Pony mare walking weird Any ideas PONY PEOPLE ?

[EASY RIDER STABLE]

She's a 7 yr old Hackney pony mare that is in foal due late March. I've not done much with pony's. My "equine" experience is with horses. This girl is not your typical Hackney pony. She's quiet, exceptionally well mannered and always a treat to deal with. If I could have all my equines perform and act like her I'd buy them all..She is a dream. Although I've not had many pony's in my lifetime it has been drilled into my head to watch their diets. Either lightly grain them or don't grain them at all as the smalls are quick to founder. So my girl even though she's in foal has been fed lightly and is on a strict diet and is in what I'd call perfect shape and health for where she is at in her pregnancy. We live in the north and she lives outside 24/7. The other day we had a snow and then rain which left ice on top of the snow. I noticed that she was having a bit of trouble walking, well not really she just looked like she was being cautious. In anycase I brought her in and when she was in the barn she was walking weird. As she steps forward as her front foot hits the ground she is landing on her heel with her toe tipped up and then rocks forward onto the toe. She does it with both front feet. Now this is the weird part...she has no temp., there is a normal pulse in her feet, absolutely no heat at all and is not rocking back on her hind end. I did tub her for a few days and that seems to provide some relief. I did give her a tad of Bute powder and that also helped a tad but I'm just so leary with the bute and pregnant. The vet should be here tomorrow but I'm really stumped. I'm thinking she's foundering. For what/why I don't know but then no temp, normal pulse and no heat ? ? ? ? Any ideas pony people ?

[ASB Stars]

I'd consider that she may be subclinically laminitic. I had a pony like this, and I have a mare with "peripheral cushings" who will also present like this, prior to beginning a serious cascade downward. No bounding pulse, no temp- but "walking on eggs".

I'd be inclined to get your Vet to take a look- and soon. If she is laminitic, and pregnant, you could be in big trouble- fast.

You might want to try giving her some bute- but I would certainly check with your Vet, and get their recommendations.

[EASY RIDER STABLE]

Thanks for posting and yes the Vet is on the way today. I've got 30 years experience with horses of all kinds but do admit I know little about pony's. I'd really luv to know why though. I'm the biggest beliver in "Damage Control" so I really go out of my way in the care department. Boy in this business you really do have to be open minded because you DO learn something EVERYDAY !

[2enduraceriders]

It may be she has badly bruised her soles with the sudden freezing. In the right conditions the footing can be the same s walking on sharp rocks.

[ASB Stars]

ERS...I was showing at the National level 37 years ago, this year, and I still learn something, every single day. It's one of the reasons I'm on COTH. Sometimes you learn, sometimes you laugh...or gag...and sometimes, you share. You just never know when you'll find something really useful. I know I have found a bunch of good things, just lurking!

Jingles for your pony and her foal. Hackneys are cute- but I just about got killed by two of them, two different incidents, many moons ago....

[EASY RIDER STABLE]

Gee what happened with your Hackney pony incident ? This is what I luv about this particular Hackney Pony Mare...She is sooooo perfect. Not hot, exceptionally bombproof. Gets along with anyone and everything which is the 2nd reason I bought her in the first place. NEVER has had a health issue. Just a complete pleasant DREAM. but I do have a little Hackney Pony gelding and I do believe he is POSSESSED ! So I can comprehend you not wanting to be around them anymore. But the mare...I just can't find enough good things to say about her. Vet said can't find anything saying Founder or Laminitis. Sensitive slightly to hoof testers in one foot. All negative on the XRays. So were continuing tubbing her twice a day and put her on Banimine and is having a collegue over tomorow for another evaluation.

[1horse13]

So sad TONS of jingles coming your way Hope she gets well soon

[ASB Stars]

First, while I am thinking about it, I wanted to mention that there is some evidence to suggest that soaking the foot can damage the peripole (assuming I spelled that right!) so, last Summer, when one of my boys became laminitic, I bought a number of very cool (pun intended) ice pack deals at CVS. They could be frozen, and then wrapped around the hoof and coronary band, and last for several hours. I found that when I bought a couple of pairs, I could keep one in the freezer, and switch them out, for maximum time on the footsies. My Vet had not seen them used like that before- just a thought...

When I was a kid, I had my horses at an ASB show barn. They always had hackney ponies with the trainer- there were several different owners. I stayed at the farm on vacations, and helped care for the show string.

One day, a long tail pony (they are shorter) was crosstied in his stall, in a damn nylon halter-- the walls were cinder block, the cross ties were chain- and he lost it. I was in the back of his stall- I have no idea what set the little monster off- but he leaped in the air until he ripped the cross ties out- and they were flying around. I can't believe he didn't hurt himself, but, after he had ripped everything apart, he stopped, and calmly let me peel myself off of the back wall of his stall, and get the ties off. Never did it again- but it was quite the experience.

Then, there was a roadpony stud named Mr. H. H had decided some years back that if you didn't want to work, you threw yourself over on the jog cart, and ripped the harness to bits, causing the humans to reconsider their plans to work you that day. My trainer decided I should sit on H's head, while they pulled everything off of him. Delightful time, that.

They are really, really cute. I did spend part of a Summer in Iowa, at the farm of the top trainer of ponies in the country, at that time. THOSE ponies were mannered, and that was a blast.

[SmartAlex]

I love Hackneys. I had one for a couple of years. They can come to pieces, but because of their size, there is something much less intimidating about it. ;) You just sort of pick them up by their halter and say "Bad Pony".

[equinelaw]

Sometimes they slip on ice and then walk really funny and carefully until they forget about the slip.

Had a big horse at school make everyone think he had foundered and badly. He would not move was all rocked back and shaking for hours. The Vet was on the way, but the head trainer, knowing him well, made him take a few steps forward and suddenly he was just fine. He was just tip toeing around for fear of slipping on ice.

He took a big sigh and decided is was safe after all. It was funny after it was over but for a few hours he had us all scared to death!

[findeight]

Know a few right now that had turn out over the last few weeks-and have gotten bruised soles/heels from frozen, uneven ground under the snow.

Frozen ground is as bad as rocks...just didn't realize how hard it really was under that puffy snow, we usually do not stay so cold for so long that the ground gets frozen so deep.

[EASY RIDER STABLE]

Well, Vet thinks a small bout of "subclinical laminitis" . Still no reason why. Negative to hoof testers and xrays but has a substantial pulse in both front. Put her up on foam blocks, banimine and drenched her with some DMSO and shes turned around alot. When I pulled her shoes/pads yesterday noticed the blacksmith had forgot to put the Vettech gell inside. So I'm thinking that she was unable to get any frog/sole pressure and with the ice etc ust didnt get any circulation in those front feet of hers. I did have a few concerns. firstly I adore this girl and she is so perfect and sweet that I really felt awful she was in this way. secondly I really didn't want this to prevoke an early foaling. I breed Dutch warmbloods with an array of top pedigres (Idocus/Consul/Lingh/Cocktail) so at foaling season I'm always sooooo excited but this year my excitement is for this girl. How squishable cute is her foal going to be ? She is a small (11 HH) dark Bay with 4 white stockings with the front ones up past the knee. She's infoal to a Hackney pony from the UK who is Black (so black he shines blue !) with 4 white stockings a huge blaze and big white belly patch. We're sooo close to foaling I just want to squish it out of her I'm so excited.

[ASB Stars]

I'm glad she is doing better! If her feet are good, you could think about shooting some sole guard in there- you don't need shoes, and it will give her the support she needs. Best of all, you can do it yourself, and it will keep her comfortable in our delightful "freeze the mud into lumps, then thaw into a bog" PA winter footing.

I agree, that baby will be adorable. I drive by your place occasionally. I may just have to baby-nap your foal!! :lol: