What's wrong with my horse?

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Maz55

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I'm hoping that someone out there will be able to put my mind at rest - but possibly not!

I got a new horse three weeks ago and she passed 5 stage vetting with flying colours. I haven't done much with her since as I've been struggling to find a suitable saddle - the one I am using I'm told is ok for now but not perfect and I'm waiting for an appointment with a new saddler. I've done a bit of lunging, very light schooling and some hacking.

She was perfect to start with but I began finding that on the right rein when I asked for trot she'd seem to stop/hold back and it felt like she could buck if I didn't drop the contact. I'd drop the contact and push her on and she'd be fine after that. She has been head shaking quite a bit so I put that down to her not liking the bit/a contact issue and thought nothing more of it. BTW her teeth have been checked.

On Saturday I went for a saddle fitting and when I trotted her on the right rein she kept feeling like she was trying to canter. I thought it might be exuberance as we were in a new place and an open field, or perhaps my leg was slipping back as I was pretty unstable in some of the saddles. But, next day the same thing happened again. My instructor rode her later in the day and she did exactly the same thing with her. She also rode her bareback to see if it was the saddle but no change. She then lunged her and she seemed a bit short behind but it wasn't clear on which leg.

Monday I got the vet out and he trotted her up, did flexion tests, lunged on concrete and on the field and he said she was completely sound. He checked her back and sacrum and no sign of any soreness. No heat or swelling anywhere. Vet told me to just carry on riding her. I rode her again yesterday (Tuesday) and exactly the same thing happened again. I've now booked her in for a ridden exam with the vet next week as this just doesn't seem right to me at all. Has anyone had an experience like this/have any ideas what on earth could be wrong with her? I'm fearing the worst at the moment!
 
I would be suspicious of the saddle. To check more effectively try riding her bareback before putting the saddle on, so that there should be no residual soreness from wearing the saddle jsut a few minutes before. If you wer a pair of tight shoes, taking them off doesnt immediately ease the pain, in fact it can make the feet feel worse in the short term
 
Could be gastric ulcers. At the start horses can hold back going into trot and can be stiff behind or slightly lame on the off hind. Is the horse sensitive at all around the withers, girth or flanks? This can also be a sign of gastric ulcers.
 
if they don't live too far away; why not ask previous owner to bring their saddle and ride her and see if she still does the same?
 
Maz55 said:
I'm hoping that someone out there will be able to put my mind at rest - but possibly not!

I got a new horse three weeks ago and she passed 5 stage vetting with flying colours. I haven't done much with her since as I've been struggling to find a suitable saddle - the one I am using I'm told is ok for now but not perfect and I'm waiting for an appointment with a new saddler. I've done a bit of lunging, very light schooling and some hacking.

She was perfect to start with but I began finding that on the right rein when I asked for trot she'd seem to stop/hold back and it felt like she could buck if I didn't drop the contact. I'd drop the contact and push her on and she'd be fine after that. She has been head shaking quite a bit so I put that down to her not liking the bit/a contact issue and thought nothing more of it. BTW her teeth have been checked.

On Saturday I went for a saddle fitting and when I trotted her on the right rein she kept feeling like she was trying to canter. I thought it might be exuberance as we were in a new place and an open field, or perhaps my leg was slipping back as I was pretty unstable in some of the saddles. But, next day the same thing happened again. My instructor rode her later in the day and she did exactly the same thing with her. She also rode her bareback to see if it was the saddle but no change. She then lunged her and she seemed a bit short behind but it wasn't clear on which leg.

Monday I got the vet out and he trotted her up, did flexion tests, lunged on concrete and on the field and he said she was completely sound. He checked her back and sacrum and no sign of any soreness. No heat or swelling anywhere. Vet told me to just carry on riding her. I rode her again yesterday (Tuesday) and exactly the same thing happened again. I've now booked her in for a ridden exam with the vet next week as this just doesn't seem right to me at all. Has anyone had an experience like this/have any ideas what on earth could be wrong with her? I'm fearing the worst at the moment!
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Personally I would get a physio out to be sure - maybe something happened between n the vetting and her arriving.
 
Thanks for all your suggestions. I did wonder about ulcers but she isn't that sensitive anywhere else. Got ridden vet exam Tuesday so will have to see what they say. Unfortunately the previous owners live miles away.
 
There are alot of hind gut issues this time of year with the grass change anyway but with yours changing yards its possibly aggravated it, not all gut issues stare you in the face,, right rein is usually a good indicator give away.... hope you get sorted
 
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