What should I do?

[AGAGE]

I'm not sure what to do?

Sorry for the length of this!!

My horse- Ted is 18 years old and has arthritic hocks, has done for the last couple of years, and had cortisone injections in hocks 2 years ago. He then had the following year off due to work commitments and wedding planning. I brought him slowly back into work this March and he was going really nicely ( only flatwork, light schooling up to novice level) until they started the harvest and his COPD flared up again, and I stopped working him as he was wheezy.

He has now had around 4-5 weeks off and his COPD has settled and he is no longer coughing and bringing up mucus. I got on him today to ride in the school and he went nuts (admittedly it is cold and windy), broncking and spooking. I dismounted as he really twisted my back and I was in a lot of pain. My intial thought was that his back hurts (I know mine did) , as he had tried to bite me when I put on his saddle and kicked his leg out when I tightened his girth when mounted. I started to think he had back problems, he is sway backed but remembered that this is how he behaved prior to the diagnosis of arthritic hocks, which had led to back problems.

Here hare some of my options:

Do I bring him back into work very slowly (possibly in hand), as when he is kept ticking over he is generally fine? (my concern is that his arthritis is generally better if he is kept active).

Ring the vet and get them to assess if he needs another cortisone injection?

Call the horse physio to look at his back, get back sorted and bring into work slowly?

Give him the winter off work and bring my sisters green and unfit DWB back into work (he is off due to lack of time). Toby is completely sound, just hard work- green and with an attitude problem.

Ideally I would prefer to keep Ted ticking over as I know him inside out and Toby will be a real challenge. Up until his time off Ted was going well and really happy. However I don't want to cause discomfort to Ted.

My brain is telling me bring Toby back into work, but my heart is saying keep Ted going. I don't have sufficient time to ride both as I work full time.

Any thoughts or advice appreciated!!

 

[stroppymare153]

first thoughts, off top of head...

If he last had cortisone injections 2 yrs ago, would have thought he could well benefit from another round. Would ring vet for a chat (while trying to avoid mega-vet-bill territory

)

Would your sister have time to keep Ted ticking over while you bring Toby back into work??

best wishes, anyway.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Any horse that starts broncking and spooking when the rider gets on is trying to tell you something. If he's sway backed, I'd start there. Almost every saddle known to man will bridge on a sway backed ned and that can cause pain. I'd try him on the lunge, no saddle to see if you get the same results. Or find a brave person and hop on him bareback. Try riding him in just a thick squishy sheepskin saddle pad and a surcingle round it to keep it secure. Your boy is unhappy about something but I bet of you can sort what it is, he'd be the same boy you've known and trusted for so long. 18 is nothing these days. Sunny's 23 and going strong!

 

[AGAGE]

I put him on the lunge yesterday and he did a couple of bucks but thats not unusual, as he gets excitable on the lunge. He looked stiff behind- again not surprising.

I sat on him bareback and did not react in the same explosive way that he under saddle, he put his ears forward and seemed quiet happy, admitedly we only walked, but then thats what we were doing last time tired to throw me off.

Will try and find a good saddle fitter and consider cortisone with vet, as he probably needs some again to help him through winter.

I have a feeling finding a saddle won't be easy, as not only is he sway-backed but he has really high hips and quarters and is almost v shaped!!

Thanks for all your help! Hopefully I will soom have a happier, Ted.