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Fanatical

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Young (prospective) competition horse - 5 year old. First proper year of work (since March). Seems to go through phases of putting his back up in the first minute or so after I get on...very occasionally kicks a leg up/ out as well during that time. Doesn't last long - works fine once back down.

I have a jump saddle on him which is padded up to fit him - as per advice of saddle fitter. Was intending to get new saddles fitted to him early next year when he has filled out and muscled up a bit.
I have had a physio out to him who said he was tight on one side. Used ultra sound once and next time said it was a lot better - only saw him trot up, not lunged/ ridden. Wasn't particularly impressed.

I am concerned the 'back up' will progress and that he's trying to tell me something. Where do I start - get a second opinion from a different physio or do I get saddle check by someone different/ potentially get new saddles fitted now? 'Should' a physio be able to tell me if a saddle is making him sore?

I bought him as an unbacked 3 year old and this behaviour is new, and not something he even did whilst being backed.
 
Fanatical said:
I am concerned the 'back up' will progress and that he's trying to tell me something. Where do I start - get a second opinion from a different physio or do I get saddle check by someone different/ potentially get new saddles fitted now? 'Should' a physio be able to tell me if a saddle is making him sore?

I bought him as an unbacked 3 year old and this behaviour is new, and not something he even did whilst being backed.
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whether physio can advise on your saddle depends on the physio and their own levels of interest/understanding of saddles and riding. Some equine physios don't ride at all, some might be quite well informed about saddles, some might be in between. The one I use often asks to see the saddle on the horse and it's something she knows enough to advise on, though she wouldn't fit a saddle for a horse.

When was saddle last checked? the fact that it's a new thing would make me want to investigate this, if the saddle was done quite recently then I think I'd be inclined to start with a good horse vet. The kicking out is quite a firm "get stuffed" kind of reaction. In the meantime can you try a different saddle on him? would be a quick way to judge how much of it might be saddle related, though if he then works quite well I personally would think it to be less likely.
 
milliepops said:
whether physio can advise on your saddle depends on the physio and their own levels of interest/understanding of saddles and riding. Some equine physios don't ride at all, some might be quite well informed about saddles, some might be in between. The one I use often asks to see the saddle on the horse and it's something she knows enough to advise on, though she wouldn't fit a saddle for a horse.

When was saddle last checked? the fact that it's a new thing would make me want to investigate this, if the saddle was done quite recently then I think I'd be inclined to start with a good horse vet. The kicking out is quite a firm "get stuffed" kind of reaction. In the meantime can you try a different saddle on him? would be a quick way to judge how much of it might be saddle related, though if he then works quite well I personally would think it to be less likely.
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Saddle was checked in May. So prob long enough ago to get checked again given how quickly they can change shape.
I agree re it being a new thing. He's always been very willing hence me feeling he's trying to tell me something.

I actually discussed him at length with one of the vets from the practice that I use - though not my own vet. She was convinced there was something amiss with his back from watching him work on the lunge - hes a bit ewe necked and prefers to 'hold' himself and would rather be hollow than really let go and swing over his back. She actually had an xray machine with her so we xrayed for kissing spines there and then and ruled that out.

Would ulcers cause this behaviour so briefly? He's quite a stressy character. Could be anything - hard to know where to start, especially when he has done so little.
 
My ulcery one started by being really backward, humpy and not going forward at the start of a session, she also swiped round with her head at me :o (rather than kicking out but I don't think it would be unheard of). She would also work through it. so would not be impossible.
 
milliepops said:
My ulcery one started by being really backward, humpy and not going forward at the start of a session, she also swiped round with her head at me :o (rather than kicking out but I don't think it would be unheard of). She would also work through it. so would not be impossible.
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Hmm. I bought a tub of 'acid ease' a while ago but never actually tried it. Not sure if to get him scoped or just trial the supplement.
 
I put mine straight on omeprazole. *ducks for cover*. it made a difference in a week, she had about 4 months of treatment tailing the dose off and now has a supplement.

ETA not saying that's what you should do but I generally find supplements in general are better for maintenance than treatment of a new problem, my other one has regumate when she's in season as supps don't help her at all. Have a chat with your vet again and see what they think :)
 
milliepops said:
I put mine straight on omeprazole. *ducks for cover*. it made a difference in a week, she had about 4 months of treatment tailing the dose off and now has a supplement.

ETA not saying that's what you should do but I generally find supplements in general are better for maintenance than treatment of a new problem, my other one has regumate when she's in season as supps don't help her at all. Have a chat with your vet again and see what they think :)
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Where did you get your omeprazole from? I have had one previously on gastro guard but although we scoped his symptoms were much more obvious - off his food, colic symptoms when he ate hard feed (hence presumably why he went off his feed), not wanting to go forward , digging etc. But GG so expensive!
 
Fanatical said:
Where did you get your omeprazole from? I have had one previously on gastro guard but although we scoped his symptoms were much more obvious - off his food, colic symptoms when he ate hard feed (hence presumably why he went off his feed), not wanting to go forward , digging etc. But GG so expensive!
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direct from Abler. I figured it would be a diagnostic in itself without putting my already stressed horse through a scope, but I know it's not for everyone. it was fine, arrived on time and it worked. Some on here would hang draw and quarter you for it :)
 
milliepops said:
direct from Abler. I figured it would be a diagnostic in itself without putting my already stressed horse through a scope, but I know it's not for everyone. it was fine, arrived on time and it worked. Some on here would hang draw and quarter you for it :)
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I feel similarly re putting him through the stress of it - not to mention the starvation, which would not help the ulcers at all. I will look into it, thank you.
 
My ulcery one will aim a hind leg at you with intent when she's uncomfortable. She's fine to be groomed but the minute the saddle / roller is placed on her back she lets you know clearly that she's sore and you lean under her stomach for the girth at your own risk. Humped back mounting and general grumpiness under saddle as well. Never loses weight (sadly)

She's been scoped in the past, but I also use Abler products when she has a flare up.
 
SEL said:
My ulcery one will aim a hind leg at you with intent when she's uncomfortable. She's fine to be groomed but the minute the saddle / roller is placed on her back she lets you know clearly that she's sore and you lean under her stomach for the girth at your own risk. Humped back mounting and general grumpiness under saddle as well. Never loses weight (sadly)

She's been scoped in the past, but I also use Abler products when she has a flare up.
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Other than the fact that he is stressy and this issue when I first get on, I wouldn't necessarily say he shows any other signs. He does chew my wooden posts in the field though - which i have just read can be a sign. He's always been a wood chewer though.
 
Fanatical said:
Hmm. I bought a tub of 'acid ease' a while ago but never actually tried it. Not sure if to get him scoped or just trial the supplement.
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When I had a mare that I suspected could have ulcers - she was new to me, had been fed cheap high sugar/high starch coarse mix and kept inside a lot over the winter in her previous home, I gave her Aloe Vera juice along with an ulcer friendly diet. I never had her scoped, as her symptoms diminished.
 
A couple of things stand out to me. The fact that it is a jump saddle and that he hasn't muscled up in his neck - has he put on muscle elsewhere? May is quite a long time ago, I'd definitely get the saddle checked and/or think about using a different shape on him to allow him to free up through the shoulders.

There's a couple of physios round here that wouldn't have the first notion about saddle fit, so it really does depend on who you get and how interested they are in such things (you'd think it would kind of go with the job).

No reason as others have said not to check for ulcers as well.
 
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