Very Windy Pony!

sychnant

sychnant

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It's been a long road to get my mare to the point she's at. She never seemed entirely comfortable being worked, and got gradually worse to the point that she would bronc when her saddle or surcingle was put on.

The vets suspected kissing spine, so we had her xrayed, no problems there at all.

I suspected ulcers, but as she looked in amazing condition and the only symptom was the broncing, the vets weren't convinced.

I treated her with Nexium for a month and she seemed much better, so I then insisted on a scope which was perfect.

She started on a supplement for her stomach and came back into work, and after 2 months she became unhappy again, although not nearly as bad as before. I started her on a hindgut supplement too, and *touchwood* she seems ok again.

However, trot is her worst pace. She rushes with her head in the air, and needs to do this for 5 minutes or so before she can relax. Once she's done this, she seems to chill out and relax.

Anyway, after all the rambling, when doing her rushy trot, she farts a lot. After 5 minutes, like I say, she relaxes.

Do I just need to keep going, and let the hindgut supplement work? Or is it possible that she needs something more (charcoal? not sure) to help her? Or is there another possibility which I haven't thought of?

Thanks so much if you've bothered to read all this, and I'd be grateful for any suggestions :)
 
OP, sorry, didn't want to read and run, as the saying goes and I'm sorry I'm not experienced enough to offer you any advice or suggestions, just wanted to say I hope you find all the answers and your girl comes right for you soon. Best wishes :)
 
Thankyou chillipup :) I hope she does too, she's such a genuinely sweet horse who has learned to chill and give cuddles since I got her :) She has a home for life whatever, but she does get bored, so it would be great to be able to do more with her!
 
I'm using Thunderbrook's UlsaGon and UlsaX, hadn't thought of fennel and neither of them contain it, I will get some with my next order. Thanks SEL! :)
 
In respect of the head in trot it sounds like you need to make sure she is fully warmed up in walk first before starting to trot her, do some stretches before you start faster work. It might be because she has belly ache due to trapped wind and this is why she raises her head.The gas in her stomach is due to the grass fermenting in the colon, some horses are just more gassy than others. Feeding plenty of forage - good quality hay might help settle it. If she is bloated she will have more gas, this is why some horses might look 'fat' when they come in from the field. Obviously horses can't put on fat overnight, so it is gas that makes them look round. Its good that she is on a hindgut supplement, well done for being proactive. Charcoal would deffo be worth a try.
 
Thanks hopscotch bandit :)

When riding we don't really do much more than walk at the moment, as one of her other many problems is refusal to accept a contact. We've done lots of work on the long lines, and now when asked to halt, she raises her head but then drops it to gentle pressure as soon as she is still. She will flex both ways happily in halt as well, and our turns are becoming circles rather than spins!

I'm now starting to do the same work under saddle, as I feel it's important for her to accept the contact in walk, and halt nicely, before we go up a gear.

She has to lunge to try and keep her weight down, as it turns out now her tummy is sorted she is actually quite a good doer, not the hatrack I brought home :D I think possibly in her previous life she only lunged to get her energy out before a ride, as it's taken a while for her to accept walking on the lunge at all. She will usually now do a few circles in a nice stretchy walk, but then it's like a switch flicks and she just has to go.

Having said that, I lunged her last night with a loosely fitted EquiAmi, and she quickly started to get the hang of bringing her head down a little bit. This in turn meant that her trot was slower and more balanced - head lower, adrenaline lower! She really does run on adrenaline, I don't like to say it but she really is a typical chestnut mare :/ Never really believed the stereotype before I got her, although certainly in her case I'm pretty sure it's due to not really being started properly, rushed, and pain.

Doing my Thunderbrooks order today, so fennel and charcoal will both arrive soon, fingers crossed they will sort out the last of the physical issues and we can really crack on with the mental issues :)
 
We had this with our boy from day 1 as a 3 year old, very windy but rather rank wet farts too! Sorry, TMI! What really worked for us was Hack Up Bespoke, digest which cleared up the wind and projectile poop within days! If we ever run out, he's back to how he used to be within days.
 
Thankyou Louisejane, I'll bear that in mind! She only farts when she starts trotting though, never hear her at any other time, droppings are normal. I do think it's trapped wind rather than anything else, but I will try Hack Up if her current supplements plus fennel don't work :)
 
I've got to say she has really landed on her feet with you Sychnant! You seem to have gone into every avenue to seek out the problems you are encountering with her, fair play to you. I hope you get her sorted, do feedback to us and let us know how you get on with the charcoal.
 
Thanks hopscotch bandit :)

Just in case anyone's interested, a photo of her when she arrived, and a more recent one for comparison :)

Ally%20arrival_zpsbk3b7dur.jpg


Ally_zpsz9saqfhv.jpg
 
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