Something off

[P0lly]

Something off
My son has a little competition pony and we’ve had some problems recently with stopping and not going forward. We have gone back to basics with training wise but I have a feeling something is off.
He seemed a little stiff or rather slow coming out of the stable the other day. He’s also slowing down after landing over a fence not just needing more leg going into a fence. And wanting to go into canter rather than going forwards onto the bridle in trot.
He’s had a new saddle which was professionally fitted and checked (this started before the new saddle). He’s been checked over by the vet. He hasn’t got heat in his feet or any obvious signs of anything up with his feet.
No different in the stable and no changes
But something feels off with him. He’s only 9 and been with us 10 months.
I’m at a loss as to what’s up

 

[eggs]

What checks did the vet do?

 

[P0lly]

What checks did the vet do?

Almost a vetting feet flexion back teeth eyes bloods .. omitted to mention had his teeth checked recently too

 

[eggs]

When one of my youngsters kept hopping into canter rather than trot the vet thought it was likely to be a soft tissue injury/ligament issue. Turns out he had bone chips in his front fetlocks.

I would be tempted to go back to the vet and get a full lameness work up with feet x-rays and suspensory scans.

Is the problem persisting with a different rider?

 

[dorsetladette]

Almost a vetting feet flexion back teeth eyes bloods .. omitted to mention had his teeth checked recently too

Was going to suggest teeth

 

[WandaMare]

Any possibility of low grade laminitis? It can be there with no heat or other visible signs. I had one who even the vet thought wasn't laminitic but after taking off the grass for a few days, it turned out that it was, very low grade laminitis.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

The canter preference, stopping, and stiffness coming out of the stable would have me thinking arthritis in the hocks.

But of course there is always 1001 other things it could be!

 

[P0lly]

Any possibility of low grade laminitis? It can be there with no heat or other visible signs. I had one who even the vet thought wasn't laminitic but after taking off the grass for a few days, it turned out that it was, very low grade laminitis.

I have been wondering about laminitis as well but had dismissed it because of no pulse or heat and him not being the typical type but I think it is worth looking into

 

[P0lly]

The canter preference, stopping, and stiffness coming out of the stable would have me thinking arthritis in the hocks.

But of course there is always 1001 other things it could be!

 

[P0lly]

I think I am going to speak to the vet and look to getting some xrays

 

[IrishMilo]

Mine presented exactly like this, didn't want to take the bit and bunny hopped/bucked/went into canter instead of giving any impulsion. Negative to a flexion test, saddle, teeth, feet UTD. Never would think to look at him but he turned out to have bone spavin in the hocks - he's 6. Go with your gut.

 

[Gloi]

If you treat him as if it is mild laminitis by taking him off grass and feeding soaked hay you will soon notice a difference if that is the case.

 

[SEL]

Hocks with mine when she was just 6 and had barely done anything. Vet was convinced they weren't the problem but her whole expression changed when they were injected.

 

[P0lly]

Thank you for all the replies. He is being kept off grass for now. We have low sugar hay anyway as his LR pony is still with us and gets fat just looking at Haylage and another who is better on low sugar hay. Also have the vet coming back out to explore the possibility of arthritis and hock problems

 

[canteron]

Thoughts before doing the expensive stuff - firstly treat as a laminitic and see what happens. Secondly, (with vet permission) do a bute test for a few days and see what happens. Thirdly you could get a third party to look at the sons riding and just check there isn’t a habit you haven’t spotted (for example slightly jabbing in mouth when asking to go forward).
It is so easy to get drawn into huge bills without testing the basics first ?

 

[CJoe]

how is his breathing????

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would get a loss of performance work up done if there is no change being kept of the grass.

 

[Goldenstar]

I think you need a loss of performance work up as well, I would start with looking for PSD it presents just like that sometimes .

 

[P0lly]

His breathing is fine although whenever he starts work and he has been like this since the day we had him he will cough twice always twice and only when he goes into trot

how is his breathing????