Tucking up - help please!

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I was just wondering what could cause a horse to tuck up?

There is a young mare on our yard that has been sightly tucked up for a few days... the owner called the vet out the first time and he thought it could be a mild case of colic, but since then (Sunday) she has been tucked up every morning.

It eases off as she goes out, but when trotted up it looked as though she was slightly unlevel on the side she is most tucked up on, and when walked in a circle was not crossing over her back legs on one side.

Thanks,

Rebecca x
 
It certainly could be down to discomfort of some sort - let's face it it usually is isn't it?? Does she have a temperature? Is she eating and drinking properly? Is she depressed at all?

Is she just plain cold???
 
It could be a problem with her back which stiffens up when she is in then eases off when she is out. This could make her unlevel and stop her stepping under properly. She could get her back checked to see.
 
Not cold, she has been having a few rugs on to rule it out. She is eating and drinking fine. We have auto waterers, so she put a bucket in last night to monitor her and everything normal.

And no temperature.
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Surely the vet would of examined for injury? I first called vet out weeks ago because of Dermot being tucked up weeks later and this...
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Though his didn't sound like this.
 
The vet just assumed colic, didn't see horse walking out etc. just administered buscopan (sp?) and then said she should be ok. But obviously she is still tucked up and just looks generally uncomfortable.
 
Yes, I do the worming plan for the yard and she was wormed at the very beginning of May just before we went on summer turnout with Equimax.

It is just so strange because it has come on all of a sudden, and is worse in the morning than at night. Yet she is ok to ride and was jumping on Monday with the pony club and did very well.
 
Just a thought, could it be hormonal?

She has been in season last week, and was squirting A LOT at the geldings next door to her???
 
I would just keep an eye on her, if it was something worring the Vet should pick up or other things will show. Is she her self? Maybe if it carries on its worth getting second opinion or blood test. Dermot wasn't uneven or lame, the vet checked his back and to date it's still like it is.
 
Thanks... I will pass all of this onto the mare's owner.

She was very quiet on Sunday, but like I say she jumped on Monday and was very strong so I am guessing she was more full of herself then. Also last night she was flying around the field when the owner brought my mare in (it won't be caught sometimes) and looked bright enough this morning when she trotted her up.

But there is definitely the tucking up, and it seems to spasm almost because it suddenly gets worse then becomes less so just as quickly.
 
If it helps at all I have just had the vet out to my boy and he was pretty tucked up. He has pulled something in his pelvis and I have been instructed to turn him out on a small area to keep him moving. So perhaps this horse has pain somewhere?
 
The only time baron has ever tucked up was after the first and only fun ride we did. He got very hot, wouldnt drink and we did about 15miles including jumps and he got quite excited. When we got home he was stabled until the following morning (this is when they had to be in at night). So I think he was rather stiff and a little dehydrated. I gave him loads of sloppy food, wet hay and put him on the walker for a while. He went out the following day and was ok after that.

Sorry, not much help but thought Id share my experience
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how do you know when a horse is tucked up ?? What does it mean ? wanted to ask for ages !!!

Is it that it literally looks like they are holding their breath and the back of there stomach is high and held as such

Soz, trying to learn.
 
They hold their tummy up and you can usually see the muscle line running along their side. This particular mare looks as though she starts from the stifle and has the appearance of a greyhound when she does it (in that she pulls it up so much she is very defined at the stifle.
 
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