Where to start.....

[buddylove]

Pony is 14.2hh rising 8, super low mileage, 3/4 Welsh 1/4 Warmblood.
Has been in and out of work due to daughter's knee problems.
Lovely on the ground, not girthy, not grumpy to handle or groom. Lovely to hack, not spooky and copes really well with traffic etc.
Back in April was attending PC with no problems, he is very green but was giving everything a go. Then had about 6 weeks in the field due to daughter's knee issues. Back in work and hacking absolutely fine, he is not what you would call super chilled but he has been able to keep a lid on it, until now, it seems.
Whenever he is exposed to potentially stressful or exciting situations he is broncing her off, even just asking for trot! This has happened in group lessons, and at home in the field.
He has had teeth done under sedation with a camera to check everything is A OK in there. His saddle fits and daughter is 12 and built like a whippet. He is not showing any signs of lameness.
I am initially thinking ulcers, although he isn't grumpy on the ground, I have noticed he turns to look/nibble at her feet when she is in the saddle and he is standing still, he can be unhappy and explosive on the lunge.
Management wise he is out 24/7 with company and has been since we got him (12 months ago) just fed a small feed of speedi-beet with science supplements skin support, vit and min supplement, glucosamine and Aloe juice. Normally has a hay net to munch on whilst tacking up.
I am thinking of scoping? I could do a GG trial? Reluctant to do a bute trial if it is ulcers.
Am I starting in the right place or am I missing something more obvious?

 

[TheMule]

Vet, loss of performance work up and scope

 

[HeresHoping]

In my view, ulcers are the result of an issue, and therefore a secondary issue, not the primary issue itself. I.e. Ulcers show up when the horse is stressed as a result of other pain somewhere, rather than just appearing.

Two things jump out 'Nibbles her feet' and 'unhappy and explosive on the lunge'. Something hurts. Back? SI joint? Hocks, even? I would start with a vet with a view to a chiropractic/physio referral. By all means get him scoped, but please find the source of the pain. You say his saddle fits, but he has been out of work for a bit, and the incessant rain means non-stop grass growing, so he may have changed shape a bit, which would mean that his saddle is pressing on places where it shouldn't, even though it may look right.

Good luck.

 

[Equi]

All these behaviours point to some sort of back pain. I’d get the vet to do a work up firstly but also check the saddle really does fit by getting a second opinion.

 

[Goldenstar]

I do think you need to get the vet to take a look , well I should say a work up vet .
Yes the horse might have ulcers but that not likely to be the primary cause of the bouncing .

 

[Fransurrey]

In my view, ulcers are the result of an issue, and therefore a secondary issue, not the primary issue itself. I.e. Ulcers show up when the horse is stressed as a result of other pain somewhere, rather than just appearing.

Two things jump out 'Nibbles her feet' and 'unhappy and explosive on the lunge'. Something hurts. Back? SI joint? Hocks, even? I would start with a vet with a view to a chiropractic/physio referral. By all means get him scoped, but please find the source of the pain. You say his saddle fits, but he has been out of work for a bit, and the incessant rain means non-stop grass growing, so he may have changed shape a bit, which would mean that his saddle is pressing on places where it shouldn't, even though it may look right.

Good luck.

Agree with this 100 %.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

The first thing I would do, is get him off the glucosamine. I had an ID that bucked me off on the road when I gave her glucosamine. But then I would consult the vet.

 

[buddylove]

Well, another spanner thrown into the works this morning, he tried to mount an in season mare..... under saddle!!!
And he meant it, he was erect and teeth bared, luckily all escaped in one piece.
He has never shown any riggy behaviours in the 12 months we have owned him and he lived with a mare until recently. He is booked in for a blood test next week.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Is he insured? I'd first have been inclined to say, with all the correct checks to try a bute trial/scoping etc
However, with a small 12 yr old involved I'd not be taking any chances and going straight to a good vet for a full work up.

Good luck!

 

[canteron]

Scope - I genuinely think it’s more horrible for us! This is a similar story to my horse, I didn’t believe my chilled out horse would have ulcers, but she did!!!