WWYD....opinions

I had very similar behavior from my gelding. I won't go into detail but he too used to randomly tank off. If it was in a school he could usually be ridden through it and eventually pulled up but would be in such a state. He could also be fresh and spooky but that was different to the sudden random tanking off. I spent thousands trying to fix him - including various work-ups and a gamma scan at Newmarket. We found a few potential avenues that could be the cause and treated them but he still did it. He even spent time with a pro rider and he did the same to her and got worse as he got fitter. I've pretty much given up now and he's just a beautiful pet. I'm lucky that I have my mare to ride. I felt a huge amount of shame and failing at not being able to fix him as a riding horse but it was financially and mentally exhausting to keep trying everything anyone suggested. We'd get so far and I'd be riding him and all going well then, out of the blue, he'd do it again and we'd be back to square one.
Bottom line is I am sure it's pain and he only does it when ridden so the "cure" for him was to just not ride him.
Hope you find something to explain it but please don't put yourself in any more danger.
 
You say he had a lameness previously/recently - has the cause of this been rechecked (depending on what it was of course) to see if it could be giving agro?
I think at this point I'd be inclined to go straight to the vets for a full work up rather than keeping going with chiros etc.
Hope you get to the bottom of it and that your fingers heal soon!
 
I had an Irish sports horse who slight right hind lameness and erratic left fore no cause could be found he also randomly took off for no reason usually in the arena and would gallop straight at the fence but was generally ok hacking anyhow in the end took him to a very good equine hospital for a proper workup where they diagnosed wobblers why it caused these bizarre things i have no idea.
 
Sorry you are going through he has always sounded like a lovely boy and I hope he will be once again.

Does sound like pain and not freshness or anything. Hope you get it sorted.
 
I have nothing to add, except that I hope you get to the root of this soon - Kevin has always sounded lovely and your delight in him has been obvious.
 
Have you any idea where he'd been and done up to age 11?

Is it possible this is not a new thing?

Edited to add, please stay safe, I personally would not ride him again
 
tda said:
Have you any idea where he'd been and done up to age 11?

Is it possible this is not a new thing?

Edited to add, please stay safe, I personally would not ride him again
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The answer to your question is no I don't know what he has done. My feeling would be not a lot. Could he have done it before my feeling on that is prob yes. I suspect that he keeps it under control until he is settled and until he is really ask to use him self and then boom. I suspect he has been auctioned and moved on, who wants to lose money.
This is of course conjecture but it fits.
 
Do you know much about his background prior to you buying him? I wonder if this is something that has cropped up in the past?

I have one who was extremely poor when I got him, and now I know why. He is a nightmare to keep sane when he is well conditioned- he turns into a super idiot.
But he does not bolt or buck, simply becomes overly sharp.

I would get the horse fully checked out- the full works, and I certainly would not get back on board for the time being. Find out what you are dealing with, take some time away from riding him and re-assess it when you have more information.
 
Sukistokes2 said:
The answer to your question is no I don't know what he has done. My feeling would be not a lot. Could he have done it before my feeling on that is prob yes. I suspect that he keeps it under control until he is settled and until he is really ask to use him self and then boom. I suspect he has been auctioned and moved on, who wants to lose money.
This is of course conjecture but it fits.
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That would be my take on it as well. I'm so sorry, I know how much you think of him :(
 
Is it possible he's just learnt to do it and with your understandably dwindling confidence, doing it more often because you're worrying each other? Is he already in a Pelham with 2 reins? If not, I'd try that first, he is a big, strong chap who could easily learn that he doesn't have to respect the little human on board.
 
Lots of good advice already. I just wanted to point out that Fast Fibre contains expelled soya oil and oatfeed. I have one who is insanely sharp and unpredictable if he has soya, and I also know a few people who can't feed oats to theirs. Might be worth considering, along with the rest of the checks. Best of luck, OP.
 
There are things in this behaviour that mirror a horse I know. Having been struggling with undiagnosed, intermittent soundness issues he suddenly started either stopping or rushing off and exploding causing a couple of rider falls. To cut a long story short he was found to have Grade 4 ulcers - the sudden stopping/explosive behaviour was thought by vets to be a reaction to acid splashes so he was sucessfully treated with Gastroguard. He had always been managed to minimise the chance of ulcers but it the vets said they could have developed due to persistent pain. With further investigation he was found to have arthritic changes in spinal processes (not actually kissing spines but inflamed with erosion in some areas and exostosis in others). The affected area was medicated and to date all is well, he has returned to his former laid back self.
 
What a shame for you. I am no expert on heavy horses, just a Ted expert after 5 years of bringing him up. Ted's explosive exits were totally fear driven and not pain. Plus if he went he did not attempt to jump or crash through anything, he just went round in a panic and always came to a halt facing me. As the years have gone by he has turned into a trusting boy and his forwardness is anxiety to please rather than clear off.

Kevin sounds like something is suddenly catching him and giving great pain. Back pain would have to be high on the list I would think or possibly stifles. I found my big mare with a locked stifle a few years ago, she was petrified but rooted to the spot rather than running blind.

My understanding is that Shires are far sharper than clydes, but Kevin is an older horse with an unknown background so who knows what he has experienced. I think the only way forward would be extensive veterinary intervention and I think it would be sensible not to get on him again. Even if you could stop him or turn him, remember if he lost his footing and came down on you there is every chance you won't get up again. I really hope you can get the right help for him.
 
On Wednesday I went in and spoke to the vet. He was very helpful and is coming out to do an assessment on Wednesday next week. As I have a broken hand my wonderful friend has volunteered as a sacrificial lamb and is going to ride for the vet. She is a professional rider so well equipped to cope with any explosive episodes. He will also be in a pelham and a martingale, for added safety. The vet suggested saddler before hand, so my saddler is coming out Monday and we will do a stationary fit and lunge and he (saddler) is hoping to attend on Wednesday as well. Funnily enough my instructor will be there to as she is teaching straight after. The Chiro vet is liaising with my normal vet so Kev is getting every opportunity. This assessment will determine our next step. Oh PPPPLLLLEEEESSSSEEEEEEE just be saddle!!!!
Vet is optimistic at this point.
 
Tiddlypom said:
Eeep, does he really have to be assessed under saddle? If he properly panics, pro rider or not he will go, as per my earlier post in which my PSD cob tanked with my pro rider and ditched her.
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The pro rider, who,also happens to be a friend,is a volunteer and under strict instructions to get off the second she is not happy and under no pressure to get up there. She feels confident she will cope.
 
MrsNorris said:
In view of his breeding have you considered EPSM?
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IT is a thought and will be mentioned. However he came from Ireland and I assume he is not European stock so there is little evidence of EPSM in British stock. I have been reading up on it. His diet resembles what is needed anyhow being fibre based.
 
Sukistokes2 said:
IT is a thought and will be mentioned. However he came from Ireland and I assume he is not European stock so there is little evidence of EPSM in British stock. I have been reading up on it. His diet resembles what is needed anyhow being fibre based.
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It's rife in nearly all breeds probably, but his breed is certainly high risk. People in Europe are simply better at testing for diseases than in the UK. Unfortunately that means we are more likely to have them but ignorance is bliss to some!

However they are usually not horses who try and kill you without warning so I would suspect it's probably not that.
 
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Excellent first class plan! You WILL get to the bottom of it and are wisely covering all bases with lots of great help. Fantastic ..... and ........ it is not time to worry as investigations are planned and underway. Hope your hand heals soon and you're not in too much pain. Treat yourself well and try to relax x
 
You say he was underweight when you got him. Have you had him checked for ulcers. Is he fed before he is worked?
 
FfionWinnie said:
It's rife in nearly all breeds probably, but his breed is certainly high risk. People in Europe are simply better at testing for diseases than in the UK. Unfortunately that means we are more likely to have them but ignorance is bliss to some!

However they are usually not horses who try and kill you without warning so I would suspect it's probably not that.
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I have a lovely senior vet coming out, he has booked an hour to do an initial assessment of Kevin. I've already spent 1/2 hour with him planing it. He is well respected and I'm pretty sure he is on top of his game. I am however listing all the suggestions and ideas on here and will go though them. By listing I mean writing them down to ask. I'm also reading behind each suggestion. I've not dismissedthis suggestion . :)
 
Very best of luck and sounds like you have next steps more than covered. I had a mare not dissimilar (still have he really) - a real dobbin most of the time and then once in a while (I have never been able to work out a pattern), would lose it, tanking at best, a clear bolt once through a hedge down a 5ft bank into a neighbours garden (I had bailed by this point). I had every test done and nothing meaningful, I became obsessed with feed and getting saddles checked. After the last time I had her scoped and she did have ulcers (she had also bitten me a couple of times, and could be aggressive in the field) - treated these. I can't know whether she's chilled out because of those or because I stopped riding (the last time broke some decent bones and I just won't trust her again). So ulcers are worth a thought - but as you say they open up another can of worms as a symptom usually and not a cause. I look at her every now and again and think maybe I could and then I give myself a kick. It is very hard but if you get everything checked as you are doing you can go on from there.
 
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