prove, but a good vetting (not an Irish one!) should have found it. It's likely that as he's grown so much over the past 5 months the issue that was already there, was exacerbated to a point of being very obvious. Apparently it's something they grow into.
Vet offered additional diagnostics of CT scan and xrays but felt it would just confirm the obvious, but cost at least another £3.5k.
It's retirement (age 4) or euthanasia, sadly it will have to be the latter as he's huge and although gorgeous, not safe for the farrier or others that need to handle him. Completely heart breaking.

Very sorry.Hadn't read that when I made another comment.

 

[eahotson]

The horse is being put down. Please read the update.

Yes sorry I hadn't read that.Very sad but the right thing.

 

[Orangehorse]

Oh gosh that is so sad and I really feel sorry for you and the whole experience. Be thankful that you didn't get injured.

It shows that unusual behaviour usually is a physical issue.