When to call it a day with riding?

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Ali27

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So, my 5 year old mare (who I had as a 2 year old) was diagnosed a few months ago with ulcers and juvenile hock osteoarthritis. She was lightly backed last Spring and then turned away over Winter after a few bucking episodes which I put down to the saddle (looking back, I think it was probably due to hocks). She was restarted in February and was doing great, then in May started getting aggressive with tacking up so got vet. Treated the ulcers and she had hocks medicated and a Tilden infusion. She has been doing really well and vets very happy.
However last night I put saddle on and no girthiness but then as I put stirrups down, she launched at me and bit me on arm. I then moved her away from hay, put bridle on fine, mounted and rode round grassy tracks near me and she was lovely and forward and no napping.
She is very food orientated and on restricted grazing so the bite could have been related to “don’t take me away from my hay” but I can’t stop thinking that she is still in pain! She’s always been difficult to pick up hooves and isn’t great with farrier. Started putting shoes on her in May and she needs sedating. She was definitely in season over weekend as kept stopping to squirt when hacking.
I’m really wondering whether I should stop riding her and that she should be a field ornament.
Any advice would be very appreciated! Thanks so much xxxx
 
It's possible that it's just food related. Why not have another couple of goes tacking her up with hay nowhere in sight, if possible let her have a munch on some hay for 10 minutes or so beforehand to be careful of the ulcers and if she is a bit peckish, but take it away and all the scraps so that food isn't so distracting. Personally I prefer my horses to tie on the yard, be groomed and tacked up without any so that they aren't constantly going for it, it's much easier!

Might be a simple fix, before you decide to do anything else or retire her. Good luck.
 
my lot do 'hangry' well. So i always make sure they have come in and filled their bellies up before we ride. Especially this time of year when the grass doesnt seem to touch the sides.

Perhaps give her some chaff before you ride ?
 
Ali27 said:
So, my 5 year old mare (who I had as a 2 year old) was diagnosed a few months ago with ulcers and juvenile hock osteoarthritis. She was lightly backed last Spring and then turned away over Winter after a few bucking episodes which I put down to the saddle (looking back, I think it was probably due to hocks). She was restarted in February and was doing great, then in May started getting aggressive with tacking up so got vet. Treated the ulcers and she had hocks medicated and a Tilden infusion. She has been doing really well and vets very happy.
However last night I put saddle on and no girthiness but then as I put stirrups down, she launched at me and bit me on arm. I then moved her away from hay, put bridle on fine, mounted and rode round grassy tracks near me and she was lovely and forward and no napping.
She is very food orientated and on restricted grazing so the bite could have been related to “don’t take me away from my hay” but I can’t stop thinking that she is still in pain! She’s always been difficult to pick up hooves and isn’t great with farrier. Started putting shoes on her in May and she needs sedating. She was definitely in season over weekend as kept stopping to squirt when hacking.
I’m really wondering whether I should stop riding her and that she should be a field ornament.
Any advice would be very appreciated! Thanks so much xxxx
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This is normally a good instinct, honestly. It could be food related as in that's what pushed her over the edge in the moment, but given that history I would take it as information that she maybe still isn't 100% comfortable. I don't think it has to be immediate retirement! Just that things maybe haven't been fully resolved yet.

I do also always try and never do anything with a hungry horse. 15-20 mins of forage while I finish up barn chores is our protocol.
 
She's still very young, there would be no harm in her having a winter off, let everything settle and then see again in the spring.

It might be food, but a few more bad experiences for both of you and it'll start to become a habit. So personally with a 5 y/o I would take all pressure off completely and see if Dr Green helps sort things out in time.
 
Honestly, I think once that idea's in your head you may as well make that decision because even if she is ok (which, sadly, is unlikely) you're never going to enjoy riding her, you'll be too worried. After I retired Archie (at 26 so very different situation) he looked amazing in the field and I wondered if I had made the right choice until I realised he looked amazing BECAUSE I wasn't riding him and if I started again, not only would he be likely to be in pain, I'd never enjoy it as I'd always be looking for the signs and worrying whether he was ok.
 
I’m a big believer in that if a horse who doesn’t normally bite then bites you it is their last resort and you haven’t seen the subtle signs beforehand.

I say this, without trying to sound unkind as I was in exactly the same situation a few years back. My lovely, well mannered mare suffered a kick to her hock in the field causing lameness. A arthroscopy was performed and she was deemed ‘sound’ by the vets.

I in my ignorance didn’t act when she started putting her ears back upon saddling, nor when she was reluctant to go down hill.

I absolutely took notice when she really bit me bringing her out from her stable, it was so out of character for her and the vet was called 🥹😞
 
My very food oriented lassy threw in a buck when I asked her to move forward after mounting. I assumed she was having a wee tantrum about leaving the long grass she was eating but once I asked for trot on the beach and realised she was lame I felt utterly terrible. (And jumped off straight away)
She also has hock arthritis which I found out after the buck and after several tries to get her back in work I’m unsure whether to give up. Her weight is an issue though so the exercise would do her good as long as she was comfortable.

Sorry probably not anything helpful other than I feel your pain.
 
Peglo said:
My very food oriented lassy threw in a buck when I asked her to move forward after mounting. I assumed she was having a wee tantrum about leaving the long grass she was eating but once I asked for trot on the beach and realised she was lame I felt utterly terrible. (And jumped off straight away)
She also has hock arthritis which I found out after the buck and after several tries to get her back in work I’m unsure whether to give up. Her weight is an issue though so the exercise would do her good as long as she was comfortable.

Sorry probably not anything helpful other than I feel your pain.
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It’s so hard isn’t it especially when you know that they have these issues! Just spoken to the Radionics lady and she is going to have a look. She feels that there is something else going on, like EMS although she’s tested negative. I’ve put her on vit E which seems to have helped. My gut is telling me that she’s still sore 🥲
 
my now 15 year old gelding was exactly the same as this when he was 4.
he was diagnosed with pedal osteitis and hock spavin, I spent a year trying him remedial shoes but he was never 100%, so at 5 he went to have his hocks fused and then the vet told me to remove his shoes and let him sort is own feet out, to help the pedal osteitis. after some time he was then also diagnosed with ulcers and with a lot of slow work he finally realised that work wasn't painful anymore! I think from day one of being backed he probably felt pain so it did take him along time to realise he was okay.

he does still have a sensitive tummy, I have to keep him on restricted grazing but with plenty of hay, so he doesn't get hungry and doesn't have an empty tummy as he will be very grouchy!

so in a word, I don't think its time to stop yet, but make sure you identify what it was that caused the ulcers, mine appears to be travelling in the trailer. I know his gut is off when he's an idiot to have his hoof boots put on, so you might find thats why your mare is so bad to shoe too.
but also know that every time you sedate her, you're going to be putting the gut out of balance, so that alone could be causing her issues! is she on a good gut balancer/pre and probiotic?
 
I wouldn't want to turn away to be a field ornament without doing more investigations as to where/what it could be so you and vet can either treat or make an informed decision on whether she's only sore when under saddle or when just being a horse as well.

ETA though I will say despite extensive 'are they definitely able to be pain free and happy pasture pets' discussions with multiple different vets and farrier I still fret about mine all the time 😬 if I went with my gut we'd just live in horsepital
 
Maybe think about turning away for the winter and start some gentle riding in April or may next year and see how it goes with your horse.
 
FieldOrnaments said:
I wouldn't want to turn away to be a field ornament without doing more investigations as to where/what it could be so you and vet can either treat or make an informed decision on whether she's only sore when under saddle or when just being a horse as well.

ETA though I will say despite extensive 'are they definitely able to be pain free and happy pasture pets' discussions with multiple different vets and farrier I still fret about mine all the time 😬 if I went with my gut we'd just live in horsepital
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I brought her in today and she turned back on me to be caught, put her in stable to munch on hay for 20 mins while I poo picked. Tied her up on yard, brushed her and as soon as I touched her rump, ears went back, swished tail, lifted back leg. Then picked out hooves and she kicked out with back near. I stood her in middle of yard for 5 mins and did a little groundwork. Got numnah and as soon as she saw that, ears back and turned back on me.
I think the munching on hay while tacking up has actually been distracting her! I’m fairly sure ulcers are back so she’s booked in for scope on Monday. Then I think I need a serious conversation about her future with the vet.
 
Ali27 said:
I brought her in today and she turned back on me to be caught, put her in stable to munch on hay for 20 mins while I poo picked. Tied her up on yard, brushed her and as soon as I touched her rump, ears went back, swished tail, lifted back leg. Then picked out hooves and she kicked out with back near. I stood her in middle of yard for 5 mins and did a little groundwork. Got numnah and as soon as she saw that, ears back and turned back on me.
I think the munching on hay while tacking up has actually been distracting her! I’m fairly sure ulcers are back so she’s booked in for scope on Monday. Then I think I need a serious conversation about her future with the vet.
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Whatever it is,it isn't a happy situation for either you or her.
 
Ali27 said:
I brought her in today and she turned back on me to be caught, put her in stable to munch on hay for 20 mins while I poo picked. Tied her up on yard, brushed her and as soon as I touched her rump, ears went back, swished tail, lifted back leg. Then picked out hooves and she kicked out with back near. I stood her in middle of yard for 5 mins and did a little groundwork. Got numnah and as soon as she saw that, ears back and turned back on me.
I think the munching on hay while tacking up has actually been distracting her! I’m fairly sure ulcers are back so she’s booked in for scope on Monday. Then I think I need a serious conversation about her future with the vet.
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She’s definitely talking to you. Big hugs 🩷
 
Ali27 said:
I brought her in today and she turned back on me to be caught, put her in stable to munch on hay for 20 mins while I poo picked. Tied her up on yard, brushed her and as soon as I touched her rump, ears went back, swished tail, lifted back leg. Then picked out hooves and she kicked out with back near. I stood her in middle of yard for 5 mins and did a little groundwork. Got numnah and as soon as she saw that, ears back and turned back on me.
I think the munching on hay while tacking up has actually been distracting her! I’m fairly sure ulcers are back so she’s booked in for scope on Monday. Then I think I need a serious conversation about her future with the vet.
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My little mare was treated for ulcers and scoped clear in March. It then took a further 2 months for the aggression to reduce and by July she was perfect. Then by Sept she was back to acting like your mare, ear pinning and acting as if to bite. I rescoped her and she has grade 3 ulcers again. We think we know why they came back, so at least I have a theory to work on. She is 6 and unbacked. I haven’t given up hope that I can get her good and happy again and hopefully back her next year.
 
I would check saddle if scope shows no ulcers (I would do it now but appreciate with your history you’re worried about ulcers first!). Given she was out of work for a period then came back into work, you can get sudden changes there too.
 
We've just dealt with Grade 4 ulcers in our unbacked 4 year old & according to the vets & physio there is a lot of remembered pain! I would be giving her the benefit of the doubt if I was you & ease up the pressure on both yourselves to ride - theres so much to be gained for you both with correct groundwork especially with a 5 year old.
 
Sadly she was scoped on Monday and the glandular ulcers had returned! After a long discussion with vet and looking at all the other issues she had going on and there wasn’t a guarantee that she could be pain free and happy in the field. I made the horrible and very difficult decision to say goodbye to her!
Absolutely devastated but glad that she is now at peace🥲
 
Ali27 said:
Sadly she was scoped on Monday and the glandular ulcers had returned! After a long discussion with vet and looking at all the other issues she had going on and there wasn’t a guarantee that she could be pain free and happy in the field. I made the horrible and very difficult decision to say goodbye to her!
Absolutely devastated but glad that she is now at peace🥲
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Very sorry to hear this but you put her needs first.
 
I'm so sorry to read this. Credit to you for going with your gut, investigating immediately and ultimately making the hardest but kindest decision. The best owner any domestic horse can hope for. Take care x
 
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