I am at a complete loss. My mare is not comfortable, somewhere. Last vet described her as a “conundrum”. I will try not to make this a novel, but please take the time to read below if you feel you may have insight as to what is bothering my horse.
Background: I have owned her since she was 6 months old. She is 15 now. Sweetest thing in the world. My absolute heart horse. Will always have a forever spot in my backyard. I have been the only owner and rider. I began riding her when she was 4 and she was easy peasy, soft, relaxed. We slowly worked toward more balance and collection. We jumped, a little. Did some casual schooling shows. I never had/do not have any goals with her, I just want to enjoy her because she truly is that much of a treasure. After a few years, her way of going progressively became different.
How the “issue” began: First, she would swap off in the canter behind tracking left. I immediately had vet out. She had just turned 7. They performed a lameness exam with no significant findings. Tested for EPM and Vitamin E deficiency. Negative EPM, low Vit E. She was put on a Vit E and Selenium supplement (our hay in this area is low with Selenium) and has lived on that since that day.
How the “issue” progressed (over the next 3 years): She started to be a little less relaxed in her work. More tense. Struggled with connection and developed quite a sore back. Began “3 tracking”. Very crooked to the right (haunches way to the inside) and haunches falling out to the outside tracking left. Began having major difficulty cantering/maintaining cantering. Was almost “up and down/ bunny hopping” in canter. Jump became hollow. I stopped jumping her. Engaging hind end and lifting her back became difficult. She became so anxious with a bit (chomping, chewing, gnawing (not the good kind of soft chewing) that I took the bit away and she since then has been bitless or in her hackamore. Her walk changed. It became lateral/stabby. She became a touch “cold backed”. Quite stiff the first few steps under saddle and sometimes a touch of a hump in her back on a cold day. She was uncomfortable to ride. Never lame. Very quick/ strung out in her walk when we would trail ride. Sweat ALOT (from anxiety? pain?) I think I felt/feel it more than one can see it. She does not feel what I consider normal, at all. Far from it. Her way of going is embarrassing. I feel terrible. I know something is not right, somewhere.
How I addressed the issue (throughout those 3 years): Numerous vet lameness exams (from 3 different vets). X-rays of fetlocks, hocks, stifles (no significant findings other than slight bone spavin R hock). Hocks injected several times. Stifles injected. Saddle fitters, different saddles. 4 shoes, 2 shoes, no shoes, aluminum shoes, steel shoes.Lyme titer testing. Month of strictly trail riding. 2 months of just walk and trotting. Acupuncture, chiropractic work. Previcox, joint supplements, ulcer treatment. Strict riding routines with poles and cavalettis, exercises to build up hind end. PSSM safe diest. Short based lunge work. Adequan and Legend. NOTHING CHANGED. Bareback it is the same It progress to the point I was not comfortable riding her anymore because I KNEW something was.not.right. Always up to date with vaccine/dental. Different lessons with different trainers.
I just stopped. She was too precious for me to continue riding her at this time when she was telling me in the most polite way possible she isn’t comfortable. I brought her home in my backyard and loved on her for FIVE YEARS. No riding.
I discussed kissing spine throughout the years, no vet pursued that as an option.
The situation, currently: I began riding her again in May (about 2 months ago). I had the dream of her feeling herself again after all this time. NOPE. She feels exactly the same. Worse actually (but to be expected with being off for so long). I have only been doing a 15 minute walk trot in the ring followed by a 15 minute walk around the property 3 days a week. I have cantered twice and it was so horrendous I have decided not to pursue cantering at this time.
I had a different vet out yesterday to evaluate her. Gave them all her previous paperwork. They watched me lunge her and they watched me ride her. They flexed her. They palpated her. Arthritis in hocks. They called her a conundrum and said “Well, no judge would pull you, she’s not lame”. Recommended 3 weeks of additional trot work with poles and add the canter and “get her to collect more”. SHE. CAN’T. DO. THAT.
I.AM.DESPERATE. I am in tears. This horse is gold. A treasure. Truly remarkable. Throughout this, she never once told me “no”. She’d walk through fire if I asked her to.
Can ANYONE help!? Have ideas!? I have begun magnwaving her. It has helped the soreness in her back. But, WHY did her way of going change? WHAT caused/is causing it!?
To add a little about me: I am a professional in the industry and manage a college equine program and collegiate riding team. I have my fancy sport horses I can enjoy. But, I want my QH back.
Please, any thought, any idea. I will welcome it. Thank you horse community <3.
