Won’t stand still

[CrystalHorse]

My horse use to really enjoy grooming time, he use to stand so still and rest his leg as if he was enjoying it. Recently the past 2 times I’ve groomed him 3-5minutes in and he starts moving around as if he’s really irritated trying to pull free, biting the stable wall, and pawing at the ground. I spend about 30 minutes grooming him, he has a very thick coat (a Connemara) and I’m not rough with him at all. Is he just bored, being naughty or is there a problem?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

You will get far more responses if you put this in Tack Room, I doubt that Admin, who this board is aimed at will be able to answer your question, or even see it at the weekend.
To answer your question, I would suspect ulcers and consult the vet..

 

[CrystalHorse]

You will get far more responses if you put this in Tack Room, I doubt that Admin, who this board is aimed at will be able to answer your question, or even see it at the weekend.
To answer your question, I would suspect ulcers and consult the vet..

thank you! He is a loan horse so I’ll have to speak to his owner. Is there a possibility that these ulcers could be caused by the usual thistles that have purple flowers you get in the field? He has been eating a lot of them lately and ever since he has been having diarrhea

 

[be positive]

thank you! He is a loan horse so I’ll have to speak to his owner. Is there a possibility that these ulcers could be caused by the usual thistles that have purple flowers you get in the field? He has been eating a lot of them lately and ever since he has been having diarrhea

Thistles will not cause ulcers but the fact he is eating them, has diarrhoea and the behaviour is new would make some investigations by the vet worthwhile, I would also wonder why he has a thick coat at this time of year, Connies generally have a fairly fine coat and he should be in full summer coat by now.

 

[Gloi]

Are you bringing him in from the field to groom and has he become attached to the other horses in there. He might just be getting irritated at being away from his friends. I wouldn't worry about the eating thistles, ours all love thistle flowers, but the diarrhoea and the thick coat should be investigated, although the diarrhoea could also be caused by separation anxiety if it only happens when he comes in.

 

[CrystalHorse]

Thistles will not cause ulcers but the fact he is eating them, has diarrhoea and the behaviour is new would make some investigations by the vet worthwhile, I would also wonder why he has a thick coat at this time of year, Connies generally have a fairly fine coat and he should be in full summer coat by now.

Thanks for the advice! And he has the usual coat that a Connemara has I just didn’t mean a coat like an Irish Draught or a thinner coated horse

 

[CrystalHorse]

Are you bringing him in from the field to groom and has he become attached to the other horses in there. He might just be getting irritated at being away from his friends. I wouldn't worry about the eating thistles, ours all love thistle flowers, but the diarrhoea and the thick coat should be investigated, although the diarrhoea could also be caused by separation anxiety if it only happens when he comes in.

There is only 1 other horse in the field but they have always lived separated with a fence between them and he’s always been groomed alone but just recently started to act like this. The diarrhea happens in the field as he is not stabled, it’s been happening ever since he’s been in the field that has the flowers in them and eats them all day even though he has grass to eat, that’s why I’m wondering if it’s the flowers causing it or something else?

 

[paddy555]

thank you! He is a loan horse so I’ll have to speak to his owner. Is there a possibility that these ulcers could be caused by the usual thistles that have purple flowers you get in the field? He has been eating a lot of them lately and ever since he has been having diarrhea

If a horse who happily enjoys being groomed for 30 mins suddenly doesn't like it I would suspect pain. I would start with gut pain.

Diarrhoea could cause gut pain so the first thing I would do is remove him from the thistles or fence him off them. Give him a week and then try grooming again. You have a very strong link between thistles, diarrhoea and being unhappy grooming. Start with the obvious first.

 

[SussexbytheXmasTree]

Personally I wouldn’t go straight for the vet. I’d definitely think something is bothering him though related to some sort of discomfort. I’d probably review diet and add a few days of strong pre and probiotics followed by a maintenance dose if he is’nt already on them. And as above remove the above and give as plain a diet as possible. My old boy had a day or so a couple of weeks ago acting very unsettled but he was back to normal in a few days. I find the wind can also make them irritable.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Is there much grass in the field or is it quite bare? If his munching on thistle it could be that his hungry, does he get any hay when he comes? I find my horses happily stand anywhere with a hay net maybe try doing that.