Magicmillbrook
Well-Known Member
Sorry - bit of a long one.
My daughter got a new horse in March, he is a 5yo 3/4 ID. She got him after loosing her horse of a life time last Nov. At the time we were looking nothing was 'floating her boat'. I was very pregnant and at one point I did get a bit stern and say to her, 'look here, you are never going to be able to find another Almera so just accept a new horse is going to be different'.
Anyhoo we found Bill, passed 5 stage vetting, vet noted lack of muscle on back end but said it would improve with correct work. Came home, all was well. A few weeks in the farrier asked if vetting had picked up he was a shiverer (right hind) - no!
Also having terrible problems with head shaking and canter.
Had dentist, saddler and physio out. Teeth a little sharp, saddler and physio agreed he was very immature for his age, needed to go back a stage. Physio felt he had been tied in and down and not been able to use himself properly, also she was not convinced he is a true shiverer. She recommended treating him like a 3 or 4 year old, walking, trotting, poles, hacking and only try cantering when he is working better at the slower paces.
Add to this he would turn himself inside out hacking alone, fall over when he spooked and would normally require D to get off at least 3 or 4 times to lead him as he would plant. Also he scours terribly in anticipation of hacking or at anything slightly different/exciting.
Fast forward 8 months. His back end looks much better now, walking and trot are OK. He will canter but still very difficult on right rein, uses head as a pendulum, holds his breath, grunts, sometimes will just go up and down instead of forward, usually swinging his neck at the same time.
Will hack out now, fairly good in traffic, still very spooky but doesn't fall over, never relaxes and doesn't seem to enjoy it at all - not fun for either of them. Has had D off several times over the summer spooking, last time ending in broken ribs and chasing him several miles across a ploughed field.
She tried him over a couple of tiny x poles just for variety. He seems to enjoy it but just drags his back end through.
A fortnight ago I got a new cob and it seems to have set Bill back months and made him very anxious. Last night D schooled him and said he was almost as bad as when she first got him.
Have spoken to vet, he took a stool sample to test for protein and blood which came back negative, so prob not ulcers. No lameness that we or instructor can detect under saddle, no back pain. Vet doesn't seem to think there is an issue from seeing him trot up.
Had a long heart to heart with D last night. Should we be expecting to see more improvement in 8 months or is he still likely to find canter hard work, are we in this for a longer haul. I have read that ID types may not mature until 8? Should we get vet to come out again and see him under saddle - thinking hock or SI issues? D is worried that it could be her lack of riding capability - after she broke her ribs she couldn't get him to canter on the right rein at all and her instructor noted she was collapsing to the right and he was a little better when she remedied it. She is also loosing her confidence a little now. D loves him dearly as he is so nice to handle and a very cuddly horse, but is getting to the point where she almost dreads riding him. Some days he will be great, others he will be a butt head.
I feel guilty as my words to her may have pushed her into buying the wrong horse. She wanted a young maxi cob that she could hack all day on and do general RC activities.
Words of wisdom please. Has anyone had similar problems? Should I recommend patience, get vet out again or encourage her to look for a horse she can get out on and enjoy? I did suggest to her if she spotted something that she liked the look of we could consider finding a loan home for Bill (I wouldn't sell him as he could have shivers).
I noticed mince pies are in the shops so a lovely warm one with cream to anyone who got to the end of this essay!
My daughter got a new horse in March, he is a 5yo 3/4 ID. She got him after loosing her horse of a life time last Nov. At the time we were looking nothing was 'floating her boat'. I was very pregnant and at one point I did get a bit stern and say to her, 'look here, you are never going to be able to find another Almera so just accept a new horse is going to be different'.
Anyhoo we found Bill, passed 5 stage vetting, vet noted lack of muscle on back end but said it would improve with correct work. Came home, all was well. A few weeks in the farrier asked if vetting had picked up he was a shiverer (right hind) - no!
Also having terrible problems with head shaking and canter.
Had dentist, saddler and physio out. Teeth a little sharp, saddler and physio agreed he was very immature for his age, needed to go back a stage. Physio felt he had been tied in and down and not been able to use himself properly, also she was not convinced he is a true shiverer. She recommended treating him like a 3 or 4 year old, walking, trotting, poles, hacking and only try cantering when he is working better at the slower paces.
Add to this he would turn himself inside out hacking alone, fall over when he spooked and would normally require D to get off at least 3 or 4 times to lead him as he would plant. Also he scours terribly in anticipation of hacking or at anything slightly different/exciting.
Fast forward 8 months. His back end looks much better now, walking and trot are OK. He will canter but still very difficult on right rein, uses head as a pendulum, holds his breath, grunts, sometimes will just go up and down instead of forward, usually swinging his neck at the same time.
Will hack out now, fairly good in traffic, still very spooky but doesn't fall over, never relaxes and doesn't seem to enjoy it at all - not fun for either of them. Has had D off several times over the summer spooking, last time ending in broken ribs and chasing him several miles across a ploughed field.
She tried him over a couple of tiny x poles just for variety. He seems to enjoy it but just drags his back end through.
A fortnight ago I got a new cob and it seems to have set Bill back months and made him very anxious. Last night D schooled him and said he was almost as bad as when she first got him.
Have spoken to vet, he took a stool sample to test for protein and blood which came back negative, so prob not ulcers. No lameness that we or instructor can detect under saddle, no back pain. Vet doesn't seem to think there is an issue from seeing him trot up.
Had a long heart to heart with D last night. Should we be expecting to see more improvement in 8 months or is he still likely to find canter hard work, are we in this for a longer haul. I have read that ID types may not mature until 8? Should we get vet to come out again and see him under saddle - thinking hock or SI issues? D is worried that it could be her lack of riding capability - after she broke her ribs she couldn't get him to canter on the right rein at all and her instructor noted she was collapsing to the right and he was a little better when she remedied it. She is also loosing her confidence a little now. D loves him dearly as he is so nice to handle and a very cuddly horse, but is getting to the point where she almost dreads riding him. Some days he will be great, others he will be a butt head.
I feel guilty as my words to her may have pushed her into buying the wrong horse. She wanted a young maxi cob that she could hack all day on and do general RC activities.
Words of wisdom please. Has anyone had similar problems? Should I recommend patience, get vet out again or encourage her to look for a horse she can get out on and enjoy? I did suggest to her if she spotted something that she liked the look of we could consider finding a loan home for Bill (I wouldn't sell him as he could have shivers).
I noticed mince pies are in the shops so a lovely warm one with cream to anyone who got to the end of this essay!
S deserves some good times.