Unusual stiffness , tying up?! Grieving?!

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toulouse1

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After a show just over two weeks ago my gelding was abit stiff/short behind the next day, he had a pole down in a class so assumed he had prob give it a knock, he wasn't in pain so when for a short stroll and then left for holiday for just over a week so he wasn't being exercised, I have come back and he's the same, just seems stiff or short behind, lunged him and he's just seems abit depressed, normally loves excersise but he's not forward going at all, asked for a canter to have a look which he normally does on command but nothing, it's been a week since I was back and no improvement
Any ideas? I'm calling the vet tommo for advice, he has a massive vet phobia so reluctant to get him out, I don't really know much about tying up but can this be a mild form as the symptoms seem similar?!
Ps his best best best bud has?just been sadly put down - can horses get depressed?'!
 
I would def get the vet. They can be a bit quiet when they loose a friend but it wouldn't attribute to stiffness imo
 
I'm not sure how you can be sure that he isn't in pain. Stiffness is usually a sign of a fairly painful problem. I would get the vet out, even if the horse isn't keen.
 
Some horses can take the death of a buddy really hard - they do grieve and the stress can also lead to physical problems.

Have a chat with your vet and also about possibilities of hind-gut problems brought on by stress, stiffness behind and not going forwards is one of the signs.
 
toulouse1 said:
Ps his best best best bud has?just been sadly put down - can horses get depressed?'!
Click to expand...

Yes without any shadow of doubt horses get depressed and quite often in a case where horses have been very close for many years with another horse the owners would allow the horse left to 'view' the horses body, so it understands that its friend is gone forever. Horses exhibit fear, pain, happiness, sadness, stress, despair and elation and lots of other emotions the same as we do.

My friends gelding grieved for her mare and quite literally pined away calling out to her every day for weeks and weeks on end.

But like googol said stiffness wouldn't be a symptom of grieving.

The problem with your gelding could be anything from your horse knocking himself in the field or slipping to the onset of arthritis so its best to get the vet to come out to assess as you have already decided. That way a diagnosis will aid a quicker treatment plan and your horse hopefully soon be back to normal.

In the meantime you might like to give him Star of Bethlehem. This is one of Doctor Bach's natural remedies - this ingredient is also in Rescue Remedy and is available on line or from large supermarkets with pharmacies or large pharmacy chains. Few drops on his tongue two or three times a day or in his feeds, or water (not very effective).

Here is a write up about Star of Bethlehem http://www.bachcentre.com/centre/38/starbeth.htm
Here is one for sale on ebay :
http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_o...=star+of+bethlehem+dr+bach&_sacat=0&_from=R40

Hope he is better soon,.
 
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