What would you think if....

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MrsMagoo

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Your horse has a tendancy to bronch and buck quite unpredictably and doesnt look at all right??? A friend on my yards horse had treatment for arthritis in his hocks last year after being kicked in the field and it took a while for him to come back into work. He has now taken to bronching/bucking when he feels fit or when he is ridden looks tense and tight - he is also very nervous with his back end and rugs etc...

She came of again last weekend and hurt her back but is planning to carry on as normal and have a lesson this week - im a bit concerned for her safety really as feel as she is gettin nervous it makes him worse. She says all his back/teeth have all been checked!! If it was myself id be inclined to think there was somthing else going on....has anyone had any experience with horses like this?

Id offer to get on it, but dont want to risk my own safety really!!
 
cant offer a lot of advice but if it was mine i would get a vet to check the horse all over,it could be something in the back or the hocks could be causing pain, maybe the saddle needs looking at again.
 
Well that's what i would think...i have tried to suggest maybe gettin him checked again but she said he's been checked!! He just doesnt look like a happy bunny when ridden bless him
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Well it sounds like he's resisting due to pain - if his back is fine then obviously his hocks are still not comfortable. I would get the vet out again and discuss alternative methods of treatment - if he's had injections there are other types of drug which could be tried instead and new forms of treatment are being developed now, including surgery. There is no point carrying on riding him when he's uncomfortable, it's not good for the horse or for your friend.
My mare has arthritis in her hocks and you quickly get attuned to feeling when they're stiff or uncomfortable, then you can adjust their work accordingly. Is she schooling him? As it may not be a good idea, she might be better sticking to gentle hacking for the time being, that is if the vet is advising work rather than rest.
 
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Well that's what i would think...i have tried to suggest maybe gettin him checked again but she said he's been checked!! He just doesnt look like a happy bunny when ridden bless him
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Sounds like horsey is saying - retire me.
 
Would be inclined to agree! TBH these horses with this condition will need back work every 4 to 6 weeks,not a one off I have just had it checked.......I had a mare with the condition,and ringbone high as well,and after 4 years of struggling and alot of ££££££££'s I had her PTS as was going to face her back being done every 4 to 6 weeks and little riding and she would not have been an easy mare to retire sadly!
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I agree with you all - knowing my mare has a similar thing at the moment and how she has reacted to it i know how hard it can be. Star is having her back done tonight
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I think is clinging on to the hope she can return to normal as i think she brought him from savings etc...with his condition along with the fact he has terrible hind leg conformation (almost bowed and cow hocked etc) id think it was related to his behaviour. Just wish i could say somthing productive to her without sounding bossy etc or telling her the horse is broken...???
 
Try and see if it is on one rein more than another. OCD, DJD as has been mentioned or arthritic changes can often be a cause. I really would see a vet as sometimes things like spondylosis of the spine cannot be over easily detected without veterinary intervention.
Best of luck.
 
I had to retire my old horse because of this. He had treatment for bone spavin, but because I couldn't ride him at all because of the bucking, which I presume came from the joint pain/back pain, it was never proved to the point of being able to claim loss of use for him. I decided to retire him as I wasn't prepared to be hurt and wasn't prepared for anyone else to be hurt by him. Saying that I am lucky enough to have a field at home and he is now used as a companion for my daughter's pony.

IMO I would get him checked again as things can change, as said above, in a matter of weeks when djd is present.
 
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