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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
  
| I'm trying not to stress too much. My season was suppose to start tomorrow, but after today's ride I can't justify it - something is not right with my horse and the expense of hauling aside, it's not worth risking further injury and the rest of the season.
Let me preface this by saying, a phone message has already been left at the vet's clinic, and a follow up call to confirm an appointment will be made promptly at 9am Monday when the secretary gets in.
When I put Max back into work in early February he felt good. We got some crap weather and had a combination of snow, some ice, more ice, melt, freeze, you get the idea. The footing in turnout has been crap. I distinctly remember riding him on a Wednesday and he was fine, actually we loped through the pattern for the first time and I was SUPER happy with him. The following Saturday he was sore - Thursday they were turned out, Friday and Saturday they stayed into due to lots of ice (but slick spots on Thursday were not impossible).
The general soreness got better, but did not go away completely so the following Monday under the direction of the vet, we gave him a body soreness shot, dex, bute, etc. Honestly, my barn owner worked with the vet on that one as her two had similar symptoms. That was Monday, Wednesday we had him reset with shoes on all 4 instead of just fronts, and added pads to the front to help alleviate that fact that we still have crappy turnout footing.
That helped even more, but has not completely alleviated the issue. Prior to today's ride it was showing up in circles to the right, almost felt like it was up front, but every 4 or 5 steps he will bobble a bit. Almost unnoticeable to the person on the ground, but I can feel it on him. If I sit down and really push him up under himself, he is better. This was the case as recently as last night.
Today's ride was a train wreck in comparison. Keep in mind the horse rode pretty well less than 24 hours prior. Today the minor iffiness at the trot was present, as were BUCKS at the lope. This horse is not a bucker. He is an occasional fresh hopper - but these were not fresh hops, they were consistent bucking in both directions accompanied by head shaking and rooting with the nose.
I trotted him through the pattern a few times and decided to lope him just to see - he totally charged off of the 2nd and ran through my hands, blowing by the 3rd completely. The gal watching us said he looked very on the front end and was not using his hind end at all. This horse does tend to get front endy, but I agree with her this was more than normal. He hadn't been on the pattern in about 2 weeks.
Needless to say, we aren't running tomorrow. I'm not sure what the minor off-ness in the trot to the right adds up to, but the bucking, rooting, and charging through my hands amounts in my mind to sore hocks.
I am pursing a vet's opinion, but like all horse mom's I am worried and stressed over this and the season being right around the corner - already having money invested in Bonus Race and needing to send in payment for a jackpot the weekend prior by the end of this week.
Does it sound like I am on the right track? I honestly want it to be hocks, because in the grand scheme of things injections are not the end of the world and something I had accounting for needing at some point anyway. He is btw, 13 or 14 years old, grade. Mostly a pasture puff in his younger days and up until this point the past 3 years he has been a cast iron horse.
I'm off to find a beer. Or 6. | |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| The bucking feeling, I had one that wasn't driving up with his hind end, and his hocks were shot, in my case the horse never worked hard a day in his life, but at the age of 7 his malnourishment as a baby caught up with him.
The other thing that could be going on is a stifle locking, that could be what your are feeling.
I think you are doing everything correct, a complete vet exam is what I would do. | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1062
Location: Probably On the Road to the Next Barrel Race! | that was too much info for me to accurately digest, honestly, I kind of speed-read through it, BUT...since you want an opinion tonight, yes, it sounds like it could be hocks. Bucking, being front-endy, running past barrels...this seems kind of sudden for a 13 year old, though...if adding pads, helped, that wouldn't be hocks, though....I'm puzzled, glad you are calling in a vet, and please remember, it can often be a chiro thing, too (if he is out somewhere)...good luck... | |
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 Ditch the Stirrups
Posts: 5369
Location: Sorrow Not! Defending against workplace bullies | If you have not been able to ride him consistently and he is sore just from limited or poor turnout, then he might not be legged up enough to take on the pattern and it is just making him sore and prone to injury. If your vet rules out a current injury I would ride him for 3 Or 4 Weeks with no pattern or small circles or racing. Just long straight trotting and walking. Very easy and slow. If he is 13 he could probably use a joint supplement too. After A couple weeks of consistent slow rides I would lope him and then very slowly try him on the pattern again. I am doing this right now with 3 Horses who I would like to race this spring but they are not in shape. | |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| thanks, he's is pretty good shape so I'm inclined to believe something else is going on.
He is on exceed 6way as well.
The whole thing is just strange. I'll be headed out in a bit to see how he is today. | |
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Ditch the Stirrups
Posts: 5369
Location: Sorrow Not! Defending against workplace bullies | Abnormal soreness, bucking and on and off lameness are also signs of PSSM.
ETA I am confused since you say you put him back to work in early Feb. And could not ride consistently due to weather. That is not much time to get one ready, at least I don't think it is..
Oh well hope you find out what is wrong! Nothing is worse than a mystery lameness!
Edited by ninaom 2014-03-09 10:48 AM
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 Arriving at the last minute!
Posts: 5148
Location: Kansas | All I can say if you go to the vet they will want to inject and as you know that is a bandaide it doesn't solve the problem. I recently had a horse sore in the hocks and xrays were done and the vet wanted to inject. He had a horrible shoe job behind which the vet agreed with. I pulled the rear shoes off. I have a cold laser and worked on him and his back, hips, lumbar are no longer sore. He is running around and I am taking him to a futurity this week. Not sure how he will run but he is a whole lot better!!! So with this being said I am fixing the problem and feeding more magnesium and natural things in feed for joints etc. If it were up to the vets they would get injected to fix things. You have to make a call on that. As someone that lost a high dollar mare to injections a few years ago I won't risk going in the joint. And everytime you do it just shortens the career even more. Its a proven fact it is really bad for them! | |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| Thanks guys - I've been riding him more consistently than anyone else around here has been able to get on theirs, he's in decent shape. Not peak season fitness, but I wouldn't hesitate to take him to a jackpot and high lope the pattern if it weren't for these issues.
I just through up another post on treeless saddles. Further examination of my saddle fit today with my chiropractor shows that it is not working for us. More likely than not it is the root of the issue. It fits where no other saddle did fit him, but it does not fit farther back. I have a treeless saddle to ride him in for the week, so I am hoping that good results come of that and we can be back on the road. | |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 422
Location: Fort Bragg North Carolina | I say no to a hock problem | |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3314
Location: Jersey Girl | My thoughts are could be saddle fit issues. | |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| fulltiltfilly - 2014-03-10 6:59 PM
My thoughts are could be saddle fit issues.
You're spot on as I said above. We revisited the saddle fit with my chiro on Sunday and we think as his back muscles have come back the saddle has started pinching badly right behind the rigging.
We have a trip to a tack shop scheduled for Thursday afternoon that has a great selection of brands, including treeless saddles that we can try. | |
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  More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | OhMax - 2014-03-09 5:14 PM Thanks guys - I've been riding him more consistently than anyone else around here has been able to get on theirs, he's in decent shape. Not peak season fitness, but I wouldn't hesitate to take him to a jackpot and high lope the pattern if it weren't for these issues. I just through up another post on treeless saddles. Further examination of my saddle fit today with my chiropractor shows that it is not working for us. More likely than not it is the root of the issue. It fits where no other saddle did fit him, but it does not fit farther back. I have a treeless saddle to ride him in for the week, so I am hoping that good results come of that and we can be back on the road.
I'm glad you are maybe finding the problem and hope you get him all better for the Bonus Finals. | |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| CYA Ranch - 2014-03-10 7:19 PM
OhMax - 2014-03-09 5:14 PM Thanks guys - I've been riding him more consistently than anyone else around here has been able to get on theirs, he's in decent shape. Not peak season fitness, but I wouldn't hesitate to take him to a jackpot and high lope the pattern if it weren't for these issues. I just through up another post on treeless saddles. Further examination of my saddle fit today with my chiropractor shows that it is not working for us. More likely than not it is the root of the issue. It fits where no other saddle did fit him, but it does not fit farther back. I have a treeless saddle to ride him in for the week, so I am hoping that good results come of that and we can be back on the road.
I'm glad you are maybe finding the problem and hope you get him all better for the Bonus Finals.
Me to!
I'm hoping a reasonably priced saddle fits. My luck would be that my free grade bred horse would ONLY fit in a $2500+ saddle...
Anxious for Thursday and hoping they can help. Between HR, Circle Y, Cactus, Martin, Double J, and other brands they didn't have online, they HAVE to have something....right? Gosh I hope so.
Ordering the lucky duck a Back on Track saddle pad liner too. I figure I owe him that at least for just bucking and not chucking my butt all the way to Lincoln... | |
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More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | OhMax - 2014-03-10 6:40 PM CYA Ranch - 2014-03-10 7:19 PM OhMax - 2014-03-09 5:14 PM Thanks guys - I've been riding him more consistently than anyone else around here has been able to get on theirs, he's in decent shape. Not peak season fitness, but I wouldn't hesitate to take him to a jackpot and high lope the pattern if it weren't for these issues. I just through up another post on treeless saddles. Further examination of my saddle fit today with my chiropractor shows that it is not working for us. More likely than not it is the root of the issue. It fits where no other saddle did fit him, but it does not fit farther back. I have a treeless saddle to ride him in for the week, so I am hoping that good results come of that and we can be back on the road. I'm glad you are maybe finding the problem and hope you get him all better for the Bonus Finals. Me to! I'm hoping a reasonably priced saddle fits. My luck would be that my free grade bred horse would ONLY fit in a $2500+ saddle... Anxious for Thursday and hoping they can help. Between HR, Circle Y, Cactus, Martin, Double J, and other brands they didn't have online, they HAVE to have something....right? Gosh I hope so. Ordering the lucky duck a Back on Track saddle pad liner too. I figure I owe him that at least for just bucking and not chucking my butt all the way to Lincoln...
Sounds like your tack shop has a lot of real nice options for saddles. I'm sure something will work and hopefully not the $2500 ones. LOL Good luck! | |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| My horse that is going thru a lower hock fusion will get sore,thru the back and it might not be,the saddle. You need to,find a good lamness vet and find out,where he is sore. I notmsaying you have to inject im but u need to,find out if hemis sore in the back or the front as sometimes they will compensate and show,sore somewhere else. And if he has not bucked for,10 years and all of sudden i would not think pssm. It also could be lyme disease or,epm. But i would start with a good vet or some type of professional that cam find where the lamness is starting.
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| daisycake123 - 2014-03-10 8:37 PM
My horse that is going thru a lower hock fusion will get sore,thru the back and it might not be,the saddle. You need to,find a good lamness vet and find out,where he is sore. I notmsaying you have to inject im but u need to,find out if hemis sore in the back or the front as sometimes they will compensate and show,sore somewhere else. And if he has not bucked for,10 years and all of sudden i would not think pssm. It also could be lyme disease or,epm. But i would start with a good vet or some type of professional that cam find where the lamness is starting.
Agreed, I dealt with hock fusion on my old man at home.
I did speak with the vet today and he agrees with the plan of action. Prior to going shopping on Thursday I'm going to use a BOT back pad and practice everything my Jim Matherson DVD has been teaching me to help relax any tension from the old saddle out of his back. Then we'll see how he does under a well fitting saddle.
We have to see the vet anyway in the next couple weeks for vaccine boosters, coggins, and health papers for Bonus Race so if the saddle doesn't fix the problem, off to the vet we go. Luckily we're only 1.5 miles from the clinic (I know, chiro in house, that close to the vet, an indoor arena, i've died and gone to horsey heaven).
I don't know if he hasn't ever been a bucker - I've only had him for 2.5 years and he's never been a bucker with me. But if I had a vice grip on my ribs with 170lbs on top of it, I'd probably be inclined to protest best I knew how as well.
The plan is vet approved :)
And yes - I hope not the pricey ones as well! | |
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