what could it be?

[caroline23]

in the last week my horse has started pinning his ears back when grooming his belly right underneath, not his sides, and sometimes when doing the front straps of his rug up and his girth
today he kicked out every time i tried to mount (backwards not at me) he has never done this before, so i think he is trying to tell me something as normally he is quite quiet and has never really pinned his ears back before, although if i run my hand over his chest and belly he doesnt do anything? and when i do the girth up when mounted he is fine, it is never a constant reaction
he had his ears back when i went to bridle him, so he was probably in a bad mood anyway, but he isnt the sort to do it for no reason? i mus admit i jump back or flinch when he does it as my old horse used to bite and it has left a fear behind

anyone know what this could be? he is in a treeless saddle so im pretty sure it isnt that, and the girth he has had for months with no issue

 

[Beausmate]

Anything changed recently feed/exercise/ stresswise?

 

[_April_]

sooooo not an expert but if it were me and you cannot spot anything obvious...

I'd eliminate:

vet
physio (for back)
saddler
dentist

and go from there

 

[traceyann]

After all the health checks are done have you had this horse before in winter. Some horse become grumpy in winter and do change. I know your horse before used to bit but try not to flinch when he turns at you My spanish horse bit my bum had stitches and when doing my others feet if went near my bum i flinched my cob found quite funny at his new game although he would never bite

 

[Miss L Toe]

Very non-specific symptoms, first of all is he colicking? is he out at grass a lot or irregularly, if it is frosty or too lush or he is being greedy, stand back and see if he is a bit tucked up, is tail swishing, muzzle tight?
The sheath.... is it all clean and so on, run your hands over it to see if he objects. Is the pee normal in colour and amount, and flowing evenly
Run your hands lightly over the whole of his body to see if you can identify any particularly sore spot. Run your fingers either side of the spine with light downward pressure, he should not flinch.
Stand behind him when he is square on all legs, is there any imbalance, ie muscular development
walk him away from you and towards on a level surface, is the gait normal.
Mouth, is the breath fresh [abcess check], are gums normal colour [health check] and is he due a dental check. Press on the gum, it should return to normal quickly.
Is he stabled next to a horse that he does not like.
Sometimes a good idea to take the temperature twice a day for a few days to see if there is any change, if 38,5 or over this is a veterinary problem imho.
As always look at the feet, it seems that he is trying to tell you something.
Let us know what you find out, I assume his tack fits and he is not suddenly being asked to do a lot of work without any preparation.
Some horse do tend to make a bit of a fuss when they get fit and are stabled, a lot of racehorse do it, it is just their temperament, nothing to worry about,

 

[classicalfan]

My guess is he's trying to tell you he is sore. Even though you have a treeless he could still ahve a sore back and he's trying to tell you in the only way he can.