Update on moody mare...

[RWG]

I had a upset rant last week about my cob mare who had suddenly become moody and nappy in the school having previously been very willing. Saddle, back teeth and legs all checked by physio and vet and apparently fine. I got some good tips on here to give her a break from schooling (she's only 7 and had previously only ever hunted) and spend some time hacking and also to consider she might have come in season.

So I got on her to hack out, she was fine girthing, mounting etc, put my legs on to ask her to move forwards off the yard and she replicated the behaviour from the school, kicking out, bucking, snorting. One of the yard instructors offered to get on her and got the exact same behaviour, we came to the conclusion that something really wasnt right with her, it seemed more than nappy behaviour, especially given how lovely and well mannered she'd been before. I called for the vet to come out the next day, her vitals and back were fine, she trotted up 100% sound and to be honest, he made me feel a bit daft about getting him out, but offered to do blood tests to look for any signs of inflammation or hormonal imbalance. This was last Friday and unfortunately yesterday afternoon I got a call from the yard to say that she was showing signs of colic. Called the vet immediately, thankfully I got a different and more understanding vet this time! He found a mild impaction, treated her with nasogastric fluids and painkillers and she seems fine this morning thank goodness. The vet agreed with my feeling that this was too much of a coincidence, the sudden change in behaviour followed by a bout of colic, so he wants to rule out ulcers (the symptoms would all fit) and is scoping her this Friday. We're also still waiting for the blood results.

Feeling torn in that I want all the tests to be negative, but then if the bloods and/or scoping shows up something, then at least I can get her appropriately treated and get my lovely, happy horse back. At least now we have a vet who is taking me seriously and seems to be on a personal mission to get to the bottom of this for us!

 

[Jenna1406]

Didnt want to read and run this time as I read your previous post.

Glad that you are finally getting somewhere with the vets. Hope you get your happy horse back.

 

[RWG]

Thank you, Friday cant come fast enough

 

[Annagain]

Hope you get some answers and find something treatable.

 

[Sukistokes2]

I am very glad that your vet is now listening , IMHO that feeling owners get that something is wrong is rarely wrong. Although at times it's difficult to pinpoint or to convince others.....lol. Wether or not it's ulcers I think that if you say something is not right, something is not right and in time it will show itself. My horse was wrong in the school last Sunday, my instructor was not convinced, like yours he then played up with his other rider so I called out the Chiro vet and he has a tight back. You are the number one expert on your horse! I hope it goes well and there are some answers for you and your mare.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Well done for listening to your horse. I hope that she's back to her old self soon.

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

This may seem odd, but ask your vet about crab flies.
My dear CF displayed terrible behaviour, bucking and kicking late in October last year, i had to do emergency dismount as was so dangerous and by the time the vet arrived he had got into a right stress and was colicking.
Vet did usual drugs for the colic but also injected for crab flies too.

Within a day he was back to his usual self, ride 4 days later and back to usual self, worth asking just to rule them out xx

 

[RWG]

Thanks everyone and I'll certainly mention crab flies to my vet - that's a new one for me!

 

[Firefly9410]

What are crab flies please?

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

What are crab flies please?

They are found in odd locations in the UK, often where there are deer. Also France etc.
Never had them in our area till last year (not that I know of!)
They scuttle sideways like crabs - and their favourite place is around or under the tail area where they bite. Only way to get rid is by crushing them or by Dectomax or similar injection.

Sometimes horses dont react to several, some will go ape if they have just the one (as my cob did). It can be a worse reaction when you are rugging & then remove the rug as this is when the crab fly are more exposed to light & cooler temps & they move to a darker place, thus setting the horse off in a frenzy.
If I had not have seen it for my own eyes, I honestly would not have believed it as sent a pretty sensible boy to a manic bronking eejit, who then was so worried (I think) that he frazzled himself into colic & a melt down.
I had tacked him up & thought he was a bit antsy (which he can be if going out with friends) but when I hopped on, he went all out bronko

Worth googling for photos as I'm useless with putting pics up.

 

[Fransurrey]

Your post did make me think hind gut acidosis. My mare showed signs and I too first thought hormones. When I restricted her grazing and fed hay plus haylage balancer in her usual feed of straw chaff, linseed and brewer's yeast, she calmed down. I took her out for the first time in weeks yesterday and my old sweet girlie is back. I imagine because I gave them free rein of the fields in winter it was too much for her. Maybe the same for you?

 

[misskk88]

Having just been through a really nasty impaction colic with my mare, I am sending my well wishes. I have no experience of ulcers personally, but I can lend a listening ear about colic at least! Sounds like you are doing all that you can to uncover what is going on, and I am sure your horse is lucky to have such an understanding owner.

What I learnt though is that as their owner, we know our horses, and we probably pick up on things that otherwise could just be regarded as behavioural, or 'hormones' if you have a mare. Trust your instinct. Whilst a big vets bill is never nice it is far better to be safe than sorry and have a happy and healthy horse!

I am hoping she is feeling better soon. Also hope you get to the bottom of her behaviour and find the cause.

 

[RWG]

Your post did make me think hind gut acidosis. My mare showed signs and I too first thought hormones. When I restricted her grazing and fed hay plus haylage balancer in her usual feed of straw chaff, linseed and brewer's yeast, she calmed down. I took her out for the first time in weeks yesterday and my old sweet girlie is back. I imagine because I gave them free rein of the fields in winter it was too much for her. Maybe the same for you?

That's really interesting as I had the exact opposite situation with my mare! Just shows how a change in their routine may affect them, so thanks for sharing. She'd previously lived out 24/7, so when she came to me she had to adapt to being stabled overnight and getting haylage. Our fields have been pretty much ruined for the past two months, so she's only been getting a few hours per day turn out. The vet thinks that the change might possibly have been a trigger for the ulcers/digestive issues? It was just unfortunate that I got her when we were coming into winter so the change was more sudden than i'd have liked. Thankfully she's out all day again now that spring is finally here, so hopefully that, teamed with ulcer treatment (if required) will turn things around for us.

 

[RWG]

Having just been through a really nasty impaction colic with my mare, I am sending my well wishes. I have no experience of ulcers personally, but I can lend a listening ear about colic at least! Sounds like you are doing all that you can to uncover what is going on, and I am sure your horse is lucky to have such an understanding owner.

What I learnt though is that as their owner, we know our horses, and we probably pick up on things that otherwise could just be regarded as behavioural, or 'hormones' if you have a mare. Trust your instinct. Whilst a big vets bill is never nice it is far better to be safe than sorry and have a happy and healthy horse!

I am hoping she is feeling better soon. Also hope you get to the bottom of her behaviour and find the cause.

Im really sorry to hear you've been through such an awful time, Inca's colic was only mild and it petrified me, so I can only imagine how stressful it must have been for you both. I do hope she' on her way to a full recovery. Thanks for the positive words, im really hoping for some answers on Friday

 

[Firefly9410]

This may seem odd, but ask your vet about crab flies.
My dear CF displayed terrible behaviour, bucking and kicking late in October last year, i had to do emergency dismount as was so dangerous and by the time the vet arrived he had got into a right stress and was colicking.
Vet did usual drugs for the colic but also injected for crab flies too.

Within a day he was back to his usual self, ride 4 days later and back to usual self, worth asking just to rule them out xx

Thanks for explaining. I think I have heard of these in the New Forest. They were described to me as horse flies that crawled up the bum and native ponies were immune to them but visiting ponies not. Sorry for hijacking your thread OP! I hope your horse is ok soon.

Edit: Duh! I quoted the wrong post. Should have quoted The Fuzzy Furries next one.