What do you reckon?

T

Toast

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 June 2008
Messages
4,516
Location
Lancaster, Lancashire
Visit site
My sisters mare, ex eventer 18yrs and 4 months in foal.
Recently shes been lame, noticably on concrete and in the school, but completely sound in the field.
Tonight my sister went to tack her up, as shed been sound for about a week and she was NOT impressed, would not open her mouth for the bit and just stood there with a really pissed off face..completely unlike her as shes normally a really pleasant horse. So, my sister took her in the school and all seemed well, mooched around quite sound and happy. Then laura decided to try her down the lane. She got a quarter of the way before coming back, with neddy in hand who was dog lame. Apparently shed been tripping a lot and had eventually come to a standstill and then just refused to move.
So, sister untacks her and turns her out...to which she canters off sound as a pound!!!

Do you think shes just had enough of being ridden whilst preggers? or theres something worth investigating there?

x
 
Horses don't have the complex and often devious thought processes that humans have. If she's acting dog lame on hard ground, she IS dog lame on hard ground. Start on the easy stuff and work up, eg abscess, bruised sole, laminitis, nail bind (if shod), etc etc etc.
 
I knew a TB mare (not preggers) at a riding school who managed to get 3 mnths off work by going dead lame when ever anyone rode her, particularly in the arena. Only after having observed her happily walking/galloping over stones/hard ground/ deep mud etc on her own did we guess that she was trying it on.
So next time she tried it she got a firm slap, yelled at and incredible came sound over a space of 5m.
So don't underestimate the ingenuity of mares!

The change of attitude could just be a hormone thing due to being pregnant.

But as the others said check out all the obvious first (legs/back/saddle....)

good luck!
 
My old dog used to know how to fake ailments when she deemed necessary. I don't see why horses can be different.

My old horse used to pretend she had an itch on her right knee, you'd let her scratch and she would dive for grass.

They might not have complex cognitive processes, but they certainly can learn by association, reinforcement, conditioning etc.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Just a thought, but has the fit of the saddle changed now she's 'with child'?? Is she only lame when ridden or is she lame in hand also?

[/ QUOTE ]

Shes lame inhand also after being taken out on the road, only to come sound again once shes turned out..
Her teeth i expect do need looking at as im not sure when they were last done.
I hadnt thought that the saddle fit might've changed as shes got a bit of a belly on her now. Makes sense though, i dont know why i never thought of it before!!
x
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top