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So I have a lovely QH halter mare (14hh) who I got for free as a project. She was supposed to be a ranch pony and then sold but she seemed to like to jump and I needed a new eventing partner. Fancy comes in undermuscled and overweight due to being out of work for 3 years. She was doing great ground work for about a month or so before she had an accident and jumped through a metal stall door and got caught. Took her to an emergency vet, for Xrays, exams and all sorts of pictures. Nothing broken, only needed some stitches and 3 weeks stall rest to get the skin to grow back together. Fast forward to pony going back undersaddle, built muscle and looks like a tank, jumps, shows, considered as 'wonder pony' by some who know her cause she does everything with 110%. Never was the best mover but attributed to the halter build. Took her to a local western/english show we had been at several times and she was fussy, throwing head, spinning, uncomfortable. Decided to switch to a western saddle thinking it was the fit and she was much better. Took her to a small H/J schooling show the next day, with better fitted jump saddle and she was nasty.Great for first flat class, got 2nd vs high end Wbs. Horrible in jump warmup, almost kicking someone through the fence in a flat class, refusing, bucking. I pulled out of the rest of my classes cause something was up. Have a saddle fitter out who brings some saddles that fit her. Her back swells up, just behind her withers, kicks out etc. Saddle I had was refitted but decided she might just need some time off. Gave her a month off and brought her back on lunge. Was great. Hop on and she was wonderful in W/T but canter we had our issues again. I have no idea where to go next. We have done ulcer treatments, chiro, EPM testings (all clear), farrier doesnt see anything like an abcess, he says maybe it could be floating and either absorbed or not developed all the way? I have packed the foot with an abcess poultice, wrapped etc. Nothing so far (A weekish). We thought KS but not at all sorealong back and no more swelling. She had a cyst that will drain after work on her stifle area, but never caused any issues, pictures show no bone chips or anything. Has anyone ever had any issues like this? Any ideas where to look or what to look for? We figure we will have to get more pictures, but any local vets are all cattle vets and not very experianced in horses. I don't want to pay for a ton of pictures when we are not even looking in the right area. |
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Trivia Team
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It might be worth taking her down to an equine hospital for a scintigraphy to pinpoint where the pain is. her current symptoms sound too vague to really say anything. :/ |
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FirstLightFarms said:
It might be worth taking her down to an equine hospital for a scintigraphy to pinpoint where the pain is. her current symptoms sound too vague to really say anything. :/
Thanks Puck. I want her to be comfortable but don't know where to start. Will look into getting an appointment. |
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have you checked to see if she has kissing spine. it sounds like it might be that its not very noticable if you dont look for it for some horses it doesnt affect them but in a lot it affects riding. even when shes fine in a western saddle but not in an English if she does have kissing spine it probably would be because western saddles generally have a bigger tree. |
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Thor Valley Stables said:
have you checked to see if she has kissing spine. it sounds like it might be that its not very noticable if you dont look for it for some horses it doesnt affect them but in a lot it affects riding. even when shes fine in a western saddle but not in an English if she does have kissing spine it probably would be because western saddles generally have a bigger tree.
They stated already that the horse doesn't have kissing spine. |
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I second scintigraphy. The idea of taking a horse to the hospital for a full work up is really financially intimidating, but ultimately, you will save a ton of money–and pain for your mare–by biting the bullet and having it done rather than doing many minor treatments of various things. I feel your pain though... I've played the WhyAreWeLame game too many times and it is never any less frustrating. Your dedication to your mare is so clear in how hard you've been working to help her <3 |
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Update. Have a scintigraphy scheduled through an equine hospital near us and will update further or make a progress thread if anything is found. Thank you all. |
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Wishing you and your mare the best of luck! I realize this isnt terribly helpful but I am nevertheless curious - does she turn up at all lame or stiff on the lunge, when jogged, or undersaddle, or are symptoms showing as simply negative behavior? I would be curious to see if more performance based equine vets would be able to see an issue in her standard movement when they have eyes on her at the equine hospital. Push for a jog when you are there along with the scintigraphy, assuming they dont do one as standard practice. Scintigraphy's are great, but I would never discount incredibly experienced human eyes. |
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Sagamore Farms said:
Wishing you and your mare the best of luck! I realize this isnt terribly helpful but I am nevertheless curious - does she turn up at all lame or stiff on the lunge, when jogged, or undersaddle, or are symptoms showing as simply negative behavior? I would be curious to see if more performance based equine vets would be able to see an issue in her standard movement when they have eyes on her at the equine hospital. Push for a jog when you are there along with the scintigraphy, assuming they dont do one as standard practice. Scintigraphy's are great, but I would never discount incredibly experienced human eyes.
Sorry for the late reply! No stiffness under lunge. She stretches, bucks, does typical pony things on the lunge, fine jogged, only under saddle at canter and trot after she has cantered. We had thought it was negative behavior as she is a project, but after so long, we figured it was something along with pain |
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Showers Off and On
