What would you do?

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NellRosk

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If your horse was being stuffy and uncooperative in the school? Was reluctant to move forward and throwing the odd arsey little buck with ears back. Horse in question is 14, had a virus about 2 months ago which has left him rather unfit and hasn't really been schooled intensively prior so it's not a boredom issue. His tack has been checked recently. He's been barefoot for 8 weeks now so stuffiness could be tender feet but this problem is in the arena on a nice surface? In my head I've got these options:

-get the vet out but the horse isn't lame so I don't know what they could do? He could have beginnings of arthritis I suppose but what 14 year olds don't? (Recently started him on a good joint sup)

-get a good physio to see him and see if they can spot any imbalances/ stiffness/ back problems.

-fitten him up and see if problem improves.

-continue to school him and ignore little nigglings I have :/

does anyone else have any suggestions? I'm stuck and want my boy back!
 
I've had him since he was 8 and we've done a bit here and there but recently moved somewhere with an arena! I know, it's just so difficult because it could be so many things. I know a few people (mother included) think I'm just being neurotic and that 'he'll be fine'.
 
If it was me, my boy is 14, first I would be getting a physio/back person I trust to check him out, I'd get his saddle checked, I'd get his teeth checked, I wouldn't ignore it, especially if it's not how he usually is. If all found to be ok, I'd probably try little bits to see if he improves.. If not I'd take him to the vet.. Go with what your gut is telling you..

Sorry just seem that he wasn't schooled prior,, once I'd done my checks I'd try bits & build him up, he will find schooling, bending hard work etc, don't expect too much too fast, if he improves & builds up great, if not rty the vet.
My horse had an operation soon after I got him & he was unfit when I bought him and was off for 6 months, when we tried him in the school he lolloped along and even looked 'off' in the ménage, sometimes we worked through it and little by little the fitter he became the more sound he looked... (He obviously wasn't lame) but he began to carry himself & look fit.. It's really hard to know what to do for the best.
 
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Amymay - just brought him back into work so 15-29 mins a few times a week?

Gingerbear - teeth and tack is fine. Physio is what I was thinking most, then they can advise if I need vet. A friend recently found out her pony had an arthritic hock after her physio noticed it was ever so slightly lame!
 
Physio. I always start with one or two physio sessions and check the saddle before starting down the vet route. I'd also shove some well padded hoof boots on and see what effect, if any, that has.
 
Bright as a button out hacking but then he is usually with his wife/ field partner who he would follow anywhere. He is ID as well so tendency for stubbornness. Just his age that's concerning me, things start to wear out as they get older!
 
NellRosk said:
Amymay - just brought him back into work so 15-29 mins a few times a week?

Gingerbear - teeth and tack is fine. Physio is what I was thinking most, then they can advise if I need vet. A friend recently found out her pony had an arthritic hock after her physio noticed it was ever so slightly lame!
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Updated my reply a bit after re-reading your post.. I use a fab Mctimony chiro who picks up a lot of things & a vet who is also an osteo who is fab so yeh I would go with the physio..
 
If he's feeling really not forward I would get his heart checked , that's what nearly killed fatty a virus causing damage to his heart .
 
I would get physio if he was mine.

if you have a niggling feeling then something isn't right, I've learnt the hard way never to ignore my gut instinct
 
If he's been off work for a while, he is bound to be unfit. I'd fitten him up by hacking, introduce school movements on the hacks after a while and then transfer them into the school. If at any point, he doesn't feel right, I'd get the vet. I don't understand the school of thought which says 'consult a physio first'. Physio's are not supposed to treat horses without the vet's approval and the vet is the one who can do a range of diagnostic tests.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
If he's been off work for a while, he is bound to be unfit. I'd fitten him up by hacking, introduce school movements on the hacks after a while and then transfer them into the school. If at any point, he doesn't feel right, I'd get the vet. I don't understand the school of thought which says 'consult a physio first'. Physio's are not supposed to treat horses without the vet's approval and the vet is the one who can do a range of diagnostic tests.
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Agree completely.
 
I found that getting someone out to check my horse over and give him a much needed massage (in his case, a mctimoney practitioner) really helped him after he was laid low with a virus. I've now had him checked 5 times since Easter, and he's improved so much. Have a look at your horses diet, maybe introduce probiotics and vitamins, as he may need his stomach acid rebalancing, and he may just need the additional support.
I also found adding iron aid (Global herbs) helped give him the energy he lacked. Also, he's just been really poorly, some horses just take longer to recover properly, have you thought of just hacking him for the time being, until he picks up? Any way, you'd be surprized what difference just getting him physically checked, I certainly was, and intend on getting my horse checked every 3 months from now on, even if it's not necessary.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
If he's been off work for a while, he is bound to be unfit. I'd fitten him up by hacking, introduce school movements on the hacks after a while and then transfer them into the school. If at any point, he doesn't feel right, I'd get the vet. I don't understand the school of thought which says 'consult a physio first'. Physio's are not supposed to treat horses without the vet's approval and the vet is the one who can do a range of diagnostic tests.
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My horses physio had already been approved by the vet. Sometimes we have to approach from every angle to rule out and eliminate physical and health issues, both of which obviously involved the vet.
 
NellRosk said:
Bright as a button out hacking but then he is usually with his wife/ field partner who he would follow anywhere. He is ID as well so tendency for stubbornness. Just his age that's concerning me, things start to wear out as they get older!
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NellRosk, you know your horse... can I share something with you? A couple of months ago, I came close to loosing my horse to a bacterial infection. Heat stroke brought on by an already elevated temp, threw his temp right up to 105F. I knew something was wrong the minute I saw him panting, yet other yard people didn't read the signals in the same way, they thought I was being paranoid. If I hadn't acted on instinct, I could have lost my horse that day, he was seriously ill.
In fact, I reckon, any other horse would have probably died, my lad is a very tough boy. Listen to your concerns, if you're worried, act on it, trust me, your horse is trying to tell you something is amiss xx
 
Haven't read any other replies bit it could be the virus is still hanging over him and he needs a boost of something like a B12 supplement/injection to kick start his system; like us, a virus can hang on for what seems forever and if you work them too early it could cause problems elsewhere. I'd get your vet to do bloods just to check that out.

Off to read other replies now.
 
Shadeyoak said:
NellRosk, you know your horse... can I share something with you? A couple of months ago, I came close to loosing my horse to a bacterial infection. Heat stroke brought on by an already elevated temp, threw his temp right up to 105F. I knew something was wrong the minute I saw him panting, yet other yard people didn't read the signals in the same way, they thought I was being paranoid. If I hadn't acted on instinct, I could have lost my horse that day, he was seriously ill.
In fact, I reckon, any other horse would have probably died, my lad is a very tough boy. Listen to your concerns, if you're worried, act on it, trust me, your horse is trying to tell you something is amiss xx
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Thanks for this Shadeyoak and I'm glad he's okay now. xx

Maesfen said:
Haven't read any other replies bit it could be the virus is still hanging over him and he needs a boost of something like a B12 supplement/injection to kick start his system; like us, a virus can hang on for what seems forever and if you work them too early it could cause problems elsewhere. I'd get your vet to do bloods just to check that out.

Off to read other replies now.
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I've had some of that event stuff off the vet which is similar I think and it didn't really do anything!

Goldenstar said:
Did he listern to the heart after work as well as at rest ?
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Yes he did, said everything sounded fine.

Thanks for the replies everyone, didn't have chance to respond before as I've had a stressful weekend (family not horses for once!)
 
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