What problem do these symptoms show?

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Christmas Crumpet

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Friend's horse has been off for 4 weeks and is showing these symptoms.

He refuses to trot when ridden and stops dead and puts his ears back. He is better when lunged, although still not 100% moving right behind.

Despite having all sorts of back problems, my horse doesn't do this so I haven't a clue!!!
 
Mine did this when he had pulled his SS ligament over his spine, you could feel the brakes going on, he would stop, with ears flat back, and even could give a buck/rear or cow kick when asked to walk on.

I would say vet for a full work up (obv saddler and physio to sort any pain / muscle spasms). Make sure the vet comes before the physio as some of the clinical signs could be hidden.
 
hock problem, back problem, badly fitting saddle - could be anything - tbh if he doesn't move 'right' behind I'd be inclined to get a full lameness workup done for a start before physio

does he move ok loose/lunged?
 
She's had saddler out and i think the vet but they are no closer to figuring it out. I agree with a full lameness work up!! She's also had physio out once and she's coming back on friday I think.
 
Could be any number of things like: Hock pain,mild ligament damage, Sacroiliac pain, saddle fit problem, heel pain//foot problem/ shoeing/foot imbalance- even something as simple as the type/placement of the shoe, could need more heel support,

The best person to advise to start with would be a good vet who is experienced in lameness probs and then go from there depending on what they think it is.

Would be interesting to note what the horse does with another rider? and what type of shoes it is wearing?.
 
Ah I had the same sort ofd problems with my Boy with refussing to move up a gait, suddenly stopping, he used to put his head between his front legs when he stopped though he didnt buck and he also used to bend into my inside leg to.
I had Gavin (best back man ever) come out and see him and said it wasnt a huge problem and he said it was just the muscle over I think it was just his witthers but may have been his spine was tight fortunatly wasnt damaged, we done so treatment, releaxed all the muscle told me to leave him a day and then ride him really long and just after one visit I could feel the looseness under the saddle and nothing since then, he even got better at being tacked up.
 
QR-
so basically we are saying it could be anything from ligament damage to gastric ulcers........ if this vet (which may or may not have been out!!) cant find the problem I suggest your friend gets a second opinion!
 
Its classic symptoms of pain, as others have said. You need to start at the very bottom and go through absolutely every part of your ned's body and every single piece of tack he wears. He's an uhappy boy if he's doing this and if your friend doesn't get to the bottom of it he will start resenting her more firmly. TBH I'm surprised she has to ask what those symptoms mean as it's very basic horse care. I'd advise her to get an experienced trainer or instructor to take a long hard look at the big picture. Then she needs to get herself some training on basic horse care. Don't mean to be harsh but she could seriously harm a horse by not knowing enough to keep it safe and well.
 
I tend to agree. I'm not sure what happened when vet came out - whether a full lameness work up was done but the horse isn't right after 4 weeks off work and is still a bit dodgy on the lunge too apparently.

I was just curious to see what others thought to see if I could give her any inspiration as to the problem. Hadn't considered gastric ulcers - interesting!!
 
B o Frogs - she is totally and utterly aware that the horse is in pain and has had the vet, saddler & physio out to try and find out where and why but not got an answer yet. She isn't riding the horse - its had 4 weeks off. All I was asking was whether these particular symptoms would show a particular injury. I think your reply was a little harsh to be honest - she has done the right thing by getting various people out to see horse and tack, just that they haven't got to the bottom of the problem. I was curious to see if anyone on here's horses had had the same symptoms and, if so, what the injury was. I think you were a bit quick to jump to conclusions that she is a total numpty with no horse care knowledge at all.
 
Afriend of mine recently had a similar experiance with her dressage mare. She had a lot of non specific symptoms, but all could be put down to pain somewhere. She ended up taking her to Liverpool vet hospital, (from northampton) Where she was finally diagnased with kissing spines. No one from her vet, saddler or physio had confirmed it before this.
She had surgery a few months ago, and now it is just time and rest.
 
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