Sullen 4 yr old, advice please!

The only thing I would add is to be careful with Bute, because it can aggravate ulcers. Although obviously you're vet is the one to ask about this.

Hope you get to the bottom of this.
 
OK - I wasn't going to say anything, but, maybe there is a link here.
We had a Fleetwater Opposition gelding to sell for a friend. I have known him from birth. He is the nicest, sweetest horse ever, and coped with being backed very well - initially.
Then, one day, out of the blue he went ballistic - bronc'ed and bolted after the rider had got on!!!!
From then on, he was 'touchy' and grumpy (ears back) about being girthed, and acted 'cold-backed' sometimes at the start of being ridden.

EVERYTHING was checked and double checked and nothing was found.

This was all 3 years before we got him to sell, and although this behaviour continued with us and new owners (and everything was checked and re-checked again and again),he went on to do well at PN.

However, he has not progressed beyond that, although that is not necessarily connected to this. Very wierd!!!
Is it maybe just temperament/behavioural???
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I tried a Barry Swain saddle on my namesake, at Barry Swain's in Walsall, since they were highly recommended. She couldn't canter in it to save her life and she just felt awful. No obvious reason why but needless to say I didn't buy one. Your mare may have changed shape slightly and be having the same problem.
 
The coloured in my sig used to go mad when saddled - I eventually discovered he objected to having a saddle 'put' on his back 9not dropped or put down heavily), rather than ever so gently lowered. Possibly due to it previously being thrown on but i'm not sure . Several months of gently sliding rugs and saddles on he stopped. Never a physical problem, just asensitive soul!
 
I've also got an Opposition gelding who I've had since he was 3. He lived out all year round in his 3rd year whilst being backed and did light hacking. In his 4th year I only rode out in the fields for short periods, but he was stabled to be tacked and in at nights in winter. He showed the same behaviour when being tacked up and I exhausted all the suggestions made (vet/teeth/saddle/back). I decided then to work him without a rider on for a few weeks - walking in long lines/lungeing/loose schooling to see if it improved. No difference.
I then decided it was maybe just his way and carried on as normal. He's still a bit grumpy to tack in stable but not to be tacked on yard. He went through a stage where he put his ears back and backed off each time I put leg on and took light contact so I got someone on the ground to help get him forward at this point for a few weeks. He hasnt' looked back since and is lovely to ride now - only shows the odd behaviour if someone different rides him and you can see him working himself up to be a bit of a git.
I do wonder if its maybe something to do with the Opposition genes? Makes them great fun though trying to work them out!
p.s. he's 7 now and I've never enjoyed a horse as much as him.
 
I doubt a poo sample would give you any great insite for ulcers. For that you either gastroscope or treat with gastroguard.

Personally if it were me I would do a weeks bute trial. Improvement and you can assume some pain somewhere and investigate further, worsening then you get a gastroscope done. No change is a bit more tricky! But at least you have tried a cheap option first.

I found my horse a bit girthy, this has improved quite a lot with a professional choice girth. Do you have anyone local to you that you could borrow one from?
Otherwise she might just be having a bit of a grow, a dodgy season or a low grade virus that can make the really sensitive ones quite mardy.
 
Hmm since you mention the reoccuring back problems and the fact she's a compact mare I'd be talking to the vet and considering back xrays just so you can acutally see whats going on in there.
But then I am a worry wart.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hmm since you mention the reoccuring back problems and the fact she's a compact mare I'd be talking to the vet and considering back xrays just so you can acutally see whats going on in there.
But then I am a worry wart.

[/ QUOTE ]

yes, that's on the list as well, if it comes to it. thankyou, i'm a worry wart too...!
 
I have a barry swain saddle. It's a lovely saddle BUT the gullet at the front isn't wide enough and the top of the panels therefore pinch on the withers.

I had 4 (apparently very good) saddlers out to look but none picked it up. It was only after having a sports massage woman, who found sore patches on her withers and asked to see the saddle, that it was discovered. Maybe that's a problem with yore mare, esp if she's has broad withers.

I also have a pansy gelding who became terribly grumpy to take up as he hated his girth. Saddle he was totally happy with but he HATES his hair being tugged in any ways and became really narky about being girthed. I swapped to a smooth padded leather girth and he's improved dramatically.
 
Have you got something you could massage under/around her girth area with? My 5 yr old has had back/saddle/sacroiliac problems since 8 weeks after backing- injury, then 4 saddles later we find one she gets on with. She has become (understandably) very touchy about having a saddle put on/girthed up/mounted (She can be a stroppy moo, but when they are stroppy in these situations they are telling you something clearly).

Anyway, I massage her with a human body massage thing (£4 from Lloyds pharmacy-vibrates and infa red heat) around her girth as reccommended by Mctimothy Chiro (we also have had ours out lots and lots!!!!) it relaxes the muscles around that area and makes girthing up much more comfortable.
I would however be looking into saddle being the issue eventually.. Ive had a Barnsby club (adjustable), Barsby GP, Treeless, and now I have a Strada and she is finally a happy bunny!!
Let us know how she gets on!
 
I think if you want to pin point/eliminate the problem as her saddle you need to do a 'control test' to eliminate that possibility. Can you hack her out or ride in an arena on her bareback?... this would let you know if it was the saddle or not, and is alot cheaper than getting out saddle fitters back peeps etc. might be worth a shot.

Other thought was that some horses just don't like being tacked up in their box, it's their terratory and this 'invasion' as they see it makes them mardy. I would try putting your tack all ready at a tie up point, lead her to it and see if her expression changes then, it may just be a 'this is my house get out' vibe from her....
 
sorry, nothing constructive to add, just find it interesting that my opposition boy can also be a bit grumpy to tack up. he's usually absolutely fine but on occasion will put his ears back and move around. he is also much better when tied up outside, rather then in his stable
 
Hi, few thoughts - what about a hyperextension injury from hooning around and sliding in the field perhaps pulling her tricep etc or belly - I've had that with a pony that started to be grumpy to be tacked up and slight buckeroo potential.

Re gastic ulceration glasgow vet school had an interesting report in the EVJ this year; naturally occuring ulcers seem to be a risk to all horses from a mixed background (age, breed, excerise, no exercise, at grass etc etc).

One of mine is dreadful in the summer to girth up round the belly and she is a big flirt type (would flirt with the fence is no geldings to torment), okay in the winter!

How's her backend on the lunge?
 
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