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 Expert
Posts: 2097
 
Location: Deep South | This is going to be long. Sorry...
I've been trying to figure out what's going on with Poptart and am starting to get frustrated. I think it's important to know that she is the absolute sweetest mare, like ever. She has so much personality and just wants to be loved on all the time, comes running to you in the pasture, never nasty to other horses or anything like that. Perfect ground work, very willing, not at all lazy. Just really nice on the ground (even while saddled).
She's had about 60 or so rides at this point. I know her entire history, she's never been mistreated. She is just a nervous wreck under saddle. Remains very anxious throughout the whole ride. She frequently pins her ears and slings her head around towards her stomach, only while I'm on her. Her discomfort seems more pronounced when I ask her to walk a circle and stay soft nose to hip. Extremely pronounced when I put even the slightest amount of leg on her, like asking her to sidepass.
I think it seems to be worse on the right side?
Immediate thought is ulcers. I started her on UlcerCureOTC (treatment dosage) last Friday. Rode her Monday afternoon for the first time, in about two weeks. Thought I noticed improvement in her behavior. She didn't seem to get as worked up.
I rode her again yesterday, and she was as nervous and anxious as ever. Pinning ears at her stomach the whole time and everything. So it made me wonder if just the break from riding made her feel better, and then riding her again aggravated whatever it is?
Anyways, opinions? Have I not given the ulcer meds long enough? Or do ya'll think something else is going on? |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
  
| I would wait longer with the ulcer meds, especially if the horse is full of ulcers.
I would also look at saddle fit, I have one, the saddle fits her evenly when I feel, but when I cinch her up with that saddle she flinches, and when I get on she humps up then is fine. She is so wide saddle fit is hard. I rode her in a crown c 10 regular she was a completely different horse (waiting for Martin to finish making her saddle 11 flat)
I would also look at the cinch, if you are using a cinch where the metal d ring is in contact with the skin you might look at changing that, I use the shearling as I have had horses react negatively to the string cinches. |
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 Mouhahaha
Posts: 1786
Location: British Columbia | Also maybe look at where the ring on the cinch is laying on her side, my 3 year old had the same behaviour if the ring was too high up. I believe it puts pressure on a major artery? In any case she would look at her side like it was in pain whenever I would ask her to move. I put a shorter cinch on and the ring came up just lower than mid chest height and she stopped.
Long shot, but maybe? |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I would checking how you're saddle is fitting, what kind of cinch are you useing on her and saddle pad.
Or you useing spurs? |
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  Bye-Bye Jiggle
Posts: 1691
Location: Where ever there's sunshine! | If not one of he other suggestions maybe chiro....rib out?? |
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 Too Skinny
Posts: 8009
Location: LA Lower Alabama | what about bit pinching? Teeth? Can you press down her back without a reaction? |
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 Buttered Noodles Snacker
Posts: 4377
Location: NC | cheryl makofka - 2014-06-25 10:57 AM I would wait longer with the ulcer meds, especially if the horse is full of ulcers. I would also look at saddle fit, I have one, the saddle fits her evenly when I feel, but when I cinch her up with that saddle she flinches, and when I get on she humps up then is fine. She is so wide saddle fit is hard. I rode her in a crown c 10 regular she was a completely different horse (waiting for Martin to finish making her saddle 11 flat) I would also look at the cinch, if you are using a cinch where the metal d ring is in contact with the skin you might look at changing that, I use the shearling as I have had horses react negatively to the string cinches.
I ditto this. Sounds like ulcers and/or saddle fit. It can take a month on ulcer meds to really see a difference. Saddle fit could also be an issue I would try a few saddles and see if it makes things better or worse. |
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 Dog Resuce Agent
Posts: 3459
Location: southeast Texas | Have you jumped on her bare back? |
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Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | I will recheck saddle fit, as she is growing and changing weekly it seems like. So that is definitely a possibility.
I am using a Tod Slone pad and mohair cinch. Will check the placement of the D-ring today.
I don't use spurs on this filly, she is so responsive there's no need.
I had not thought about a rib being out, but that is a possibility. She got upset and threw herself on the ground while tied to the trailer a little while back. I can't remember if the symptoms started before or after that.
Teeth were done in April, double checked in May. Both times by an equine dentist.
Have not been on her bareback. She's a green, nervous 3yo.
I'm glad to hear that it can take a while to notice a difference with the ulcer meds. That's what I was most concerned about. I just heard so many stories where people noticed immediate results. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| BamaCanChaser - 2014-06-25 2:39 PM
I will recheck saddle fit, as she is growing and changing weekly it seems like. So that is definitely a possibility.
I am using a Tod Slone pad and mohair cinch. Will check the placement of the D-ring today.
I don't use spurs on this filly, she is so responsive there's no need.
I had not thought about a rib being out, but that is a possibility. She got upset and threw herself on the ground while tied to the trailer a little while back. I can't remember if the symptoms started before or after that.
Teeth were done in April, double checked in May. Both times by an equine dentist.
Have not been on her bareback. She's a green, nervous 3yo.
I'm glad to hear that it can take a while to notice a difference with the ulcer meds. That's what I was most concerned about. I just heard so many stories where people noticed immediate results.
If she set back while tied before this came up I'd DEFINITELY get a good chiro and vet check. Could be poll, neck, back, ribs, and/or hamstrings. |
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 Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | I would check teeth (wolf teeth) and saddle fit. I am dealing...and healing from the same thing. My big 3yr old is a dream. He loves me, until I ask him to lope. He dumped me and I came off against the pipe round pen. It messed my back up pretty good. Anyways. He never did a bad move for the trainer that put 30 on him, and was great when I plodded around bareback (walk/trot) but when I saddle him without working him into the ground he will buck. I'm really thinking saddle is pinching him. |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
| One thing I would try is where your girth sits, rub her lightly from one side to the other. You should be able to feel the two muscles. The fibers are very thin there and some horses can be extremely sensitive when cinched up. You want to lightly rub and warm them up and slowly add more pressure as your rub. Again rub across the belly not back and forth. use your whole hand, not just the finger tips and see if you get a reaction. My friends horse was super cinchy and grinded his teeth. She started doing this before and after saddling and he was loads better. |
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Regular
Posts: 78
| I agree with switching to shearling cinch. Also check cinch length make sure its correct for her and hitting her in the right spots on each side, not too high or too low. Also, she may be out of place in her rib cage area. My mare was like that somewhat and had a chiropractor come work on her and she had a rotated pelvis and was out in her ribs. Its worth a shot !
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 550
| BleuIdGrl - 2014-06-25 12:34 PM
If not one of he other suggestions maybe chiro....rib out??
That was my thought too. |
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Expert
Posts: 3514
| My first thought is hind gut ulcers. What are you feeding? With a ulcer horse the feed needs to be low starch low sugar. |
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Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | So yesterday afternoon I got her out and just started rubbing on her, then gently pressing all over her. I got a pretty serious reaction by pressing underneath and on the lower sides of her belly. Something there is definitely hurting her.
I think I'm going to make an appointment with chiro, and give the ulcer meds more time before I do anything else with a girth/saddle.
She was so reactive to just a gentle press of my hand, I think even the perfect girth/saddle fit right now would make her uncomfortable.
Thank ya'll so much for all of the suggestions! You mentioned some things I hadn't considered yet, and I'm going to check them all before I ride her again. |
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