What are the ‘teenage’ years for a little cob mare?!

[canteron]

My rising 7yo has become nappy, and has just decided (almost) to refuse to work in the school but is very chirpy on a hack.
In the school she won’t trot on the left rein (her worse side) unless there is a jump or poles or something involved, in which case she moves just fine.

I am convinced it is mainly behavioural as she has had an easy Summer. Is nearly 7 too old to have teenage moments?! She is a 14.2hh cob mare!




(Back, teeth, saddle etc all up to date)

 

[MuddyMonster]

Before writing it off as behavioural I'd highly recommend having her checked by a physiotherapist or body worker, particularly as she is still good to hack.

 

[canteron]

Before writing it off as behavioural I'd highly recommend having her checked by a physiotherapist or body worker, particularly as she is still good to hack.

This pony is seen every 6 weeks - swopping between a physio and back massage and never has much wrong! I genuinely think it’s mainly because she is slightly spoilt also the left rein definitely is more difficult so she doesn’t see the point!!
Am having the riding instructor ride her today to see what she feel, but the question is … is nearly 7 still a teenager in horse terms!

 

[Glitter's fun]

Can't remember now where I lifted this from but it might help!
A horse ages roughly 3 times faster than a human.
So a 90 year old human is a 30 year old horse. Both very old, usually arthritic, don’t have many of their original teeth left, and very likely retired and enjoying the finer things in life.
A 25 year old horse is a 75 year old human. Still works so far.
A 20 year old horse is a 60 year old human. At that point where the body doesn’t work like it use to but the brain is all there and wants to be active.
A 13 year old horse is a 39 year old human. Middle aged, prime of their life where their knowledge and physical ability are about equal.
So let’s get down to the babies and work our way up.
A 3 year old horse is a 9 year old child. A child. Not ready for work by a long stretch. We have moved past sending children down the mines.
A 4 year old horse is a 12 year old child. Often will do odd jobs for pocket money, maybe a paper round, mowing lawns etc. Basically a 4 yo horse can start a bit of light work to earn their keep.
A 5 year old horse is a 15 year old teenager. Think they know it all, cocky, and ready to up their work and responsibilities. Still quite weak and not fully developed so shouldn’t be at their physical limit but can start building strength.
A 6 year old horse is an 18 year old human. An adult. Ready to work hard.

 

[canteron]

Thanks Goldie’s mum - will tell my mare it’s time to work hard ? not sure she will like it though ?

 

[maya2008]

7 year olds are way past the teenage stage, and body workers/chiros/physios are not vets. Please get a vet out.

I have seen too many horses declared sound by the above equine professionals when they definitely were not so. Many do not even see the horse move… For some reason, many such ‘professionals’ keep treating horses without telling the owner to get a vet out - even with glaringly uneven muscle development, very strange movement, inability to carry a rider comfortably and many other problems. Getting the vet sooner rather than later is actually less expensive in the long-run as often problems are more easily treatable if detected early.

 

[JackFrost]

I think cobs can still be babies long after other breeds, I've known a few that were still growing at that age and didn't finish till 8 or 9.
6 year old (still) cob mare - perfectly possible it's teenage strop IMO.

 

[tda]

At 7yr old a cob can still be growing.
Also reluctance in the arena on a surface would make me think soft tissue in the foot/lower leg

 

[Glitter's fun]

Knew I half remembered something!
Don't know how many you have. Is this the same one that was struggling with bucking into canter?
Cob cantering help | Horse and Hound Forum

 

[dorsetladette]

I'd suggest its pain/discomfort related. My liveries pony was refusing fences and putting in dirty stops whilst jumping in the school (unheard of) but out hacking and cross country he would storm round. If the pony enjoys what they are doing they can suppress the pain easier than if they aren't enjoying it. So doing something they don't enjoy whilst is pain is going to make them (or anyone) object to doing it.

liveries pony is now totally happy again and this is managed by having his saddle checked/adjusted every 12 weeks and the physio roughly the same time. He's a sensitive little sole.

 

[Pippity]

That's a common age for PSSM to start to show. It may be worth doing the hair test with Animal Genetics to see.

 

[Abacus]

7 year olds are way past the teenage stage, and body workers/chiros/physios are not vets. Please get a vet out.

I have seen too many horses declared sound by the above equine professionals when they definitely were not so. Many do not even see the horse move… For some reason, many such ‘professionals’ keep treating horses without telling the owner to get a vet out - even with glaringly uneven muscle development, very strange movement, inability to carry a rider comfortably and many other problems. Getting the vet sooner rather than later is actually less expensive in the long-run as often problems are more easily treatable if detected early.

I've seen this work both ways around. Horses that a vet can't find anything wrong with (or misdiagnose) only to be better understood by a physio / osteopath. Of course of the professions the vets are the more extensively qualified and the first place to go, but the others have a place and just sometimes do a better job, especially those that get to know a particular horse.

 

[Dexter]

cant canter, napping and wont go forwards and a cob? Thats an enormous red flag for PSSM. Mine was rising 7 when symptoms started.

 

[Trouper]

Don't know if you can post a video on here when your instructor rides to show the left rein problem but there are some very knowledgeable folk here who can spot things really well. However, I am also in the "get a vet out" camp and my choice would be Tom Beech for something as puzzling as this.

 

[SusieT]

Get a vet to examine her - not a physio or massage worker (often not actually professional people)
One sided and reluctance to work is nearly always pain related.

 

[canteron]

Ok, so just had a brilliant lesson with my lovely kind instructor and got her to work forward and freely and straight after a few adjustments to my technique.

However, when my OH, who she loves and who spends a lot of time making a fuss of her, came out to watch, she reverted to a nappy crooked horse as she would prefer to be made a fuss by him than work

So thanks to those of you who took the time to reply, I think we are pretty happy it’s stroppy mare syndrome and she can work quite beautifully when I am riding her correctly.

 

[I don’t like mondays]

cant canter, napping and wont go forwards and a cob? Thats an enormous red flag for PSSM. Mine was rising 7 when symptoms started.

Did you get yours tested with a hair sample? I’ve posted today about my pony (cob) and I’m thinking she could have PSSM

 

[Pippity]

Did you get yours tested with a hair sample? I’ve posted today about my pony (cob) and I’m thinking she could have PSSM

I did, and she came back n/P1. The only real management changes I've made are adding shedloads of vitamin E to her feed and keeping her a little bit warmer, and it's made an enormous difference.

 

[I don’t like mondays]

I did, and she came back n/P1. The only real management changes I've made are adding shedloads of vitamin E to her feed and keeping her a little bit warmer, and it's made an enormous difference.

That’s good to hear it’s helped. How did you know how much vit E to add? I’m going to mention Pssm to the vet but I’ve heard many don’t understand (sorry to hijack your original thread OP)

 

[Pippity]

That’s good to hear it’s helped. How did you know how much vit E to add? I’m going to mention Pssm to the vet but I’ve heard many don’t understand (sorry to hijack your original thread OP)

Looking at posts on here! I started her on 8000iu, which the vet thought would be too much, but she has her vit E levels tested regularly, and that puts her right in the middle of where she should be.