MinervaTheHen
Songster
- Sep 30, 2022
- 69
- 228
- 116
Hello everyone! I wasn’t quite sure how to phrase the title, so if it’s confusing forgive me.
So, a little over a year ago I bought a crossbred gelding at a large scale sale barn in Connecticut. No known history, other than suspected neglect at one point in his life. He is mid-late teens. When I got him home he had poor nutrition (even though he has a rather large hay belly!) poor hoof care, and weak back and hind end muscling.
After a month of pasture rest to let his hooves recover and let him settle, myself and a trainer started working him and discovered he was green broke at best.
A few months into working him, his trainer and I noticed some strange behavior, such as flinching away from touch, tensing up around people, (he’s very affectionate and LOVES people, so this kinda contradicts his personality) refusing to move forward under saddle, and rearing. We didn’t want to assume behavior problems and it seemed like it was coming from something physical, so we tested for Lyme disease. Unsurprisingly, it came back positive.
Because of his apparent sensitivity, he was out of work for several months while he was treated. After this I also had him seen by an equine chiropractor, message therapist, and dentist. They all gave him a clean bill of health.
Over the fall and winter he seemed better under saddle (no rearing, limited bucking) but the sensitivity to touch never quite went away. The reading and bucking has since returned, although not nearly as bad as when he had Lyme. He doesn’t try to throw the rider, just protests whatever is being asked if him.
The sensitivity is especially prominent on his right side, most noticeably his neck and poll. He also has a very difficult time cantering. I have him do stretches, lungeing, and long warm ups before each ride, which seem to marginally help.
The local vet has looked at him several times, and she sees the problems but doesn’t really know what to think. She does not believe it to be related to the previous Lyme. She thought maybe his poor canter could be more mental than anything, perhaps left over from a previous career as driving horse. She was concerned by the combined symptoms, but didn’t have an answer. Unfortunately in the small rural vet clinic she works for, they don’t have access to many of the tests and equipment of larger practices.
I’m getting concerned now, because he really does seem uncomfortable. I would hate to be working and training a horse who is in pain. There is an esteemed vet clinic several hours from my barn, with a good history of diagnosing weird symptoms such as this. Several of my friends and family members have brought their horses there and had great success, so now I’m wondering if I should give it a try.
What do the horse people of backyardchickens think? Worth it or not? Thanks!
(I am attempting to add photos, may or may not work! If I figure out how to blur the faces, I will post a video of him being worked.)
So, a little over a year ago I bought a crossbred gelding at a large scale sale barn in Connecticut. No known history, other than suspected neglect at one point in his life. He is mid-late teens. When I got him home he had poor nutrition (even though he has a rather large hay belly!) poor hoof care, and weak back and hind end muscling.
After a month of pasture rest to let his hooves recover and let him settle, myself and a trainer started working him and discovered he was green broke at best.
A few months into working him, his trainer and I noticed some strange behavior, such as flinching away from touch, tensing up around people, (he’s very affectionate and LOVES people, so this kinda contradicts his personality) refusing to move forward under saddle, and rearing. We didn’t want to assume behavior problems and it seemed like it was coming from something physical, so we tested for Lyme disease. Unsurprisingly, it came back positive.
Because of his apparent sensitivity, he was out of work for several months while he was treated. After this I also had him seen by an equine chiropractor, message therapist, and dentist. They all gave him a clean bill of health.
Over the fall and winter he seemed better under saddle (no rearing, limited bucking) but the sensitivity to touch never quite went away. The reading and bucking has since returned, although not nearly as bad as when he had Lyme. He doesn’t try to throw the rider, just protests whatever is being asked if him.
The sensitivity is especially prominent on his right side, most noticeably his neck and poll. He also has a very difficult time cantering. I have him do stretches, lungeing, and long warm ups before each ride, which seem to marginally help.
The local vet has looked at him several times, and she sees the problems but doesn’t really know what to think. She does not believe it to be related to the previous Lyme. She thought maybe his poor canter could be more mental than anything, perhaps left over from a previous career as driving horse. She was concerned by the combined symptoms, but didn’t have an answer. Unfortunately in the small rural vet clinic she works for, they don’t have access to many of the tests and equipment of larger practices.
I’m getting concerned now, because he really does seem uncomfortable. I would hate to be working and training a horse who is in pain. There is an esteemed vet clinic several hours from my barn, with a good history of diagnosing weird symptoms such as this. Several of my friends and family members have brought their horses there and had great success, so now I’m wondering if I should give it a try.
What do the horse people of backyardchickens think? Worth it or not? Thanks!
(I am attempting to add photos, may or may not work! If I figure out how to blur the faces, I will post a video of him being worked.)
