Riding after ulcers

[Ceriann]

My lovely little charity mare who took to riding (recently backed) brilliantly, safe, fun and willing (did wonders for my shattered confidence) is now recovering from ulcers (grade 1, 2 and 3). We think cause was being sent away to be backed and fact she was kept in a lot (lovely place and well cared for but too big a change). She's scoped clear and she's had 10 weeks off (light lunging in last 2/3 weeks)

Back on she's still very sensitive to the leg - we are walk only at the minute and just working round the fields. She's better with someone on the ground with her and once she gets going she settles a bit but mounting and first initial steps are harder (I keep a light leg on until she steps forward, use my voice and lots of praise on a forward move). She's very sweet so her napping is v polite and she doesn't feel tense just a bit resistant. Is this normal or should I be worried (she had a full lameness work up both times at vets too)? It's been suggested (not by vet) that I turn her away for a bit longer but I'm loathe to turn away with what feels like a napping problem (albeit understood napping problem).

 

[be positive]

I think she is probably just in need of some time, she is still going to be very green, has been in pain and had a lot going on in her life so it is not surprising she is lacking some confidence and a little reluctant to move forward, I wouldn't think of it as napping at this stage it is more of her being unsure, in herself and probably you as well, in the circumstances I would say it is perfectly normal and given a few weeks of quiet riding will probably be forgotten about soon enough.

I would accept that you need to go back a step or two and concentrate on building her confidence, if that means having support on the ground for a while then do so, no reason to turn away just take baby steps that she is comfortable with but obviously don't let her tendency to be reluctant to move the first few strides become an issue that does develop into napping.

 

[booandellie]

My friend's mare was treated for ulcers last year though she still shows signs that they bother her from little signs like not being happy to tack up, nipping her sides to full on rearing. Like your mare what triggered hers was being sent away to be backed and schooling is particularly stressful for her. If she is still very sensitive to the leg personally i would not ride for a bit longer, i would do ground work, long reining and taking her for walks inhand. She sounds like a very sweet mare and often they suffer the most because they don't shout loud enough before people take notice that something hurts. Reassess in another month and take things slow. Are you following a maintenance regime to keep the ulcers under control as this can make alot of difference. I hope this helps, ulcers are not easy to deal with- good luck

 

[GirlFriday]

Sometimes I look at a thread and think I have nothing else to add. Be positive's advice sounds like an excellent place to start.

 

[Ceriann]

H

I think she is probably just in need of some time, she is still going to be very green, has been in pain and had a lot going on in her life so it is not surprising she is lacking some confidence and a little reluctant to move forward, I wouldn't think of it as napping at this stage it is more of her being unsure, in herself and probably you as well, in the circumstances I would say it is perfectly normal and given a few weeks of quiet riding will probably be forgotten about soon enough.

I would accept that you need to go back a step or two and concentrate on building her confidence, if that means having support on the ground for a while then do so, no reason to turn away just take baby steps that she is comfortable with but obviously don't let her tendency to be reluctant to move the first few strides become an issue that does develop into napping.

Thank you - this is where I am, I'm doing 5/10 minutes of quiet walking around our fields, which she seems to enjoy once we get past the first few minutes. Once away from yard leg on is fine (I've always had to be quite light on leg with her as she's nice and forward) it's the stand to walk leg on that she's struggling with. If we've had some good forward walk (with ears forward) I come off so we end on a positive.

 

[Ceriann]

My friend's mare was treated for ulcers last year though she still shows signs that they bother her from little signs like not being happy to tack up, nipping her sides to full on rearing. Like your mare what triggered hers was being sent away to be backed and schooling is particularly stressful for her. If she is still very sensitive to the leg personally i would not ride for a bit longer, i would do ground work, long reining and taking her for walks inhand. She sounds like a very sweet mare and often they suffer the most because they don't shout loud enough before people take notice that something hurts. Reassess in another month and take things slow. Are you following a maintenance regime to keep the ulcers under control as this can make alot of difference. I hope this helps, ulcers are not easy to deal with- good luck

She's happy to be saddled and shows no girthiness (she did) - she does look at my foot when I put leg on first but after that does settle - though we are only walking. I will lunge in school but I've taken school out of the picture completely for now, she's far more forward taking a walk round the fields. She is very sweet and showed no signs until one day she just wouldn't work at all - I got the vet out straight away. She is definitely brighter in herself, better on lunge etc. She's still on a weaning off dose of peptizole and gets a v small feed of alfalfa and sugar free beet before riding (with corn oil). Does your friend do anything else? At home she's out but she's happy to come in for a fuss etc.

 

[be positive]

H
Thank you - this is where I am, I'm doing 5/10 minutes of quiet walking around our fields, which she seems to enjoy once we get past the first few minutes. Once away from yard leg on is fine (I've always had to be quite light on leg with her as she's nice and forward) it's the stand to walk leg on that she's struggling with. If we've had some good forward walk (with ears forward) I come off so we end on a positive.

I would just continue as you are, make sure you praise her when she does walk forward, even if it takes a few moments longer than you want, she probably needs reassurance from you that she is being good moving on when asked, sometimes the sensitive ones will learn to stand and almost forget that they do need to move again, be pleased she stands quietly for mounting, give her a pat then pick up the reins and ask her to move, so the two are clearly distinct, use the voice as well so she can really sense you want her to go when asked.

 

[Ceriann]

Sometimes I look at a thread and think I have nothing else to add. Be positive's advice sounds like an excellent place to start.

Thanks - just wanted to test what I was doing really. We've really bonded so don't want to take advantage of her good nature. She may be green etc but she's so safe she's done wonders for my confidence - it's time for me to do the same for her.

 

[Ceriann]

I would just continue as you are, make sure you praise her when she does walk forward, even if it takes a few moments longer than you want, she probably needs reassurance from you that she is being good moving on when asked, sometimes the sensitive ones will learn to stand and almost forget that they do need to move again, be pleased she stands quietly for mounting, give her a pat then pick up the reins and ask her to move, so the two are clearly distinct, use the voice as well so she can really sense you want her to go when asked.

That is her all over. You get on and she'll stand like a rock. I'll really think about the distinction - she gets a rub on mount, little leg and voice encouragement. I've spent lots of time doing ground work so she knows walk etc. Thank you.

 

[D66]

Will she respond to voice commands or a click? You could then dispense with the leg aid that causes distress, and start using the leg when she's out of the yard.

 

[Ceriann]

Will she respond to voice commands or a click? You could then dispense with the leg aid that causes distress, and start using the leg when she's out of the yard.

She does respond to voice and I use that with the leg (I am v v light) - it's the first steps from the block and walk from stand that are the issue for her. First time on I got someone to sit on her whilst I did the ground work - that was the worst time (she stopped and cow kicked) but she is better and I did 5 minutes on my own with her yesterday and it was only from the block that we had an issue. If she doesn't go I just keep leg on (I don't increase pressure) ask for walk and any step forward gets leg off and a rub/praise.

 

[D66]

Thanks for posting about this Ceriann, Im going through the same thing but my horse wants to go too fast and resists the contact.
Today is the first day of having a newly fitted saddle and riding her after a year off due to ulcers. I liked your idea of "just 5/10 min", so I tacked up and led her up the lane and back. This went well so I hopped on and did the same journey on top. We had plenty of stops for treats and she enjoyed being out and about so hopefully next time she won't be so apprehensive about having the saddle on.

 

[Ceriann]

N

Thanks for posting about this Ceriann, Im going through the same thing but my horse wants to go too fast and resists the contact.
Today is the first day of having a newly fitted saddle and riding her after a year off due to ulcers. I liked your idea of "just 5/10 min", so I tacked up and led her up the lane and back. This went well so I hopped on and did the same journey on top. We had plenty of stops for treats and she enjoyed being out and about so hopefully next time she won't be so apprehensive about having the saddle on.

We do that, except round the field. It's really hard to gauge how much to but I've gone for the very very small steps approach - today we did about 10 minutes, friend riding and me on the floor encouraging. She did brilliantly and she is def better with two. Did you give yours a year out in the field or did the ulcers recur?

Sounds like you had a very positive first ride though and that's the main thing. Be interested to hear how you get on with yours.

 

[D66]

N

We do that, except round the field. It's really hard to gauge how much to but I've gone for the very very small steps approach - today we did about 10 minutes, friend riding and me on the floor encouraging. She did brilliantly and she is def better with two. Did you give yours a year out in the field or did the ulcers recur?

Sounds like you had a very positive first ride though and that's the main thing. Be interested to hear how you get on with yours.

No we treated the ulcers then it was winter so I left her out in the field, the physio thought she was still a bit sore in this spring, although she seemed normal to me, so she had the summer as well. I'm going to try to get her going gently through the winter to see if we can make some progress. She has changed shape enormously (from narrow to medium wide) and her feet have improved since getting rid of the ulcers.

 

[Llee94]

My youngster is just coming back into ridden work after being treated for ulcers. He still hunches when I first get on if I haven't put the back massage pad on or lunged him first but this is getting better. The first few times he did feel slightly explosive if I went to put my leg on but the more we have done the better he has got.
(He has regular physio and the vet has checked him over as well as a lameness workup and back X-rays so we know nothing else is going on to cause this apart from the pain from ulcers)

 

[Ceriann]

My youngster is just coming back into ridden work after being treated for ulcers. He still hunches when I first get on if I haven't put the back massage pad on or lunged him first but this is getting better. The first few times he did feel slightly explosive if I went to put my leg on but the more we have done the better he has got.
(He has regular physio and the vet has checked him over as well as a lameness workup and back X-rays so we know nothing else is going on to cause this apart from the pain from ulcers)

This is good to hear - mine is better each time and we do a little more but keeping it to 3/4 sessions a week at the minute and walk only. I will keep doing this until she's not resistant at all and then we'll ask for more but not before. Could be a long process but not worth risking a recurrence.