What could it be? Help

[littlelessbloom]

So my girl was diagnosed with ulcers in January and has been on medication for them. She’s also on Ron Fields supplement.

Anyway, one of the symptoms was bucking into canter, mainly on the left but sometimes the right.

I ran out of Ron Fields last week and couldn’t get any until Wednesday. On Thursday I rode and she bucked into canter on the right rein but not the left. Today I brought her in and gave her a handful of chaff and rode her. Now I think it was around 10 minutes between her having the chaff and me getting on. We had bucking into canter on both reins - there were a few instances of no bucking.

She’s due a saddle fit and her teeth in the next few weeks. But should I just chalk it up to my poor ulcer management and keep on with the Ron Fields and make sure I give her more time between chaff/hay and riding?

 

[Equi]

I would say there is likely more going on than ulcers.

 

[[153312]]

Missing the supplement won't cause bucking - there's nothing in it that will actually cure ulcers. Maybe bring saddle and teeth checks forwards if you can, and get the vet back out for back x rays and ovary scanning.

 

[BSL2]

Wait and have all external checks done ie saddle, teeth, before riding. Then re assess.

 

[littlelessbloom]

Ah okay thanks. The only reason I thought it may be linked to ulcers is because it went away when she was being treated for ulcers, came back when the treatment stopped and then went away again when she went back on treatment. And it’s only come back in the last week. She doesn’t buck when on the lunge at all

 

[milliepops]

Is she still on the ulcer meds? My mare took about 3 months to scope clear, I didn't ride her in that time as she was similar to yours and I thought she was probably quite uncomfortable.

 

[littlelessbloom]

Yes she has got about two weeks left on meds

 

[milliepops]

I'd give her the benefit of the doubt re the ulcers still giving her discomfort then. No harm in doing other checks but that seems the most obvious.

 

[littlelessbloom]

Okay thanks milliepops! I will make sure I keep up with the maintenance and feed him 30 mins before riding and make sure our warm up is good and long

 

[Sossigpoker]

Ulcers are usually caused by pain somewhere in the body so.unless the cause is treated the ulcers won't go away.
I suspect the bucking is caused by the pain although the ulcers won't help. A lameness work up would be the next step -

 

[milliepops]

Depends on how sore the horse is though. My vets agreed we couldn't try a workup until the ulcer related pain was under control. A chat with the vets is definitely warranted tho.

 

[littlelessbloom]

I will say that when she was scoped, the vet said that the ulcers were so, so mild that normally she wouldn’t even pick up on them but due to the symptoms she was displaying, she said to treat as if they were grade 1/2.

Her saddle check is on Wednesday and I really am hoping it’s that as a few years ago, the saddle was just a few mm too narrow and she was bucking into canter.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

If she doesn't buck on the lunge, it sounds as if there is a problem with saddle/back. I would start with a saddle check and probably get a 2nd opinion on the saddle too.Do you know why the ulcers developed in the first place?

 

[LadySam]

Missing the supplement won't cause bucking - there's nothing in it that will actually cure ulcers. Maybe bring saddle and teeth checks forwards if you can, and get the vet back out for back x rays and ovary scanning.

Ovaries were my first thought. Ovary issues are under-diagnosed and often start as ulcer and/or lameness investigations.

 

[littlelessbloom]

If she doesn't buck on the lunge, it sounds as if there is a problem with saddle/back. I would start with a saddle check and probably get a 2nd opinion on the saddle too.Do you know why the ulcers developed in the first place?

Thanks. She had a very traumatic past before I got her and came in a very unsuitable saddle. The vet from the first time thinks that it is highly likely that the ulcers were caused by one or both of those situations. If the saddle isn’t fitting properly now, then my guess would be that the ulcers this time are caused by that? And her symptoms for both is bucking into canter?

Over the few years I’ve had her, she’s had a few checks on her back and hind, but nothing has been found. Not saying that there’s nothing there as we didn’t completely exhaust every check!

 

[Bellaboo18]

I wouldn't personally ride while treating ulcers. I'd also say if this is the second time she's been treated for them a workup to find out why she's getting them is needed.

 

[littlelessbloom]

I have only ridden her on the advice of the vet

 

[[153312]]

I have only ridden her on the advice of the vet

Regardless I think for both her welfare and your safety, continuing to ride a horse that is expressing pain from an unknown source isn't wise. You could worsen the issue or cause her psychological remembered pain or get hurt yourself; it's not worth the risk IMO. Please keep safe.
If she needs exercise for medical reasons there are many other ways to provide it.

 

[littlelessbloom]

Regardless I think for both her welfare and your safety, continuing to ride a horse that is expressing pain from an unknown source isn't wise. You could worsen the issue or cause her psychological remembered pain or get hurt yourself; it's not worth the risk IMO. Please keep safe.
If she needs exercise for medical reasons there are many other ways to provide it.

Yes I am not going to ride her now until it is sorted. I am just explaining why I have ridden her whilst undergoing ulcer treatment. I will ofc ride her during the saddle check next week- especially if the saddle fitter makes any adjustments

 

[[153312]]

Yes I am not going to ride her now until it is sorted. I am just explaining why I have ridden her whilst undergoing ulcer treatment. I will ofc ride her during the saddle check next week- especially if the saddle fitter makes any adjustments

Of course, sounds sensible. Best of luck to you both

 

[Melody Grey]

Not wanting to be the prophet of doom, but I took my OH's low mileage, sturdy cob into the vets for a loss of performances workup this week with the symptoms you describe... kissing spines in 5 sites deemed to be clinically significant by nerve blocking. Both the vet and I were
gobsmacked. The moral of the story- these are pain based symptoms and none of us have x-ray eyes. I think you always need to investigate as far as you can, even I feel it's only to rule things out.

 

[littlelessbloom]

Update - had the saddle fitter yesterday. It was a different fitter to who I usually have and who fitted the saddle. She said that Bloom’s saddle fitted fine but it looked very “perched on her”, but got me on for a w/t/c. Bloom was very stuffy and behind the contact. The fitter noticed that the saddle slipped forward and Bloom was bucking into canter and just not happy. SF commented that the saddle is putting me into an armchair position and in c transitions to try and ask in a lighter seat. Tried that and Bloom was more comfortable. We tried a Bates Pony GP to see if that helped and it did but she said because of the fact I am tall on Bloom, I need something more forward cut. Tried getting rid of the VIP, putting an anti slip gel pad under the saddle and moving the balance strap to neutral on my K&M saddle and Bloom was definitely happier and freer. SF said ideally that the K&M isn’t right for Bloom but it will do for the short term. Long term she recommended a Bates Arena saddle as they suit funnel shaped horses apparently. I will see how we go with the slightly adjusted set up and save up for a new saddle. Hopefully we have got to the bottom of it