Adult new or returning riders part 2

[theferry]

I thought I’d start a new thread seeing as the existing one is full.

I’m due to ride tomorrow. Maybe I’ll jump. I’ll see.

Sounds like you are exploring all the right avenues.

Im sure you’ve mentioned before but what breed, age is he and what’s his background?

Probably an entirely different scenario but while you are exploring the physiological possibilities could it be worth trying to get him to use his brain in different ways? I have certainly bored clever ponies into acting out but in-hand working equitation, “trick” training, trt, the Portuguese dressage from the ground have all helped with behaviour and in ways that don’t require me to be in the saddle!

BTW too I don’t know if it’s still available but I joined an online (free) webinar series by Lucinda Green, focusing on napping etc. it was really good.

@Gremlinsateit when I started having problems with Timmy I assumed that it was a me problem, he didn’t ’try it on’ with my daughter who’s a professional rider. But as he was in more work, he started exploding with her as well and it became apparent that there had to be a physical cause. Despite several avenues of investigation we didn’t find anything obviously wrong but my vet advised us to retire him before somebody ended up seriously hurt. I’m lucky in that we have land so he’s at home and actually has a job being companion if any of the others needs to be in for any reason. But if I hadn’t been able to retire him at home I would have had him put to sleep rather than selling him - several well-meaning people (but rather old-fashioned in their horse management) advised me to gallop him up the hill repeatedly until he ‘learns’ so I’m under no illusion what could happen to him if he couldn’t stay here. I hope your vet and farrier find something easily treatable 🤞🏻

Thanks. He’s a 12 year old stockhorse. Apart from the hoof problem (a bad crack which resulted in abscesses when I first had him) and one instance of mild colic early this year, he’s been in excellent health. When I bought him he was a paddock ornament; he had been thoroughly trained when younger then had a bit of a patchy history before reaching my seller, who was a very genuine fellow who ran out of time for him and was frank about his strengths and weaknesses.

He is extremely friendly and usually very gentle in his ground manners, unless his frenemy in his small herd gets too close (all geldings). We have access to an outdoor arena and some round yards at his agistment. I have done a lot of in hand work with him. I rarely lunge him, and then not much, as he is scared of whips. He has always been a bit of a giraffe and lunging tends to exacerbate that.

I’ve been taking things slowly and treating it as a case of retraining with my instructor’s help, but I am just so far from being able to take him out hacking with the occasional small log, which is my goal; this latest thing has me despairing a bit.

Feeling a bit more positive this morning as the initial shock has passed and the aches are diminishing. After all, one bolt in nearly 2 years (from when the bad hoof was adequately healed) does not make a confirmed rogue. I kind of wish that someone had recorded it, as it’s certainly the fastest I have ever ridden or am ever likely to ride! I’m now wondering more about gut issues, so will be interested to see what the vet has to say. Thanks for providing a space to vent about this 🙂

That’s great news @Gremlinsateit
and very good point, one event in 2 years is really good going in reality!

He sounds like a lovely boy, it’ll be interesting to see no to hear if there is a health issue that led to this specific event.

let us know how it goes

Farrier found no problems and said his feet are so good, it’s more likely that he took off because he was feeling fine lol. Vet and instructor next week.

Lol @Gremlinsateit
glad to hear his feet have the all clear at least!!

Mine had her scope yesterday and unfortunately ulcers were found. I thought I’d be really upset but actually feel sanguine and relieved we have something to fix!

Hope the treatment goes well - it is good to have a diagnosis and a plan :)

Well, the vet suspected pain but ruled out teeth, limbs, and kissing spine, though two of his vertebrae are a little close towards the rear. She would like him to take a course of ulcer treatment so I’m waiting to hear from the agistment whether they can accommodate giving him the paste half an hour before feeding for 30 days - it will be a bit tricky for me to get there at dawn every day, due to other commitments, so fingers crossed.

Really glad to hear the vet was able to rule quite a bit out. Sounds very similar to mine, he took back X-rays and they weren’t perfect but nothing to cause the issues.

Which type of ulcers does she suspect?

fingers crossed they agree to the early morning paste! Alternatively, are the weekly injections available over your way?

Has he been scoped @Gremlinsateit ? My vet suspected ulcers might be the cause of Timmy’s random out of character bursts of explosive behaviour but on scoping, his insides were squeaky clean. The medication is hideously expensive so it would be worth finding out if it’s going to do anything first.

Yes I had no idea that the medication was so pricy, and it seems the injections are not available (though I have seen someone giving the injections in Australia on youtube). The agistment says it will try to help, but only if he behaves, which is dubious if he has to watch everyone else eat breakfast while he just gets paste. Also, I’m hopeless at giving paste unless it’s hidden in an apple, which this couldn’t be, as he must have as empty a stomach as possible.

To get him scoped I would have to get him floated to their clinic. I’m going to contact my insurance to see what they will or won’t cover, and then make a decision.

She didn’t have a view of what type of ulcers - it seemed like it was the last thing that she couldn’t rule out.

I see a lot of ads for a supplement called Digestive EQ - does anyone have experience with a digestive supplement?

I’ve been given a supplement by my vet, it’s their own version but “apparently” if one were willing to feed it every 30 minutes studies have shown it clears up ulcers alone. A lot of horses on my yard seem to be on protexin Acid Ease.

May not be relevant but some insurance companies will only cover ulcer treatment if they have been scoped.

Luckily my vet was able to scope at my yard which made the whole thing easier!

<whispers> I’m going to try a horse on Sunday - eek

@Pleasedontdothat ooh how exciting! What are the rough details?

@Gremlinsateit how are the investigations going?

14 year old, 16.1 ISH who has been doing exactly what I want to do for the last 3 years - he’s on livery at the yard where the fabulous riding school was before it closed so the yard owner knows him well and I know lots of people in common with his current owner. So quietly excited but trying not to get my hopes up too much.