I had my horses tied up in the barn aisle this morning because my farrier was on his way. My daughter's little dun horse started stretching ... first thought he was going to pee but he was stretching almost looked like how a cat or dog stretches after getting up from a nap. I've never seen him do that. He did it about 5 times within the hour or so my farrier was there. Should I be concerned? Could it be something wrong with him.. belly ache or ulcers ??? He's acting normal otherwise. Eating etc etc... he stood just fine for my farrier to trim. He was just stretching out like that while waiting his turn.
I have been told numerous times it means ulcer. By several vets also. My mare has done it since she was a yearling and even does it to this day. She is currently on gastrogard and has been for over a month and still does it. It may have started with ulcers but I find it hard to believe after almost 45 days of gastrogard that she still has ulcers. I think it's a habit now.
I agree with ulcers or just a belly ache in general. My broodmare that just foaled a couple days ago scared me yesterday doing that. Called a couple of vets and it sounds like it was probably from uterine contractions.
Could be ulcers. He was extremely starved when I got him. But I've had him well over a year now and he looks amazing. I will say he's gotten more grumpy lately when I cinch him up for her to ride.
We had one stretch like that and he had a bean. We were concerned he was colicking, and called the vet out. He just had a bean that needed to be taken care of.
Mine does it every morning before breakfast! No ulcers no beans he's just stretching lol Kinda of like how we stretch when we wake up in the morning! I would not worry about it! Lol
It was a morning of stretching in the barn. When I was cleaning feet before farrier got there both of my other geldings stretched out back legs when I lifted them .. first time they've done that lol!
Posted 2015-05-22 6:56 AM Subject: RE: Horse stretching ?
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Burning3 - 2015-05-21 3:39 PM
Mine does it every morning before breakfast! No ulcers no beans he's just stretching lol Kinda of like how we stretch when we wake up in the morning! I would not worry about it! Lol
That's the only time my girl does it as well. She's got a few others doing it. I noticed my broodmare that comes in to eat next to her started doing it.
Posted 2015-05-22 9:44 AM Subject: RE: Horse stretching ?
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The downward facing dog move is something some horses do everyday. We've had a gelding since he was a 3 yr old and he's in his teens: no beans, treated and kept on maintenance for ulcers, seen regularly by chrio/ massage therapist and he's never really real sore at those visits. He always does it every morning when you first walk in the barn. Its his morning yoga...
If they don't normally do this and just start doing it then yes you probably have something going on especially with him doing it five times within the hour.
Horse stretching ?
