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Ceriann

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Mare scoped clear following marked ulceration back in September. We've made very slow progress since, in that she is now happy in walk on hacks but very little else. Trot is very difficult and I can't work her through it like I did with her walk (she wouldn't move at all when I first started riding again). I've tried rest (latest was a month off), various ulcer related supplements, changed her feed and yes she's better - she's brighter, happier, more her self, but she will not go forward for me under saddle. I've got a new saddle on order - on new saddlers recommendation (who said current one not a bad fit but there were more suitable saddles for her that she would go better in) but not pinning my hopes on this as she's the same bare back.

So called vet back today and worked through her lameness work up (which she had at time of scoping) and they are recommending medicating her hocks. Vet had hoped hock issues (which showed on nerve block) were due to ulcers - conformation and X-rays don't indicate hock issues - but continued problems now suggest otherwise.

I'm at my wits end with her - she's such a lovely horse but we've had about 4 months only of progress since she was backed in Jan (she's only 6) and as uninsured it's costing me a fortune too. I will do everything to make her comfortable, which I believe she is in the field but what are experiences of hock medication? She's a nice all rounder type, bit of hacking, low level dressage etc (no competition prospect) which is fine for me plus she's so sweet and has done masses for my confidence despite the short ridden period and her age.
 
What tests has she had? Has her back been x-rayed? What is she like on the lunge? Ulcers are often secondary to other physical issues rather than the other way around. Do you let her have a hay net before exercise? If she is pain free, then it could be the fear of pain which makes her reluctant to trot. Trotting makes the stomach acid splash up and hurt the ulcers.
 
Back X rayed, ultrasound on suspensories and hocks X rayed. Nothing showed on X-rays but the hock nerve block indicated an issue, which would have been treated if scope hadn't shown such bad ulcers, so advice was to treat ulcers as hock pain could be due to ulcers. She was lunged and trotted up etc when she scoped clear and vet happy but I'm thinking that there she would be livelier as away from home.

She gets a small feed before work - chaff and tiny bit of mash. She's fed otherwise twice a day - chaff and fibre mash, which carries various ulcer/gut focused supplements (a thunderbrooks gut specific things).6 She is better since being on these (about a month) and we've come a long way from not wanting to be mounted, planting at block, cow kicking at every leg on but trot is a no go (we've had a couple of short trots from voice command only). She's a genuine mare, I could push it but I don't want to as she's trying to tell me something, I just don't know what!
 
Always feed before riding. She's a good doer and out more or less 24/7 - ad lib hay now too. She gets two small feeds of fibre mash with chaff (carrying ulcer/gut specific supplements from thunderbrooks) - no grains, sugars etc. She looks well, lovely shiny coat and is back to her cheeky self (when ulcers diagnosed she was far more subdued). She eats well now and her poo is good (she used to be a bit sloppy).
 
If the nerve blocks showed an issue with the hock I would suspect that is the primary issue and the ulcers are secondary, I did a bit of stalking and see she is 8, nearly 9 so although only recently broken she is not as young as I thought, I also came across a photo which shows rather straight hocks so her confo is going to point towards the hocks being a potential problem.
I am surprised your vets thought the hock was secondary to the ulcers and to not get on with treating the two issues together.
 
be positive said:
If the nerve blocks showed an issue with the hock I would suspect that is the primary issue and the ulcers are secondary, I did a bit of stalking and see she is 8, nearly 9 so although only recently broken she is not as young as I thought, I also came across a photo which shows rather straight hocks so her confo is going to point towards the hocks being a potential problem.
I am surprised your vets thought the hock was secondary to the ulcers and to not get on with treating the two issues together.
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It's likely she's 6, nearly 7. She's a charity mare (I've had her about 3 years) and theirs papers suggested 8 nearly 9 but when I took her to vets for lameness work up and scoping turns out they knew her really well (came in to them before I had her as a neglect case) and were sure she was was 6 (charity told me very little at the time). She made a full recovery from her issues back then and before she came to me. When I queried it with charity they said vet suggested age could be right as passport done by them when they took her in. In reality I don't know for sure.

I agree re hocks but at time she had such marked ulceration it made sense to treat it sequentially and when she scoped clear vet was happy with her second trot up, lunge etc (although I now think this was due to her being slightly hotter away from home etc). X ray of hocks also clear. She's also never been lame. I do know I've tried lots from a management perspective and have taken all the steps to get her back riding slowly and I think sensitively and nothing has worked. My call to vet is also my third since she scoped clear. She's not happy so likely we'll medicate hicks and go from there.
 
My vets treated ulcers first with mine. If I'd known then they were usually as a result of pain I'd have spent the effort and money on the lameness work up 12 months ago.

My mare has PSSM & most recently we've found arthritis in both hock joints (she's 6). Due to the fact she's fat the vet didn't want to go with steroid injections just yet so she had a course of cartrophen injections which are supposed to help joint fluid.

Lots of physio, groundwork, supplements and she's virtually sound in hand. Not yet sound under saddle which is concerning but she has the best poos that I've seen since I've had her - so her tummy is sorted at least!
 
Kaylum said:
Lovely have you also looked at feeding corn oil?
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Tried corn oil and made no difference but thank you. I think I could write a thesis on ulcer related supplements and feeds. It's great there is so much information out there but it is a minefield.
 
SEL said:
My vets treated ulcers first with mine. If I'd known then they were usually as a result of pain I'd have spent the effort and money on the lameness work up 12 months ago.

My mare has PSSM & most recently we've found arthritis in both hock joints (she's 6).ue to the fact she's fat the vet didn't want to go with steroid injections just yet so she had a course of cartrophen injections which are supposed to help joint fluid.

Lots of physio, groundwork, supplements and she's virtually sound in hand. Not yet sound under saddle which is concerning but she has the best poos that I've seen since I've had her - so her tummy is sorted at least!
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I feel for you. Mine went in for a lameness work up as she decided one day (two days after a v good lesson) that she just didn't want to be ridden (cow kicking at each step). She was never lame but did look "awkward" at the back end on the lunge. The ulcers (bad) and fact she'd been in a completely different regime when sent away to be backed pushed for that treatment.

Is your vet confident yours will come sound and what do you want to do with yours? My primary concern is to get her comfortable but I also want to ride - I already have one retired horse (I've not been lucky with horses in last 2/3 years) - and one of the questions I have said to vet I want considered is outlook given her age etc and fact she is like this following so little work.
 
I have a 10 year old tb gelding who has been in a similar situation . After 3 months of owning him , behavior changed ,girthy and grouchy when being groomed. We treated for ulcers by feeding egusin slh , calmed down. We had some concern about hind legs after 9 months, hocks were injected and chiropractic adjustment made ( there was concern over his stifle but we have worked hard with pole work and hills to strengthen) and new saddle. He is moving better than ever . It was absolutely worth it to see him at his best , i too was not insured, and i believe hock arthritis may have been the issue all along. Agree ulcers tend to be secondary issue. We still have occasional ulcer flare ups and treat with egusin and ulcer guard - extreme weather fluctuations resulting in less turn out main trigger , but he is sound !
 
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Wilkie said:
I have a 10 year old tb gelding who has been in a similar situation . After 3 months of owning him , behavior changed ,girthy and grouchy when being groomed. We treated for ulcers by feeding egusin slh , calmed down. We had some concern about hind legs after 9 months, hocks were injected and chiropractic adjustment made ( there was concern over his stifle but we have worked hard with pole work and hills to strengthen) and new saddle. He is moving better than ever . It was absolutely worth it to see him at his best , i too was not insured, and i believe hock arthritis may have been the issue all along. Agree ulcers tend to be secondary issue. We still have occasional ulcer flare ups and treat with egusin and ulcer guard - extreme weather fluctuations resulting in less turn out main trigger , but he is sound !
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Good to hear a similar story with a positive outcome. I've had a few tell me she's now just trying me and napping. I just don't buy it as she's not once been anything other than polite despite some nasty ulcers. Have a further call with vet Tuesday to confirm but given last exam I'm fairly sure that's what we will now do. Hopefully that and whatever physio they recommend together with new saddle will result in the same positive outcome for us.
 
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