toomanyhorses26
Well-Known Member
I have a 9 yo mare who I purchased 2 years ago to save her going to the meat man. Very green when I first got her but we got there eventually and I had a horse that could do the simple novice tests,reasonably successful at local level showing and would jump a 2'6''-2'9'' course happily. Due to some work/other horse issues I put her out on loan to friends of mine so off she went. All seemed fine - I saw her a couple of times through the 6 months (admittedly not ridden) seemed happy ,healthy and in good nick. Loan came to an end and she came home. She settled reasonably quickly showed no signs of being stressed etc so started to ride her again and it was like someone had turned the clock back 2 years - stressed under saddle,joggy,broncy and unwilling to take a contact. Teeth done just before she went on loan (so due in the next few weeks - no past issues with teeth) and saddle checkedaround the same time. I have tried to get her 'going' again since she came home and im just making no progress with her. I got a bit fed up of earting dirt tbh so took her to my vets for a poor performance workup where they found moderate changes in her hocks . We rested her for 6 weeks ,on bute started on 2 sachets a day and is now on 1 a day and synequin. Farrier is a bit bemused as she shows no signs of anything in her shoes (no weird wear patterns etc ) but she is being shod as normal. I have been riding her gently for the past three weeks (20 mins alledged walk hacks or 10 min warm up hack followed by 10 mins walk or trot in the school) and tbh she is no better 
she just feel like she hates every minute of it. I have tried to find out if anything happened while she was away but been met with a wall of silence tbh . My vets are no suggesting going for hock injections, upping the bute or coming down to the fact its behavioural now. I am getting to the point where I am not sure I can go anyway to fixing her - her back is booked for next week to see if anything can be found. She is still a delight to handle on the ground and her general demeanor has got better (can be quite aloof) since she has been on the painkillers.
she just feel like she hates every minute of it. I have tried to find out if anything happened while she was away but been met with a wall of silence tbh . My vets are no suggesting going for hock injections, upping the bute or coming down to the fact its behavioural now. I am getting to the point where I am not sure I can go anyway to fixing her - her back is booked for next week to see if anything can be found. She is still a delight to handle on the ground and her general demeanor has got better (can be quite aloof) since she has been on the painkillers.