The Spooky Pony's health update! Spa week! (also in CR)

spookypony

spookypony

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 November 2008
Messages
7,541
Location
Austria
Visit site
As I reported last month, the Spooky Pony was to be blood-tested for metabolic problems, as suggested by a vet visiting the yard, when I expressed my frustration that the pony was continuing to get wider, when most other horses on the yard were already getting narrower---and because we've had such difficulties with LGL this whole summer.

The results came back, and were completely negative (as I suspected): there is no apparent underlying metabolic condition; he's just a fat pony on far too good grass. It's good news, of course, as to not needing meds, but means we'll be continuing to monitor his grazing very closely. Next spring, we'll be fore-armed, after this year's experiences.

He's been having spa-week this week: a mani-pedi on Wednesday (hoof trimmer), a mud bath (self-inflicted, including his left ear), and a masseuse! :)

The masseuse was very helpful in confirming that he generally seems comfortable through his back and saddle area, which means that I can really aggressively go after his reverse-gear-bucking episodes. Good to know I don't need to feel guilty about picking a fight with him, as he's not in pain---just being a pain. :p

Thanks to my work-stress, we've missed the openings of the leagues we were going to do, but no hurry! His work is being ramped up again now, and I hope we'll build up the lost muscle again soon! I'm due to have another lesson in long-reining him soon, which is bound to be exciting: he'd clearly never done it before, and did his usual attempting-to-leave-at-high-speed routine. Thankfully my instructor had the reins, and will continue to have them for a while yet in these sessions. My shoulder's not up to that yet, I think! :o

He's got a big week coming up: endurance on Sunday (unless it gets cancelled!), and his annual children's parade appearance as St Martin's war-horse (I hope he behaves!). :)
 
Good news all round then!
I bet you're really relieved that he needs no medication, as well as being assured that he is not in pain.
Enjoy your endurance ride!
 
Good news about the metabolism. Have you considered getting a saddler out as well as the masseurs? If he doesn't have any underlying back problems (might be worth getting a vet to give him the once-over?) but has been getting fatter it could be that a pinching saddle is causing the bucking?
 
Tickles said:
Good news about the metabolism. Have you considered getting a saddler out as well as the masseurs? If he doesn't have any underlying back problems (might be worth getting a vet to give him the once-over?) but has been getting fatter it could be that a pinching saddle is causing the bucking?
Click to expand...

He's due soon for his saddle check-up, but the massage person did say she wasn't finding any of the tensions she usually sees in horses with saddle problems. I had considered it, but the bucking seems directly related to being smacked on the bum for walking backwards---not really a mystery! :D

I was more concerned that the reversing itself might be pain-related. It's an old and popular evasion of his, usually employed to avoid a particular hacking route, which used to be easily overcome by a little smack on the rear. In the summer, however, it clearly was an indicator of foot pain (accompanied by other symptoms): when he was having problems, he'd engage reverse gear when asked to trot. Naturally, once I understood this, I listened, and stopped riding him then. Presumably as a result, he seems to have concluded that he can get what he wants simply by walking backwards very fast, which is bl**dy annoying!

We had a very long altercation at the beginning of our hack yesterday about this issue, after which he was walking quickly with a great sense of purpose (and no indication of discomfort) for the rest of the way. Today, he was sluggish at the beginning, but no reversing; only a bit of look-I'm-bending-my-neck-really-far-the-way-you-want-to-go-while-continuing-the-way-I-want-to-go, which is reasonably easy to deal with. Maybe he's giving up?
 
Ah, you're way ahead of me :-)

Good luck convincing the Spooky one that the hacking route is in fact his favourite! (I'm sure you can think of lots of things he likes and get one/more associated with that route, espec as the ground gets softer so his feet shouldn't be an issue if that way is usually hard or anything.)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top