johnnysauntie
Oct. 29, 2008, 02:43 PM
My horse is NQR and he has stumped me, my barn-mates, and my trainer. Over to the wise minds of COTH:
My 12 year old OTTB is an extremely friendly and mild mannered horse. So it got my attention when he pinned his ears and snapped at me when I tacked him up last week, on Wednesday. He reacted in particular to the girth.
I untacked him and thinking that he was starting to colic, checked him over. He was showing no outward signs of distress, but when I laid my ear gently against his barrel to listen for gut noises, he threatened (with purpose) to kick. The same thing happened when I laid my hand on his barrel – he pinned his ears and snapped. (He's not a kicker, and has never pinned his ears and snapped at me or anyone else in the year and a half I’ve known him.)
I hand-walked him for about 30 minutes then stuck him in a small indoor arena to observe his behavior. He ambled around looking for stray bits of hay, and then came back to the gate and hung out. Put him back in his freshly picked stall and he pooped. It looked fine, and there had been poo in the stall pre-picking.
He was still touchy on Thursday and Friday, but was otherwise feeling fine and in fact treated me to quite a display on the longe line on Friday. We rode Saturday, Sunday and Monday. All was fine. He was energetic and his usual pleasant self.
Last night, the sensitivity was back, and it evidenced in the form of pinned ears, hateful looks and snapping - before I even thought about girthing up – I had just put the saddle on his back.
Some facts that may be relevant:
He just finished a Panacur Powerpack (last week, Friday.)
Yes, the weather did change here, it became much cooler last week
He has never given any indication of ulcers
His ppetite remains very good.
My trainer was using a Wintec girth (equileather.) We’ve put a natural fleece on it for the last few rides.
Other than the fleece girth cover, there have been no equipment changes. His saddle fits him well.
He was using his back and rear end well under saddle, and doesn’t show soreness when I do the zipper test
Teeth are done regularly and were just done 2 months ago
Was inside last week due to foul weather, has been outside frolicking for last few days (so this has happened both when he has and hasn’t been turned out.)
I’m stumped as to what’s causing the discomfort and sensitivity. What say ye, COTH?
My 12 year old OTTB is an extremely friendly and mild mannered horse. So it got my attention when he pinned his ears and snapped at me when I tacked him up last week, on Wednesday. He reacted in particular to the girth.
I untacked him and thinking that he was starting to colic, checked him over. He was showing no outward signs of distress, but when I laid my ear gently against his barrel to listen for gut noises, he threatened (with purpose) to kick. The same thing happened when I laid my hand on his barrel – he pinned his ears and snapped. (He's not a kicker, and has never pinned his ears and snapped at me or anyone else in the year and a half I’ve known him.)
I hand-walked him for about 30 minutes then stuck him in a small indoor arena to observe his behavior. He ambled around looking for stray bits of hay, and then came back to the gate and hung out. Put him back in his freshly picked stall and he pooped. It looked fine, and there had been poo in the stall pre-picking.
He was still touchy on Thursday and Friday, but was otherwise feeling fine and in fact treated me to quite a display on the longe line on Friday. We rode Saturday, Sunday and Monday. All was fine. He was energetic and his usual pleasant self.
Last night, the sensitivity was back, and it evidenced in the form of pinned ears, hateful looks and snapping - before I even thought about girthing up – I had just put the saddle on his back.
Some facts that may be relevant:
He just finished a Panacur Powerpack (last week, Friday.)
Yes, the weather did change here, it became much cooler last week
He has never given any indication of ulcers
His ppetite remains very good.
My trainer was using a Wintec girth (equileather.) We’ve put a natural fleece on it for the last few rides.
Other than the fleece girth cover, there have been no equipment changes. His saddle fits him well.
He was using his back and rear end well under saddle, and doesn’t show soreness when I do the zipper test
Teeth are done regularly and were just done 2 months ago
Was inside last week due to foul weather, has been outside frolicking for last few days (so this has happened both when he has and hasn’t been turned out.)
I’m stumped as to what’s causing the discomfort and sensitivity. What say ye, COTH?