Very Reactive Pony

FlyingCircus

FlyingCircus

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Any thoughts on next steps for pony in question would be greatly appreciated! :)

Connemara
Very poor, ribby, obvious hips
Scabby/itchy everywhere
Dull coat
VERY reactive to everything (on ground and ridden, not currently safe to ride)
Seems to not have any problems eating - is getting chaff, fast fibre and conditioning mix twice a day, ad lib hayledge and is on grass 24/7


My steps now he is home are:
- Worm
- Teeth done
- Scope
- Revisit diet
...pray??
 
Tiddlypom said:
What’s his previous history? Age? Is he new to you?
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He's rising 6, and looks like a 2 year old in terms of both muscle and build! Looks awful :(

He has a dubious history 😂 Came from Ireland in 2024 to a riding school, where he was then sold on from very cheaply because he "wouldn't suit" once they started backing him. He was v sharp then. Sold to a lady who was nervous of him. Then sold to me in Jan 2025. I tried to get in contact with riding school owner and they've read my messages but left me on read, which feels suspicious...! I have been in contact with his breeder but nothing of note to mention there.

He had a vetting and then basic MOT just after he came, Feb sort of time with teeth etc. No reasons at that point highlighted for being sharp, so I just put it down to quirky Connie. He then had until Oct of in hand work in arena and out hacking, and desensitizing.

He has been away for backing and coming back he just looks awful! Not for lack of feeding or care, so definitely something else going on. He came home early as want to get to bottom of whatever is going on.
 
I would wonder about PSSM, particularly PSSM2; reacting to something in feed; ulcers (but from what?); there's lots of things it could be. Definitely vet and if he was mine in the mean time I'd strip diet back to just grass nuts, linseed and hay.
 
After worming delousing etc id start little in hand walks five minutes at first to build trust in you. Horse treats help immensely I find as well as talking in a slow calm voice. Create a bond and trust and go very slowly. Best wishes you should achieve a wonderful partnership and have a great horse in time.
 
I’d get bloods for liver to be honest. If that’s been damaged as foal, it would explain the resistance to gain weight, poor coat despite conditioning feeds, and sharp behaviour etc.
Liver support nutrition supplements then help rebuild, plus gut support which helps the body do the best with nutrition to put it on the body rather than just poop it out.
The amount of ads on donedeal for youngstock in fields with obvious ragwort infestation shocks me, so that’s an angle to consider. My young foal literally sampled everything he could find as a foal/colt whereas older horses tend to keep clear of the poisonous plants due to being bitter.
 
Oo, PSSM isn't something I'd considered, though is something I looked into for my Welsh mare. Think I'm member of some of the FB groups so I'll have a looksee if I can see any mention of his breeding!

His liver also not something I considered, I guess this would show up in standard bloods?

He looked alright with me, always abit weedy but not the hat rack he's trying to resemble now. The yard he went to he was in pretty similar management, other than the ridden work. So I do wonder if it's stress that has caused it, or whatever it is causing stress! So wish they could talk 🫠
 
Best check with vet which bloods were tested.

The backing schooling could have exacerbated any underlying health issues, due to the stress aspect: different routine/work/learning load, even if done at the correct pace.
It’s interesting you said he’s always been a bit ribby prone, and then the backing has created worse condition, despite good nutritious foods, so gut health and liver health I’d zoom in on as underlying…maybe ulcers? Worms as mentioned too.

All that good food should and does normally make a difference so absorption of nutrients organs of stomach, gut and liver would be worth closer assessment.
As a rising 6 he should be filling out evenly.
I worried for my gelding when younger but by the time 4 hit, the growth was nice and even. He was prone to dropping weight more easily in winter as he was just so energetic, but food adjustment quickly re-balanced losses. The fact that the good nutrition you’re giving yours doesn’t seem to make difference is the worrying aspect.
Blood panel specifically for liver health and scoping for ulcers can rule-out some of the major causes.
 
I’d say if he’s not had full bloods done in last couple of months then I’d run them.

If nothing flags (I’d also be suspicious of liver or gut issue (possibly involving protein loss due to weight and muscle loss combined with poor coat condition) then purely off what some other forum members have experienced in terms of odd symptoms would be tempted to test vitamin E levels as well.

Would agree with worm counting and if pulling blood then the red worm test may also be worth doing (ask vet on that) plus whatever else they think is sensible as a starting point.

A young, supposedly healthy horse should not be losing significant amounts of weight to the point they look concerning on ad-lib haylage & grass unless in hard work.

Would probably stick on a good quality winter hay balancer whilst trying to get to bottom of it although may be of limited benefit if there is an absorption issue going on
 
My hypersensitive young Connemara has liver issues, liver fluke, probable worm damage, low vitamin E, low copper and low sodium levels and iron overload. He shows signs of nerve issues (reactivity to touch), and resistance to training. So based on my own experience i would run bloods for those, and scope for ulcers.

I’m in the waiting phase to see what happens as the liver and blood levels settle, but also sending off hair to test for all the muscle myopathy variants. I may also out of curiosity run a hair sample for minerals. I know they can be a bit controversial but it would be an interesting study vs the bloods I run routinely.
 
BBP2 said:
My hypersensitive young Connemara has liver issues, liver fluke, probable worm damage, low vitamin E, low copper and low sodium levels and iron overload. He shows signs of nerve issues (reactivity to touch), and resistance to training. So based on my own experience i would run bloods for those, and scope for ulcers.

I’m in the waiting phase to see what happens as the liver and blood levels settle, but also sending off hair to test for all the muscle myopathy variants. I may also out of curiosity run a hair sample for minerals. I know they can be a bit controversial but it would be an interesting study vs the bloods I run routinely.
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Dont waste your money on the PSSM type 2 test. Its been proven to be wildly inaccurate sadly :(
 
I'm Dun said:
Dont waste your money on the PSSM type 2 test. Its been proven to be wildly inaccurate sadly :(
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I’ve always been that way minded, so I’m sort of annoyed at myself for ignoring my general instincts and have paid for it already. I think it prays a bit on those of us desperate for answers for complex horses. BBP I went for a muscle biopsy, but that was back before these tests were largely available.
 
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