What to do next?

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noodle_

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Firsty appologies for whiny post but i think my friends have seen me cry enough already lol.

Basically im at a loss what to do with the brown thing. Well more, where to go from here. She had back pain, so new saddle/physio later all seemed better,. The she point blank refused to bend to the right so physio again, week off, brought back into work (bearing in mind walk/trot only) got on her last week to try out saddle (re-flocked), she was very well behaved but so "down" i cant even begin to describe how dull she was (shes not massivly forward normally but this wasnt my horse)....

Rode again tonight and i had to use loads of leg - 2 schooling whips and i still could barely get out of walk/slow trot - she kept stopping.

She is fit, as even "out of work" she was still lunged. (no saddle). However, recently when asking from trot/canter she rodeos - whether this is because of the whip i dont know but she has only started doing it badly recently (to the point shes almost flat out)

Im just so tired/frustrated as ive done everything - tack/back/teeth/vet/instructors/friends opinions etc.

She is technically sound.... but dosent feel like my horse. Im not sure where to go from here (she will never be sold/loaned btw lol) but im wondering if something is underlying that we cant figure out from just looking.?? Her feed has never changed....actually more added if anything - she isnt overweight and quite fit.

Even in an open field she will not go forward....! Im at a loss... shes 5... I have avery good instructor who i will be asking the same advice from (havent had a lesson for a few weeks though due to no saddle!)! and normally my horse will bounce back into work more forward/willing.

Any ideas?/suggestions... open to anything really... as i want my old horse back and i dont know what i did wrong :(
 
No helpful advice I'm afraid as I'm still very much a learner...but you do sound thoroughly fed up :( and I don't think you've done anything wrong at all.

It sounds like you're doing all you can to help her so don't lose heart and don't blame yourself.

Hopefully someone else will be along soon with some more constructive advice, but just wanted to say hang in there...
 
This horse seems to have had a fair few issues,looking back over a few of your previous posts.
It appears that you get to a certain point and then she goes back again.
Do you know her history did she have problems when started?
I would consider either turning her away for the winter and starting next spring or sending her to a pro for assessment and maybe some schooling.
It sounds like you have covered most physical options but it maybe hormonal or possibly ulcers if she is reluctant to go forward.
 
noodle_ said:
Firsty appologies for whiny post but i think my friends have seen me cry enough already lol.

Basically im at a loss what to do with the brown thing. Well more, where to go from here. She had back pain, so new saddle/physio later all seemed better,. The she point blank refused to bend to the right so physio again, week off, brought back into work (bearing in mind walk/trot only) got on her last week to try out saddle (re-flocked), she was very well behaved but so "down" i cant even begin to describe how dull she was (shes not massivly forward normally but this wasnt my horse)....

Rode again tonight and i had to use loads of leg - 2 schooling whips and i still could barely get out of walk/slow trot - she kept stopping.

She is fit, as even "out of work" she was still lunged. (no saddle). However, recently when asking from trot/canter she rodeos - whether this is because of the whip i dont know but she has only started doing it badly recently (to the point shes almost flat out)

Im just so tired/frustrated as ive done everything - tack/back/teeth/vet/instructors/friends opinions etc.

She is technically sound.... but dosent feel like my horse. Im not sure where to go from here (she will never be sold/loaned btw lol) but im wondering if something is underlying that we cant figure out from just looking.?? Her feed has never changed....actually more added if anything - she isnt overweight and quite fit.

Even in an open field she will not go forward....! Im at a loss... shes 5... I have avery good instructor who i will be asking the same advice from (havent had a lesson for a few weeks though due to no saddle!)! and normally my horse will bounce back into work more forward/willing.

Any ideas?/suggestions... open to anything really... as i want my old horse back and i dont know what i did wrong :(
Click to expand...

I do feel for you, and your horse. There WILL be a reason. I have known the exact same symptoms arise from several different physical causes:

Gastric ulcers
Bone spavin in the hocks
Desmitis
Respiratory infection (no cough or discharge was evident). - No rodeoing with this one, just reluctance to work.

Keep looking. You will find it. But it is very clear your horse is trying to tell you something and I really would not be trying to push her right now.
 
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Thanks all

I actually rode her bareback last week and unless shes bullied into trot she will amble in walk....

Im considering ringing my vets to ask for a full workup - but within what??? and would i be insured...?

this isnt my horse... im gutted to even think shes miserable.

thanks for the replies.
 
Get the vet to scan hind suspensory in both legs. Our horse was similar. No signs of lameness as He was only one tenth lame and was bi lateral. We thought it was back problems.
 
thanks. without sounding like a total cow..... is that insured?

I have to think of the money, but credit cards will be used if neccessary.

I think the vet route is one to go down....


but insurance.............shes insured. for 5k vets fees....?

(which is due for renewal sometime around now... typical lol )
 
You will be insured for getting the vet out to investigate the drop in your horse's performance, yes. But you must let the insurance know that you are doing it before any costly investigations take place.
 
Thanks ^^


i havent even considered the bute option.... much cheaper - may call the vets tomorow and ask if they will give me some for a couple of weeks to see if that helps her and go from there :)
 
^^ not a silly question at all :)

Shes a muppet. I wont/cant take her out as she uttterly freaks out at traffic and we have to go on the roads to get off road

dosent bother me as i dont like hacking.

but as for forward movement we get freakouttotheleft..... but thats about it :D
 
Ah, I see, that's a shame but understandable. It's just hacking is so good for encouraging forward movement! I hope you find a solution and somw answers. :)
 
I haven't read your other posts so don't know the history on your horse but I would ask vets to xray the back. Mine refused to work forwards and then started broncing on asking for canter when his kissing spine got bad.
 
If you do go the vet route, try looking at things like gastric ulcers and EPSM/Tying up....my boy had symptoms like these and turns out he was tying up (which caused ulcers from the stress of it)

His blog is here...read the background bit at the start and see if any of it sounds familiar?

http://parsnipper.blogspot.com/

And good luck...I know how you're feeling, been through it for years with my boy.
 
Have you only tried physio? Why not try a mctimmony chiropractor. I went down the physio route with my horse, it would last a few weeks then she would become fire again. I had everything checked like you. Then git a mctimmony chirping out who found her pelvis was out. Touch wood 2 treatments and a 6 months later she's great and only needs yearly check ups now!
 
Have you had bloods taken?

Are you sure she hasn't tied up at some point?

Have you had her examined for billateral fore limb lameness?
 
Hi currently going through issues with my haflinger I would suggest a total rest the vet and keep a daily diary of her behaviour etc it can help you see patterns or subtle changes that are easy to over look. Are there any problems with passing urine etc my friends horse had bladder problems and lay performance and any forward going. My haffie has been diagnosed with a brain tumour not that I think that is your problem at all but daily notes on his behaviour helped me focus and remember things for the vet as you will surprised the little things you forget. Good luck
 
Personally I'd start with a bute trial - 2 weeks and see if there is any improvement. If so then you know there is something pain related going on. I'd want a full lameness workup to find out exactly what is going on. You know your horse and even though she might look OK to the vet, who doesn't see her on a day to day basis, trust your judgement if she doesn't feel right. IME a sore back is often related to lower leg or foot pain. Mine gets sore around his lumbar/SI area which my physio says is related to his hock probs. He can look sound in his hocks but if that area of his back is a bit tender, it's the first indication that his hocks are starting to feel sore and need medicating again.

IMHO I would stick with a good equine physiotherapist (a proper one, not a "body worker" or "sports massage" person). I don't like chiropractors because it just isn't physically possible for a horse's pelvis to be "out" or any of that. Don't trust anyone who claims they can manipulate a horse's bones...they wouldn't be able to manipulate a person's bones, never mind half a tonne of horse flesh! Anyway, I digress.

Go with Amymay's suggestions... get bloods taken, get the forelimbs looked at plus get back legs x-rayed and scanned.

Can you hack out in company to get her going forwards?
 
Thanks all :)

Hacking - no go. its directly onto roads and shes crackers in traffic. but we have a field i can go round - i will ask someone to walk with me on horseback.

For lameness - never had her properly looked at. She has had two different physios looking at her back/neck - both found back problems (3 times in a year), so got her a new saddle - had it fitted by a master saddler. whos been out only 2 weeks ago to re-flock and check!...

I have rung my vet practise and requested a call back, so i will ask their opinion as i know theres something"not right" with her.




As for urine - thats actually a funny one.... she DOES NOT pee in her stable. I have found one wee on average every other week in her box (not kidding!!) Its definately not under her banks as i turn them daily/fully do her bed - shes on matting too and shavings so i do see what she does etc.....

^^^^ quite strange but tbh i though nothing of it......
 
For lameness - never had her properly looked at. She has had two different physios looking at her back/neck - both found back problems (3 times in a year), so got her a new saddle - had it fitted by a master saddler. whos been out only 2 weeks ago to re-flock and check!...
Click to expand...

Bad back goes hand in hand with forelimb lameness - I too had my horse treated for a bad back for around 18 months. Eventually had a lameness work up done - mucho buggered.
 
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amymay said:
Back back goes hand in hand with forelimb lameness - I too had my horse treated for a bad back for around 18 months. Eventually had a lameness work up done - mucho buggered.
Click to expand...

how buggered?

Shes sound - she was trotted up a few weeks ago by a vet (after trying to commit suicide though a fence :rolleyes: )and i check her daily on the lunge..


Vet is calling me back. :)
 
noodle_ said:
how buggered?

Shes sound - she was trotted up a few weeks ago by a vet (after trying to commit suicide though a fence :rolleyes: )and i check her daily on the lunge..


Vet is calling me back. :)
Click to expand...

He was bilaterally lame - so it took nerve blocks to show it. He had rotated pedal bones and the start of coffin joint disease.

Your horse is probably right as rein - but if a sore back continues my first port of call would always be the vet to look at the feet.
 
Take photos of her standing still, and look at them objectively. Horses will often show what area they are trying to protect by how they are standing.

I've had a couple of horses who didn't move well/comfortably but weren't obviously lame. Neither wanted to move forward freely at all, but some folk tried to make me think it was me who just wasn't riding them forward properly. Turned out one was lame on both hinds; the other had 8 different problems in 11 different areas, so it was no wonder things were difficult to diagnose.

I'd highly recommend Sue Dyson at AHT for diagnosis, but she doesn't come cheap. Very thorough.

I'm guessing that if you are insured, you'd need your local vet onside first to see a reason to send her to a lameness expert.

Bilateral hindlimb suspensory just gave me a very flat reluctant ride, but equally I'[m sure other stuff can give a very flat ride.

The other one (which included stuff in each leg plus a couple of problems in the pelvis) gave a rodeo display when they rode her at the expert place, but to be fair rodeoing can be caused by all sorts.

I found it helpful to video a full lameness workup and then watch it back slo mo and see what I could pick out, so I had something to discuss with the vets.

Sarah
 
amymay - sorry about your horse :( that sounds awful :(


sarah - thanks :) i will get some photos..../videos - i can do that today.

I will ask my vet to come out - we are very lucky that we are not to far from leahurst - so if needby we will be reffered there.

Its been months now and i feel no further on compared to last year when i bought her.
 
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