So my ottb has now finished 2 weeks of ulcer guard followed by a month of rx omeprazole + ranitidine paste as well as every other possible thing to help ulcers (alfalfa, no grain, having hay available 24/7, as little stress as possible, ulcer supplements, etc.) and none of it has made even a slight difference. I still can't even touch my horse past his shoulder without him swishing his tail, pinning his ears, and looking at me like I shocked him. He has always been a little "thin skinned" when brushing but was not like this. 

I know ulcers can take a long time to heal but you would think there would be SOME improvement after all this time. I have read in multiple places that alfalfa/excess protein can cause stomach pain and even gas colic so right now I'm experimenting with taking him alfalfa and equinety and seeing is that helps. I'm curious though if there are any other possible reasons he could be acting this way. He is always grumpy now and it is such a chore to interact with him. I want the sweet horse I bought back!

Herpes will cause a horse to be sensitive to touch.  And so will EPM.  Get Lysine and add it to feed.  If it’s herpes you will see approvement.  There are acupressure points you can check also. 

Leaky gut

Magnesium deficiency 

Pssm. My type 2 was super sensitive to the touch at her worst.

Well today I couldn't even look at him without him threatening to kick so maybe he's just an a-hole. ??‍??

EPM

Could also be hind gut ulcers. 

No, something is going on with him, pain, fear, something. Horses don't act like that to just be an a hole. They can't, they have no frontal lobe in their brains. It's sooo frustrating because they can't talk to us in an easily understood language. I have horses who if stalled over a period of time get VERY grumpy. Period of time could a day or night or week of enforced stable time. If he gets stiff in a stall maybe he is uncomfortable from not having the ability to move around enough to get rid of his stiffness/pain. Experiment a little. Maybe bring him some whole food treats or walk him up and down the stable isle for 10 or 15 minutes, or if it's safe, just turn him loose there to wander and visit. Just some thoughts that popped in my head. 

Scope for ulcers other than throwing your money into supplements. That will give you an answer for one thing and then you can move onto the next thing to rule out. 

Lacking magnesium

A worm infestation will make them ill mannered and sensitive to the touch.

He seemed mad yesterday that I didn't get him out to hand walk him (we are 4 months into rehab for a severe tendon injury so he's gets hand walked 5-6 days a week). He clearly wanted to get out after I fed him last night and seemed to be very angry at me because I wouldn't take him out. I felt bad but just didn't have time. Thankfully he was in a better mood this morning.

That couldn't be helped. I wish they could understand our language, it would make horse care so much easier on us and them. Sometimes we just have to remind ourselves we are doing the best we can with what we have. 

In talking to my vet, she thinks it could be Lyme disease so now I've gotta get him tested for that. Wooo fun times.