Hormonal Filly
Well-Known Member
I've posted about him a few days ago but thought it was worth posting a new spread in case anyone wanted to follow, sorry if its just another annoying post but someone may be in the same situation in the future.
Talk about bad luck.. then again I've never had a problem with these horses for 5 years, just suddenly its all happened at once. My other 10yr old gelding was not quite right before Christmas and diagnosed with neck arthritis in November 2018 after lots of investigating which I kept updating on the forum for anyone interested and had lots of good advice.
My other gelding, a 6yr old welsh, has suddenly started to feel not quite 100%. Hes very grumpy in the morning once stabled, his loading is the worst its been and he keeps stopping down hill to rest hind legs alot as well as him struggling to keep a left canter let alone 20m circle. Mind he has always rested legs, ever since a 3yr old much more than the average horse (did he really have the problem 4 years ago?!) and was vet checked/worked up to say he was 100% sound and it would improve with work and balance, not to worry.
The vet visited this week and done his teeth, they were sharp so thats now sorted. He noticed his stance is 'poor' he stands with his front and hind legs under himself and hes very narrow on his legs compared to his body - the physio also noticed this as he couldn't stand square the entire session 3 weeks ago.. she pointed out the pressure would be uneven on his hocks. Apparently common in the breed, he isn't fat but a typical welsh shape of little legs and big body, bred into them. He wasn't lame and the vet said he had very 'floaty' paces and nice movement so nothing noticeable, no heat etc.
Vet recommended for a week or so I try him on bute and off bute to see how he goes. To determined if its lack of balance and misbehavior loading or a pain related issue. I'm not the type to ride a horse in pain and couldn't bare it myself so will get it fixed no matter what it is. I noticed when picking out his front shoes he was unable to stand comfortably behind on Tuesday, kept shifting weight on his hinds, didn't snatch his leg back just looked uncomfortable to even have his feet picked out. I then rode him on no bute. He was a little tense but by the end of the 25 minutes schooling he gave some nice work, he is always more 'stiff?' at the start of getting on him. He did canter well both reins, left was much weaker. When we trotted to stand he couldn't stand square, well he was unable too every time and either resting a leg or putting a leg 'outwards' I asked for him to stand square but he couldn't. Instructors have always said 'oh make him stand square, hes being lazy!' Teeth being done have made a slight difference as he wasn't grinding or pushing his teeth down but he didn't feel quite 100% still.
Started giving him bute (thats a chore on its own!) hes been on on 2 bute a day for 2 days now. Rode him today and picked his feet up before, he stood square and didn't shift any weight behind, To ride, he was so much happier, he was off the leg, he gave me a cracking collected, medium and extended trot while being in a gorgeous outline without any effort or me 'asking' for it. He felt like he could go out and win some novice tests right now, like a class dressage horse.. a bit assumption to make but it really was that feeling I got, he was floating. Trot to stand he stood square, only resting a leg once. He also bended much nicer and managed to canter a 20m circle without trying to stop. He was completely concentrated on his work, not looking around or trying to mess about. I finished off with a hack around the woods and he was so excited, he did stop going downhill and rest a leg once but not sure if he was watching the horses in the distance. I trotted through the woodland and he pulled me (himself!) into 2 small logs which he jumped lovely. When we got back he stood SQUARE outside his stable nicely, haven't seen him do that before.
I'm going to ring the vet and book him in for a lameness work up or some tests in a couple of weeks (when my vets next free). I'll keep him on bute 2 a day for now to keep him active and might see what hes like to load on bute on the weekend. Will update once the vet comes again but any ideas or anyone whos experienced the same please feel free to share.
Picture of the little nutty welsh.
Talk about bad luck.. then again I've never had a problem with these horses for 5 years, just suddenly its all happened at once. My other 10yr old gelding was not quite right before Christmas and diagnosed with neck arthritis in November 2018 after lots of investigating which I kept updating on the forum for anyone interested and had lots of good advice.
My other gelding, a 6yr old welsh, has suddenly started to feel not quite 100%. Hes very grumpy in the morning once stabled, his loading is the worst its been and he keeps stopping down hill to rest hind legs alot as well as him struggling to keep a left canter let alone 20m circle. Mind he has always rested legs, ever since a 3yr old much more than the average horse (did he really have the problem 4 years ago?!) and was vet checked/worked up to say he was 100% sound and it would improve with work and balance, not to worry.
The vet visited this week and done his teeth, they were sharp so thats now sorted. He noticed his stance is 'poor' he stands with his front and hind legs under himself and hes very narrow on his legs compared to his body - the physio also noticed this as he couldn't stand square the entire session 3 weeks ago.. she pointed out the pressure would be uneven on his hocks. Apparently common in the breed, he isn't fat but a typical welsh shape of little legs and big body, bred into them. He wasn't lame and the vet said he had very 'floaty' paces and nice movement so nothing noticeable, no heat etc.
Vet recommended for a week or so I try him on bute and off bute to see how he goes. To determined if its lack of balance and misbehavior loading or a pain related issue. I'm not the type to ride a horse in pain and couldn't bare it myself so will get it fixed no matter what it is. I noticed when picking out his front shoes he was unable to stand comfortably behind on Tuesday, kept shifting weight on his hinds, didn't snatch his leg back just looked uncomfortable to even have his feet picked out. I then rode him on no bute. He was a little tense but by the end of the 25 minutes schooling he gave some nice work, he is always more 'stiff?' at the start of getting on him. He did canter well both reins, left was much weaker. When we trotted to stand he couldn't stand square, well he was unable too every time and either resting a leg or putting a leg 'outwards' I asked for him to stand square but he couldn't. Instructors have always said 'oh make him stand square, hes being lazy!' Teeth being done have made a slight difference as he wasn't grinding or pushing his teeth down but he didn't feel quite 100% still.
Started giving him bute (thats a chore on its own!) hes been on on 2 bute a day for 2 days now. Rode him today and picked his feet up before, he stood square and didn't shift any weight behind, To ride, he was so much happier, he was off the leg, he gave me a cracking collected, medium and extended trot while being in a gorgeous outline without any effort or me 'asking' for it. He felt like he could go out and win some novice tests right now, like a class dressage horse.. a bit assumption to make but it really was that feeling I got, he was floating. Trot to stand he stood square, only resting a leg once. He also bended much nicer and managed to canter a 20m circle without trying to stop. He was completely concentrated on his work, not looking around or trying to mess about. I finished off with a hack around the woods and he was so excited, he did stop going downhill and rest a leg once but not sure if he was watching the horses in the distance. I trotted through the woodland and he pulled me (himself!) into 2 small logs which he jumped lovely. When we got back he stood SQUARE outside his stable nicely, haven't seen him do that before.
I'm going to ring the vet and book him in for a lameness work up or some tests in a couple of weeks (when my vets next free). I'll keep him on bute 2 a day for now to keep him active and might see what hes like to load on bute on the weekend. Will update once the vet comes again but any ideas or anyone whos experienced the same please feel free to share.
Picture of the little nutty welsh.
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