Leo Walker
Well-Known Member
This is a completely new phenomenon to me. I bought my little mare in autumn last year and she was fat as a pig. I assumed that she was a typical good doer, piggy pony and dieted her and worked her appropriately and now shes a good weight. She still needs to lose a tiny but and muscle up more, but I'm more than happy with her. We've swapped to summer fields this week and I was having a nervous breakdown about the grass, so shes been going out for a few hours and then back to the winter field. Yet shes not bothered. She eats a bit then takes herself off for a canter round, then has a rest and repeat.
Its so odd. She doesnt walk anywhere. Its either eating/standing or trot/canter. Its not an excited canter either, its a heavy on the forehand lumbering canter that makes me cringe! So shes not bombing about excited, it genuinely looks like shes out jogging, making herself exercise. I got a message last night from one of the other liveries saying that she was lunging herself in the field. So its not just me that thinks what shes doing is a bit weird. She looks perfectly happy doing it and stops if you call her over.
I am as sure as I can be that there is nothing wrong. Teeth were done on Friday, physio a few weeks ago and no issues at all, she looks sound, is shiny and well looking, feet like iron, barefoot and sound over any surface. And she is so radiantly happy. Shes a lovely natured pony anyway but she really loves this yard. We did have a bit of a row about ling reining the other day, but there were some mitigating circumstances and otherwise her ridden and driven work is outstanding and I'm thrilled with her. She has lovely soft muscles and no signs of PSSM or the like, but does get extra vitamin e 9 months of the year anyway.
She didnt do this last year, as my friend was on the same yard she was. I genuinely dont think there is anything wrong, and I am the first to say things have a physical cause, but it doesnt feel like that in this instance.
Does anyone else have a horse who does anything similar??
Its so odd. She doesnt walk anywhere. Its either eating/standing or trot/canter. Its not an excited canter either, its a heavy on the forehand lumbering canter that makes me cringe! So shes not bombing about excited, it genuinely looks like shes out jogging, making herself exercise. I got a message last night from one of the other liveries saying that she was lunging herself in the field. So its not just me that thinks what shes doing is a bit weird. She looks perfectly happy doing it and stops if you call her over.
I am as sure as I can be that there is nothing wrong. Teeth were done on Friday, physio a few weeks ago and no issues at all, she looks sound, is shiny and well looking, feet like iron, barefoot and sound over any surface. And she is so radiantly happy. Shes a lovely natured pony anyway but she really loves this yard. We did have a bit of a row about ling reining the other day, but there were some mitigating circumstances and otherwise her ridden and driven work is outstanding and I'm thrilled with her. She has lovely soft muscles and no signs of PSSM or the like, but does get extra vitamin e 9 months of the year anyway.
She didnt do this last year, as my friend was on the same yard she was. I genuinely dont think there is anything wrong, and I am the first to say things have a physical cause, but it doesnt feel like that in this instance.
Does anyone else have a horse who does anything similar??