Why is my pony standing like this?

[Ladybird L]

I’ve noticed her doing it quite a bit. Any ideas?
(Don’t mind her head she was just itching a fly)

 

[Icedance]

Stomach pain is my first thought. Stretching out can be a sign of colic. What are her vitals like?

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Stomach pain, kidney pain, in season?

Going on recent weather, has she been drinking enough, is she weeing normally?

 

[ycbm]

Also hamstring pain, according to physio I spoke to about my last horse, who only did it with one leg at a time.
.

 

[TinseLeneHorse]

Your grazing looks very lush. It's possible she could have a touch of gassy colic.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Colic, get help before it is too late

 

[stinkyshetlands]

My pony standing like this was her first sign of colic. Since then we've had chronic colic for months to the point of surgery. Please get a vet out as this was one of her early mild symptoms before going downhill.

 

[Birker2020]

It can be a sign of soreness or tightness in the back and SI and it can also be a symptom of PSSM as well as trying to relieve stomach pain. It's called standing camped out (behind)when a horse stands like this.

 

[Icedance]

How is she doing? Did the vet attend?

 

[Hollylee1989]

Looks like a colic stance, but have seen laminitics stand like this. Hope she's ok

 

[Ladybird L]

She’s being doing it for a while, so I don’t think colic. Weeing, drinking, pooping normally.
Could it be caused by a badly fitting saddle? I bought her saddle with her but maybe it doesn’t fit well.
Or is she just gassy. Now that you said about that i think it does correspond with getting new grazing. And I have noticed her passing wind.
She’s fine this morning, and she never has other symptoms - only standing like that.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

I would be very careful as I had a laminitic prone horse that always stood like this when a bout of laminitis was about to flare up. It isnt always the more usual camped under back leg stance and your pony might well have very low grade lammi already going on. Your grazing does look rather lush for a well rounded pony. Apologies if that is incorrect as your pic isn't very clear.

 

[nikicb]

Please get the vet out as a matter of urgency. Looking back over your previous posts, you are relatively new to horses and certainly horse ownership - that’s not a problem in itself, but you do need to seek advice from someone who can see the horse in real life, not ask a forum. That is a picture of an uncomfortable horse. It could be any number of things, but both laminitis and colic are medical emergencies. Good luck.

ETA a little more explanation.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Or is she just gassy. Now that you said about that i think it does correspond with getting new grazing. And I have noticed her passing wind.
She’s fine this morning, and she never has other symptoms - only standing like that.

That’s a lot of grass for what looks like a hardy type to me. Could be stomach ache and why she’s gassy.
Does she get a rest off the grass?

 

[Icedance]

If I turned my hardy type out on grass that looks like your grazing I would have no end of gas problems. They can be very serious. Have you been taking any vitals? I would check HR, RR, MM and temp and call my vet if she were mine

 

[Ladybird L]

Ohh sorry no she doesn’t have access to all that grass! There’s a fence - gosh you can’t see it in at all in the photo. Every couple of days she gets a small new patch.
I’ll check her vitals as soon as I can..

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Ohh sorry no she doesn’t have access to all that grass! There’s a fence - gosh you can’t see it in at all in the photo. Every couple of days she gets a small new patch.
I’ll check her vitals as soon as I can..

If she’s anything like my mare and gorges on the new grass, it might be that when you move the fence she’s gorging it and giving her belly ache/almost a bit colicky.

Does she do the same posture when not given any new grass?

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

Ladybird L please may I refer you to a previous post that worries me somewhat :

When she went into sales livery ( with a person I know well, I’m leasing a pony from him currently, he mentioned her to me) he got the farrier to come out, who did her hooves and shod her. The person was sure she had laminitis but the farrier said no, she didn’t. Vet checked. No laminitis. May have had it but the hoof wall didn’t separate from the pedal bone. I’ve been told her soles are soft and thin, and I have been given stuff to put on them. Her feet are definitely a bit tender.

The fact she did not have lammi at that particular time, but the 'may have had it' rings alarm bells for me. Also 'her feet are definitely a bit tender' I have a donkey inclined to lammi, moving a fence along every two days on that lush grazing would still give him lammi, he would simply gorge himself on rich sugary grazing everytime it wa moved.

During the spring, summer and early autumn all of mine are only moved on to 'tired' scrubby grass. And if that is not possible for whatever reason, my horse might be given a small strip of better grazing to herself but the lammi donkey just no never. The only bit of green grass they see is the midden area and thank goodness they are never interested in that.

I hope you do not feel we are getting at you in anyway, I think everyone who has replied to your concerns only want to help and save you from a lot of heartache with a very sick pony. Hopefully we are all wrong and your vet giving her the once over will be the most sensible thing to do next.

 

[stinkyshetlands]

I've attached an image of mine standing very similarly when she was unwell. I really hope your case isn't the same as mine but I would urge you to speak to a vet as they're the only ones that will truly know what is going on, not members of an online forum. I hope you manage to find out what's going on with your lovely horse

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Ladybird L please may I refer you to a previous post that worries me somewhat :


The fact she did not have lammi at that particular time, but the 'may have had it' rings alarm bells for me. Also 'her feet are definitely a bit tender' I have a donkey inclined to lammi, moving a fence along every two days on that lush grazing would still give him lammi, he would simply gorge himself on rich sugary grazing everytime it wa moved.

During the spring, summer and early autumn all of mine are only moved on to 'tired' scrubby grass. And if that is not possible for whatever reason, my horse might be given a small strip of better grazing to herself but the lammi donkey just no never. The only bit of green grass they see is the midden area and thank goodness they are never interested in that.

I hope you do not feel we are getting at you in anyway, I think everyone who has replied to your concerns only want to help and save you from a lot of heartache with a very sick pony. Hopefully we are all wrong and your vet giving her the once over will be the most sensible thing to do next.

I was not aware of this. Definitely worth the vet having a look.

 

[Ladybird L]

We’re in contact with a vet…
Waiting for him to get back to us rn..

Ladybird L please may I refer you to a previous post that worries me somewhat :


The fact she did not have lammi at that particular time, but the 'may have had it' rings alarm bells for me. Also 'her feet are definitely a bit tender' I have a donkey inclined to lammi, moving a fence along every two days on that lush grazing would still give him lammi, he would simply gorge himself on rich sugary grazing everytime it wa moved.

During the spring, summer and early autumn all of mine are only moved on to 'tired' scrubby grass. And if that is not possible for whatever reason, my horse might be given a small strip of better grazing to herself but the lammi donkey just no never. The only bit of green grass they see is the midden area and thank goodness they are never interested in that.

I hope you do not feel we are getting at you in anyway, I think everyone who has replied to your concerns only want to help and save you from a lot of heartache with a very sick pony. Hopefully we are all wrong and your vet giving her the once over will be the most sensible thing to do next.

We sorted that out… turned out she had thrush… she was normal in no time once we figured out what it was.
I guess if it’s lammi she’ll be condemned to life in a dry lot! We’ll see what the vet says.

I definitely don’t, I appreciate everyone who took the time to reply and give advice. For me (inexperienced!) it’s hard to tell what needs a vet and what doesn’t.

 

[Icedance]

We’re in contact with a vet…
Waiting for him to get back to us rn..


We sorted that out… turned out she had thrush… she was normal in no time once we figured out what it was.
I guess if it’s lammi she’ll be condemned to life in a dry lot! We’ll see what the vet says.

I definitely don’t, I appreciate everyone who took the time to reply and give advice. For me (inexperienced!) it’s hard to tell what needs a vet and what doesn’t.

You can manage horses well with laminitis provided you are strict and do it correctly. I wouldn’t suggest it is lami however it could be. I would be contacting your vet for an appointment tomorrow if her vitals are within normal parameters

 

[Icedance]

You can manage horses well with laminitis provided you are strict and do it correctly. I wouldn’t suggest it is lami however it could be. I would be contacting your vet for an appointment tomorrow if her vitals are within normal parameters

Sorry missed the top bit about you being in touch with your vet. What are the vitals like? I suggest this will be something your vet asks

 

[Ladybird L]

They’re normal, apart from that she is breathing quite fast. Vet is coming at 10am tomorrow so I’ll let you know what happens.

 

[Barton Bounty]

She’s being doing it for a while, so I don’t think colic. Weeing, drinking, pooping normally.
Could it be caused by a badly fitting saddle? I bought her saddle with her but maybe it doesn’t fit well.
Or is she just gassy. Now that you said about that i think it does correspond with getting new grazing. And I have noticed her passing wind.
She’s fine this morning, and she never has other symptoms - only standing like that.

Colics can pee and poo normally, colic like this can also be spasmodic, gassy and go on for a few weeks before it shows itself properly then the pony will be in severe pain.

There is no such thing as a touch of colic! The length of time you take to decide between episodes will matter

 

[nikicb]

We’re in contact with a vet…
Waiting for him to get back to us rn..


We sorted that out… turned out she had thrush… she was normal in no time once we figured out what it was.
I guess if it’s lammi she’ll be condemned to life in a dry lot! We’ll see what the vet says.

I definitely don’t, I appreciate everyone who took the time to reply and give advice. For me (inexperienced!) it’s hard to tell what needs a vet and what doesn’t.

Great that you are in contact with the vet. They really are the best person to help you at the moment. The forum is fantastic for support, and we are all, I am sure, hoping there is nothing seriously wrong with your lovely mare. There is nothing wrong with being inexperienced, and there is also no such thing as a stupid question (well, there is, but you know what I mean!), but if you are worried about your horse not being her usual self, it's always best to get someone to check her. Do let us know how it pans out once the vet sees her. x

 

[Ladybird L]

So the vet surprised me by calling and saying he was 20 mins away…
Anyway, he told me that it’s laminitis. He gave her an injection ( she nearly pulled me up on the end of the lead rope in a rear…. she decided last minute only to to a small one thankfully… I guess she doesn’t like syringes ) and sachets to give her. He’s coming back on Friday.
And its box rest with soft bedding and no grass for her too. He did say, though, that it was early stages so shouldn’t be too hard to reverse. Thank you everyone for all the advice. I’m glad I got the vet out - by the time I might’ve realised it would’ve been much worse. So you’ve saved Lilly a lot of discomfort too!

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

I am so glad to read this, not glad it is lammi of course, but excellent it has been caught at an early stage. Hopefully with a different management strategy you can now avoid any flare ups in the future. I hope she is soon much more comfortable and you can get back to enjoying riding. Do let us know how she is getting on.

 

[Icedance]

Also very glad the vet has attended and you have an early diagnosis. I’m well versed in lami management so please do ask if you need any guidance at all. My basics would be soaked hay (weighed appropriately) and low sugar/starch hard feed IF you must feed it (I have to in order to get bute in, I can’t syringe mine) no grass, no treats etc. X-rays would be my next thing on Friday just to ensure you’re on the right path but fingers crossed.

Checking pulses every day will hopefully allow you to feel them reducing as the inflammation goes down too

 

[Ladybird L]

Mrs Jingle I understand, that’s what I feel. It’s hard to word though without sounding like I’m happy about her having lammi!
Thank you!

Ricedance thank you that’s so kind, I’ll definitely be asking lots of questions!
Thank you for all the information that’s so helpful!