Trust your instincts

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EmzT

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My horse has not been going well for around 1 year now. It began with him napping when asked to canter. I was told repeatedly by vets and well meaning spectators that I was not a strong enough rider and he was being stubborn, lazy and taking the p**s. I did not agree with this as my horse is the kindest, most well mannered boy and I had ridden him for 2 years previous without any trouble. He had lost the sparkle in his eye.

Over the year this progressed to him then not wanting to trot, until eventually one day he almost refused to move, threatening to rear. Thank goodness this happened at a lesson and when my rising instructor got on him he done same with her. She was now convinced something was up.

So to cut a long story short, he has been to Troytown for a bone scan and it is his sacroiliac joint giving him trouble. Can't elaborate too much on this as it has just been diagnosed today and I have not spoken at length with vet. Steroid injection apparently is the treatment.

So my point is TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS! My boy has been in pain for over a year now. I knew something was wrong but vets would not listen. I should have shouted louder for him. I feel guilty but hope now that things will improve and I will get my happy boy back.
 
We, as riders, are the first to pick up the feeling that something isn't right but the urge to trust the experts is strong (we feel they should know). Don't beat yourself up about it, you can see a way ahead now & everyone has things they would do differently with hindsight. Hope all goes well for you both.:).
 
Yep, I've had this kind of thing happen on a few occasions. One mare was telling her owner and me something was very wrong but was absolutely fine for strangers (obviously didn't trust them). When we rode her she would nap, run backwards and turn and look at her left side like she had colic. She went to Sue Dyson at AHT who said nothing was wrong as her staff rode her fine. The same thing happened at Rossdales. Our own vet said it must be behavioural. Finally she went to the Royal Veterinary college at hatfield. Same thing again. We kept asking about ulcers, and ll the vets said no as she was eating and pooing fine. Eventually her owner insisted she was scoped, and it WAS ulcers. A course of gastroguard sorted her out. But the owner ended up paying out nearly £5 k for investigations as the insurance would only pay for the first referral and not any second opinions. She had two lots of tildren, two sets of steroid injections into her hocks (even though xrays were clear and she wasn't lame). She had her ovaries scanned, and a full bone scan. And all the time the poor mare was POINTING to where it hurt, to those who she trusted and thought would listen.
 
It's easy to forget that you know your own horse best when bombarded with advice from well-meaning (or not) fellow liveries, YOs, vets and forum people!

My gelding suddenly started behaving oddly a couple of weeks ago. I was convinced there was pain somewhere causing it. I posted on here as wasn't sure where to look first and a lot of people told me I wasn't working him enough and he needed more work. Then I had the chiropractor out and she found he had what we hope is a soft tissue injury on one side of his back towards his shoulders.......
 
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Yeah, no how you feel. Except it was the vets telling me it's all in my head after 3 plus exams. But look it, I can't blame them either. She had a head/neck injury as a foal and another injury when falling on the driveway when she jumped out of her field. She made the jump fine. Fell on slippy asphalt at the trot when she turned a corner. At any rate I'm just leaving her off for the winter and we will see. I've had X-rays and scans and have spent a good deal of money. But I do know she will anticipate things that have hurt in the past. She has never napped or tried to buck me off but she is trying to do things for me and she clearly isn't happy. And to be honest that breaks my heart a little bit.

I hope you have a good outcome with your lad. Troytown is excellent.

Terri
 
Thanks guys, nice to know I'm not the only one who has had trouble. It is so hard to stand up to the experts. Looking forward to getting him home and hopefully make it up to him for being so kind when he was in pain :)
 
Can I make a suggestion that they scan his hind suspensories as SI problems are usually linked and the behaviour your horse has displayed was exactly the same as a mare I had. She had PSD in both hinds and was retired. Don't mean to scare you but I was told at the time that SI injuries occur as a result. This gets identified by the vets and treated but the initial cause (the PSD) goes on and so the SI injury reoccurs. Hope your horse will be ok though x
 
Ilovefoals said:
Can I make a suggestion that they scan his hind suspensories as SI problems are usually linked and the behaviour your horse has displayed was exactly the same as a mare I had. She had PSD in both hinds and was retired. Don't mean to scare you but I was told at the time that SI injuries occur as a result. This gets identified by the vets and treated but the initial cause (the PSD) goes on and so the SI injury reoccurs. Hope your horse will be ok though x
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Whole body was scanned last week and nothing showed up on hind suspensories but he is getting nerve blocks today to check just incase. Thanks for the suggestion. :)
 
Oh I'm glad! That's promising then. Sorry I hope you don't think I was being a know all. It's just it happened to me and spent ages getting the SI right only for it to become damaged again. Hope it all works out x
 
Ilovefoals said:
Oh I'm glad! That's promising then. Sorry I hope you don't think I was being a know all. It's just it happened to me and spent ages getting the SI right only for it to become damaged again. Hope it all works out x
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Dodn't think that at all! Always happy to hear suggestions especially from a well meaning source. Just heard back from vet. Nerve blocks on hind suspensories made no difference at all so hopefully it is definately SI. Getting him home tomorrow. So excited. We have missed him so much!
 
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