Sluggish TB-Temperament or something up?

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PercyMum

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Evening All

After some thoughts as to the post title really. I currently have a lovely TB on LWVTB from a trainer. He is a delight in all ways, but there are a few little things that are very slightly concerning. I am a little neurotic about horses ATM after a series of disasters!

For a start, he is a total slug. He is very mannerly but he requires loads of leg to get going and seems more than happy to just amble about. I have never met a TB this chilled so am just a bit concerned! Also, he gets a bit fussy around his tummy in the afternoons, and is also very grumpy in the afternoon. He doesn't like his bits being touched, although from the state of his scars there he looks like he has been gelded with a pair of bricks!!

He's just turned 5 and is currently long-reining, schooling and hacking. He is on night turnout and gets 1 scoop of Hi-Fi and a scoop of nuts twice a day. He is by Cozzene in case that has any bearing on his state of mind!?

Any thoughts? I did think maybe ulcers but he isn't cranky to ride, although a bit grouchy about girthing. Also he has a good amount of condition. I'm stumped!!:cool:
 
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Don't rule out ulcers because the horse is in good condition I have several here who turned out to have ulcers and they arrived looking magnificent kept condition so easily.
The fussy bit around his tummy and the girthing would make me suspect them them and the fact that most TB's out of training have them .
However some TB's are just very very laid back.
I would investigate the ulcer thing either gastro scoping , or a gastro guard trial if the vet will agree to it or try a supplement there's one called Egusin that has had proper blind trial .
 
Goldenstar said:
Don't rule out ulcers because the horse is in good condition I have several here who turned out to have ulcers and they arrived looking magnificent kept condition so easily.
The fussy bit around his tummy and the girthing would make me suspect them them and the fact that most TB's out of training have them .
However some TB's are just very very laid back.
I would investigate the ulcer thing either gastro scoping , or a gastro guard trial if the vet will agree to it or try a supplement there's one called Egusin that has had proper blind trial .
Click to expand...

That's interesting- thanks. I had a KWPN with ulcers and he lost loads of cognition, was stressy and a git to ride. I guess my new boy might be more laid back and maybe more "used" to having ulcers if h has had them from an early age?

I have never heard of Egusin. Has it got good reviews?
 
PercyMum said:
That's interesting- thanks. I had a KWPN with ulcers and he lost loads of cognition, was stressy and a git to ride. I guess my new boy might be more laid back and maybe more "used" to having ulcers if h has had them from an early age?

I have never heard of Egusin. Has it got good reviews?
Click to expand...

Yes it has and it appears to help with hind gut ulcers too.
 
Why not ask the trainer what he's like normally ? That would make more sense than trying to guess if he's quiet or if something is wrong .....has he actually raced ?
 
I would second what Goldenstar is saying however not all tbs are lively, my dad had a pointer who was so sluggish at home and quiet my dad thought there was something wrong with him, he was very bitey when saddled and rugged so we thought ulcers it was not. Her used to joke he would never race.

He was a fairly mannerly hunter needed to be asked to move on, when you took him to the races was a raving maniac a horror to get round the parade ring, but if you had never taken to a racetrack you would never had known.He was a front runner strong puller.

My dad called him mother hen at home we still have him in his twenties now still a slug to get up the road still bites you when rugging and saddling and bloody hard.
Not all tbs are forward and lively or not all the time, have all the checks done but if not anything sinister I would not worry, I have a couple of friends with very laid back tbs, we have several horses and the most truly unpredictable and dangerous is a coloured show type cob, he has done some very scary things and none of my dad's point to pointers are anywhere near as flighty or silly.
 
I own a very sluggish TB. He's an ex-racehorse and blimey I need spurs to get him going.
Its just his temperament in general. He is the perfect gentleman.

Mine is very sensitive around his tummy too, and very "Girth shy" as I call it. We've had the vet out to check. Ulcers, Kissing Spine etc. Nothing.

I'm not too sure what to suggest for the possible ulcer problem. I would just say call the vet if it is causing concern.
Sorry if I wasn't much help just wanted you to know you're not the only one with a sluggish TB!
 
I've worked with point to pointers and hunt horses some of with which were ex racehorses and owned several ex racehorses and find a lot of them are sluggish until you start doing more faster work and until you reach a certain level of fitness. One of mine was a 5 / 6 furlong sprinter which had placed in listed races and he needed a lot of leg to get on with the job.
 
Thanks all. I'm going to get the vet out to double check the possible ulcers. He is a total gent to hack, school and jump and I love him to bits - I'm just paranoid!! He was quite a good racer. The place I got him from say that's just the way he is. I can't ask his actual trainer as he is in Dubai! I should just enjoy him I think and chill out. He has his first show on Sat so will see what happens then. Will also try that Equgon and see what happens!
 
My TB is a big fat hairy slug in general. Hacking out (especially at the beginning) you really have to keep your leg on or else he'll just stop and check out the scenery :rolleyes:

BUT we've recently been taking him to a few inhand shows - he stands there outside the ring good as gold ... leading him around lol Im sure he thinks hes back in the parade ring ... absolute horror prancing/head strong ... then comes back out and zzzzzzzz slug time again :cool:
 
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