strange horse, any ideas?

[Seahorse]

I have owned Axel since he was a yearling and he's 8 this year. I bought him from his breeder who was the manager of a very well know Arabian Stud in Sussex.
He is a very grumpy horse who basically doesn't like being touched, all the while nobody is near him he looks happy and stands with his ears forward and neighs at me whenever he sees me if he's tied up on the yard and I'm mucking out for example.
He has his own space and the other day we were laughing as he was fine until you got a certain distance away then as soon as you took 1 step forward his ears went back and he pulled a face, then as soon as you took a step back he looked happy again!
Anyway today he was neighing and whickering at me, so I walked up to him, when I got into his space his ears went back but he was still whickering!! Strange horse....

 

[Mari]

My horse is exactly the same! I bred him & looking back this behaviour started with a gastric ulcer. Unfortunately it took about 2 yrs to discover & treat the ulcer & by that time the behaviour was established.

 

[madthing2spyda]

Hi Mari, If you dont mind me asking ?? how did you find out that he had a gastric ulcer and what was the treatment please, I ask because my granddaughter has a pony which does the same as you have mentioned.

 

[Seahorse]

funnily enough I have always suspected he has a gastric ulcer or something. I filled in an online thing which said he was at high risk of having one.
A few years ago he got quite aggressive when he was touched and the vet diagnosed a torn muscle fascia in his back that was treated with steroids and local anaesthetic injections. It turned him into a different horse and he isn't that aggressive any more just generally grumpy.
At the time I got him some Coligone which did work but I think I got a bit sidetracked by the back problem and I probably should get him examined for ulcers this time.
I also have stopped giving him garlic as that is supposed to irritate their stomachs.

Many thanks xx