strange behaiour- ears flat back when ridden

Pharphar!

Pharphar!

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my lad has always been a grumpy so n so, its just his way, and has always hated his girth being done up and his rugs on, but when lead or ridden he was as docile as anything and really quiet and kind!

recently (im talking matter of weeks) he's been extra grumpy. He got to the point where when i asked him to do transitions up to trot or canter he'd pin his ears flat back, stick his head up and tense up. When we get going he calms down but he's become quite spooky in our school too which isnt like him. i've had a physio out and she spent hours with us working on him and getting him supple, said to only lunge for a week then gentle riding. I started riding again yesterday, nothing strenuous but he did the exact same thing again and spooked in the same place!

a few factors to consider, he's been on new grass for 3 weeks now and it was very lush, he gets a handful of feed to put his suppliments in (glucosamine, garlic and salt), a herd has moved into the fiel next to the school and have a habit of starting at us when we ride and there were some jumps stacjing in the trees for a few days while the school was cleared and he spooked at them, but they're now back in the school with him. He's not lame either on soft or hard ground.

Any advice much appreciated!
 
how are his transitions on the lunge?
where did the physio find tension?
i'd get saddle checked first and foremost
if its not that then vet out to check back thoroughly - if nothing then shoulders/pelvis/hocks etc
 
Sounds like he is in pain. I'd get the vet out for a thorough check up paying particular attention to the back and you may want to check for ulcers.
 
My horse is exactly the same at the moment. He is normally grumpy but has been holding his ears flat back when ridden which like your boy is unlike him.

I'e had all checks so can only guess its something to do with eating / having more grass to eat!
 
Check for ulcers, it sounds absolutely typical. If you are not insured, go to Tesco and buy ranitidine £1.38 for 12, own brand. Give him a whole packet split into 2 , 3 or 4 feeds. If he is better after 24-48 hours you have a probably ulcer case. If this happens, post again and people with horses with ulcers will give you some advice. It is very dependant on whether or not you are insured.
 
Sounds just like my boy he had ulcers and also a back problem, I would def get the vet out and get him scoped and his back checked.
 
I had the same with my horse, not so much spooky but not wanting to go forward especially from trot to canter; ears flat back, bucking rearing just not happy. Had him checked out and it was found he has kissing spine. Worth getting him checked by a vet!!

Good luck
 
thanks for all your advice, its very much appreciated. physio did everything on it even magnetic pulse therapy so he had a full work up.

cptrayes- luckily i am sensible and have him insured. I did think 'ulcers' but wanted to see others experiences and thank you for the advice on the tablets i'll def try them tomorrow and see how he goes.

harrie27 - he's been checked for kissing spine previously so know it's not that but thank you.

We have the vet out shortly so hopefully i can get to the bottom of it!
 
I know you have had all the checks to see if saddle fits (but have you had the saddle itself checked? My old horse started doing this it turned out the saddle had a hairline fracture in the tree that pinched when ever I asked for a different transition. Worth a check:confused:
 
Out of interest is he turned out in the arena/school you use ? I only ask as my chap is a joy to hack out on his own or in front but puts his ears back a bit when behind some other horses - he is also fine to lunge and to loose school in my arena but god forbid I ask him to work in it when ridden!! walk is fine but the ears go flat to his head if I ask for trot or canter and he threatens to buck (I ignore this and eventually he settles but is never happy in his work in there ridden) - however, put a few jumps up and his ears come forward again. He has been back/saddle checked etc and there are no problems - he also schools really well in a different arena away from home.

I put his behaviour down to the fact that my school is his territory and really a large play pen as he is turned out with my mare in it when the weather is bad and they sleep/play etc in there.

It may be worth taking yours away from home to a different school to see if you have the same problem

Hope this helps x
 
really? oh wow! im speaking to my physio to get his saddle rechecked by someone she knows so we shall see, ive looked up all the symptoms of ulcers and their causes, i know there's no hard and fast rule but they say to 'cure' them to keep horse on 24hour turn out and regular exercise, well that's what he is on!! so frustrating :(
 
meesha said:
Out of interest is he turned out in the arena/school you use ? I only ask as my chap is a joy to hack out on his own or in front but puts his ears back a bit when behind some other horses - he is also fine to lunge and to loose school in my arena but god forbid I ask him to work in it when ridden!! walk is fine but the ears go flat to his head if I ask for trot or canter and he threatens to buck (I ignore this and eventually he settles but is never happy in his work in there ridden) - however, put a few jumps up and his ears come forward again. He has been back/saddle checked etc and there are no problems - he also schools really well in a different arena away from home.

I put his behaviour down to the fact that my school is his territory and really a large play pen as he is turned out with my mare in it when the weather is bad and they sleep/play etc in there.

It may be worth taking yours away from home to a different school to see if you have the same problem

Hope this helps x
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ooh thank you for the above! im going to investigate ulcer/saddle etc further but tbh some of it may be down to my friendshorse who is alpha male strutting along the fenc-line when we're schooling. he was fine to ride in there til they moved the new herd to the field next door and my boy in alpha in his herd so thinking could be two alphas playing off each other? my friends youngser also has a habit of charging the fence and that herd can mess about and gallop round which is very distracting! my boy, like yours, listens when he's askd to jump as he really enjoys this. i'm thinking of taking him to a dressage clinic justb as a change of scenery to see if that helps him at all
 
Have you considered he might be reacting to the low magnesium levels in the spring grass - can make them behave really strangely.

You can either make your own mix or buy a commercial one.

To treat feed 1 level Tablespoon twice daily of Epsom Salts, Baking Soda, Yeast & Dried Thyme.

1 of these doses needs to be fed about 1½- 2hrs before riding as magnesium is metabolised pretty fast.

As the grass slows then change to feeding it 1½ - 2hrs before riding
 
This post was really invaluable to me. My horse had gone completely nuts under saddle in the last few weeks when turned out to a new field - very similar to Pharphar!'s post. Grumpy horse's ears flat back in transitions, napping and really threatening to the rider - so both terrible and terrifying to ride.

But thanks to all your advice, I did indeed take him to the vets for a scope and they confirmed he had several ulcers but right at the back of the stomach when it funnels into the duodenum - the vet says there could be more but the scope couldn't reach.

So now I'm on 7 days of gastrogard and will ride later this week to see if the ulcers are the cause of his chronic bad behaviour. Or if there's another seat of pain - or if it's simply intolerable bad behaviour!

Either way this thread and everyone's response, has been terrific. When you're worried about your horse this H&H forum has been a great support.

Thanks everyone!
 
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