Tucking Up

J

jo1992

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Hi

Before I start - I've called the vet to come and look at my horse next week, just looking to see if anyones had a similar experience with their horse.
My girl has always been a good doer when I did not much with her, however last year I tried to bring her on a bit more - take her hunting & begin some xc training so we could event.
Something went wrong, and she became very tucked up and unsound. Vet & physio looked her over, couldn't figure out what was wrong. She had multiple blood tests done (only 1 came back saying she tied up), bone scan and biopsy - everything was clean and the vet advised me I had a healthy, sound horse and that the initial problem may just have been severe muscle strain.
I slowly brought her back into work, and she seemed to be getting better but ALWAYS tucks up. Initially it was just after going anywhere in the trailer, but now it's even from just been lightly schooled.
She has tied up once since, and I have her on a supplement to try and prevent it happening again (as well as doing all the exercise bits).
Since last year she lost a lot of weight, and had muscle atrophy in her hind - all associated with azoturia. She is pumped with food and I am still unable to get any muscle developed on her bum again - I am doing hill work, poles, transitions and nothing seems to happen!
I'm thinking its an emotional problem, and despite being really quiet in the stable maybe that's how she displays her stress? Really not sure what to make of it all, but considering turning her away and just hacking her and doing very light work with her.
Has anyone got a similar problem, any advice etc?
Thanks!
 
jo1992 said:
Hi

Before I start - I've called the vet to come and look at my horse next week, just looking to see if anyones had a similar experience with their horse.
My girl has always been a good doer when I did not much with her, however last year I tried to bring her on a bit more - take her hunting & begin some xc training so we could event.
Something went wrong, and she became very tucked up and unsound. Vet & physio looked her over, couldn't figure out what was wrong. She had multiple blood tests done (only 1 came back saying she tied up), bone scan and biopsy - everything was clean and the vet advised me I had a healthy, sound horse and that the initial problem may just have been severe muscle strain.
I slowly brought her back into work, and she seemed to be getting better but ALWAYS tucks up. Initially it was just after going anywhere in the trailer, but now it's even from just been lightly schooled.
She has tied up once since, and I have her on a supplement to try and prevent it happening again (as well as doing all the exercise bits).
Since last year she lost a lot of weight, and had muscle atrophy in her hind - all associated with azoturia. She is pumped with food and I am still unable to get any muscle developed on her bum again - I am doing hill work, poles, transitions and nothing seems to happen!
I'm thinking its an emotional problem, and despite being really quiet in the stable maybe that's how she displays her stress? Really not sure what to make of it all, but considering turning her away and just hacking her and doing very light work with her.
Has anyone got a similar problem, any advice etc?
Thanks!
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Hi

My mare is prone to tying up (azoturia), and on the advice of my vet, I cut out all cereals from her diet. She is fed adlib haylage (need to check protein & sugar levels if possible), and has a high oil based cereal free, hard feed diet. Oil provides plenty of calories, so should help with weight issues. I also feed a daily salt/electrolyte supplement, again on advice from my vet.

My mare has as much turnout as possible, and if I ever work her straight from being stabled, I allow 15mins of walking before I even think about starting work, to ensure that all her muscles are warm. I also make sure she is physically warm, and will use a quarter sheet even on fairly mild days.

Touch wood, she hasn't tied up since starting on this regime.

Wish you luck.
 
Hi - yep I do all these things, but it's not so much tying up that's the problem now, she's just getting tucked up all the time!
 
What are you feeding her, in terms of hard feed, supplements and forage? What is her stabling and turnout regime. Does she only tuck up after work and/or travelling and does she go off her forage in those circumstances?
 
She's has ERS pellets & micronised linseed, and constant haylage. She's out at night and in during the day. Previously she only tended to tuck up after hard work or being on the trailer but recently she gets tucked up after just schooling. When she has tied up she has gone off her food, but otherwise she eats what she's given.
It's a really odd situation, I've spoken to loads of people and everyone is fairly baffled! Followed all the advice the vet gives me too !
 
Does sound rather baffling, but would be interesting to give her a week off and see if she tucks up then. And then a week of very undemanding hacking and observe to see if it recurs. Would give you a chance to see if it is work related or not?
 
My sons horse is a bit like this and I have just had him blood tested. I have found that supplementing him with ulcer calm has also really helped as has micronised linseed.
 
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