What (if anything) would you do/say?

alsxx

alsxx

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This may be better off in veterinary but here goes (thought more people would look at here)....but there is someone at my yard who has a warmblood gelding (early teens) that she has owned for 5 or 6 months now, from what she has said I think its her first horse, although I understand she used to have a pony on loan a few years ago - she is 19.

Now I have noticed that from behind his quarters are unlevel -I'm guessing it looks like his pelvis is out (but having no first hand experience of this I could be wrong!), one side is (to me anyway) noticibly higher than the other side.

So what I'm wondering is, would you say anything? I dont think she is particulary experienced, and if it was me I would want to know if I hadn't noticed something like this, but then again she could well be aware of it and have had him checked out etc when she got him. I only ask as in my opinion (and please no one shoot me down for that as its just my opinion) she has seriously overhorsed herself, he seriously takes the mickey out of her, both on the ground and under saddle, and she wont even hack him out by herself. I'm thinking that if he is in discomfort, getting it resolved may help matters (assuming she doesn't know about it).

Any advise greatly appreciated, I really dont want to stick my beak where its not wanted....but at the same time
 
Oh I think it is worth mentioning ... in a nice way of course.
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I think if it were me, I'd wait till the horse started doing something naughty and then gently say what was on my mind, put across to her as a possibility rather than an accusation.
 
personally if i was the girl an didnt know about it then i would want someone to tell me as i wouldnt want to cause the horse any harm

just ask if hes had his back checked as it looks like his pelvis is out. if she didnt know she will get it checked
if she did then just say oh ok just wondered if you knew
tbh i think she should get someone out anyway just to check its not his saddle etc that is making him less cooperative
 
I would ask if she's had him vetted, if she says yes say 'Was there anything in the about his pelvis as IMO it looks like he's a bit one sided' if no then tell her she should get the vet out as he looks to be tilting his pelvis.

If she's new to horse's I'm sure she'll value your opinion and want to do the best by her horse, I just hope it isn't anything serious
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Personally if someone noticed something wrong with my horse I would much rather they say, as long as it's nicely put! If she's aware of the problem no harm done but could you could be helping in the long run if she hasn't noticed.
 
Maybe you could suggest to her that the reason for it's naughtiness could be a back problem and maybe she should get a vet or physio to check him out in case there are any underlying problems, as a first course of action, along with teeth etc.
 
I could say - 'your horse looks like what mines got'!!! Mine has a sacrioliac subluxation (retired now thou) from a fall racing - and has half an inch difference on his pelvis.

This caused him lack of hind limb impulsion and chronic pain, often cantering disunited too - although light exercise kept him mobile. I would try and hint because he could turn on her one day due to pain (and he sounds like a big lad!).

Its good that you are looking out for her - i always appreciated it when i was a novice. There is also no way he could have passed a vetting with it either.
 
Well I'm looking after him for a couple of weeks from Saturday as she is going away so when she gets back I will say something to the effect of whilst I was looking after him I noticed...
 
oh rats there is that possibility - although how it could be my fault if all i'm doing is mucking out and turning out/bringing in for her i dont know!
 
you could say something and base your comments on it could be the reason for his behaviour, altho don't expect to be thanked for your concern or interest! I had a 'friend' who asked my opinion on a horse than when i said don't touch with bargepole she moaned about me 'interfering'
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just because it wasn't what she wanted to hear, some people just won't be told or helped which is why i now don't pass comment on anyones horses anymore!
 
Why don't you use the holiday as an excuse to say something. How about "before you go on hols, show me where you keep everything" ask lots of questions about what he does, behaves, what to look out for, what woudl be unusual behaviour etc and then just slip in - "his is pelvis normally like this ..." all you are doing is just making sure, as you probably want to, that everything is covered and don't want to get anything wrong whilst he is in your care. That way you can start the conversation and ask questions about what she's doing without being seen to "interfere" and at the same time get a really good brief from her about how she wants him looking after while she away. It shoudl make her feel more comfortable about leaving him and in the future perhaps seek advice from you.
 
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