Please remind me to have patience!

[Skippy12]

Hi all,

So…horses. Quick backstory is that my horse was sick for years with ulcers. Moved him a year ago to new barn and they are wonderful—top notch staff and vets. He was diagnosed after months of vet visits with IBD. His back was also very sore, and he has had all the appropriate treatments to help him feel better and they are working. He was in poor shape this past winter as he lost a ton of weight and now looks great. Gave him time off—about 3 months—where we lunged him (legs were always fine). Just started to ride him again 3 weeks ago. He was weaned off all IBD meds and ulcer meds two months ago. We have been using good management to try and prevent (hay 24/7, alfalfa before he’s ridden, grain over 3 meals, reducing stress).

Since getting back into under saddle work, some days he has been super. Like, amazing. This past week, he started acting ulcery again. Vet is coming out next week, and he will be scoped again. If he has developed ulcers again after he was treated for them and the IBD, then we will treat and come up with new plan for prevention.

But the pace of this recovery and return to work and the one step forward and two steps back nature of it sometimes is so frustrating. I want him to feel better and enjoy his job.

So tell me that this type of thing just takes patience and time?

[clanter]

There has been a lot of research recently on how to combat gastric ulcers, we have one older (over 20) mare that we got from a rescue that lead a hard life before we took her in. We got connected to Purina to include this mare in their research.

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome

Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome | Purina Animal Nutrition

We got some of the Outlast Treats that we use as rewards. Since using these the mare is different horse

[hybriseris]

Ah, horses.

As you said yourself, its just patience and time and listening to your horse which you’re doing. I’m currently mid-suspensory rehab so I totally feel your pain with a long recovery, and two steps forward, two back.

You’ve learned your horse will probably always need some form of gut management if ridden, which imo is a step forward as you can start working with your vet on that.

I’m trying to look at it as the opportunity to build the mare I’m riding back up correctly in terms of muscle, and working on myself. Your guy had a long time off (even just the three months after diagnosis is more than enough time to lose most fitness) and his body went through a lot in that time - he may very well be uncomfortable with any hard work at all. Once his gut is figured out, try setting out a fitness program for him. It’ll give you concrete goals to focus on and feel accomplished over, and it’ll let him come back in to work in a way his body can handle.

[Jackie_Cochran]

Time, proper correct work, and lots and lots of patience, those are my recommendations.

Resist the temptation of riding like you could 3 months ago, it will take TIME to get him back there. If you rush it you could ruin all the good work you put in.

[Angela_Freda]

I would think ulcer treatment would be used anytime anything changes. Going to a horse show, trailer ing to a clinic, change in boarding location, etc
So putting back in work would be done with treatment in place.

Its tough, the forwards/back thing with horses.
But remember, you’re also learning so much.

[quietann]

Outlast is a good product. My Morgan gets it as her “grain” morning and night. And she loves the treats!

[clanter]

@quietann

Outlast is a good product. My Morgan gets it as her “grain” morning and night. And she loves the treats!

go to the Purina web site there are factory coupons that they will email to you

[quietann]

Good point! I just had to buy a bag… it’s not cheap.

[McGurk]

Yes, I think the process of diagnosing ulcers and figuring out the right management protocol for an individual horse is incredibly frustrating and there is a lot of one step forward, two steps back.

It sounds like you are doing the right things/taking the right approach.

I also find it helpful to remember that the only way horses can tell us that they’re hurting is by their body language, and it’s our job to learn their language and to read their “tells.” Your horse told you, loud and clear, that he was feeling better. And then, that he wasn’t.

Yes, it’s mostly just patience and time. And listening to what they tell you.

[Pezanos]

In my experience if ulcers keep coming back there is pain or discomfort somewhere else. Until you get rid of the discomfort, the ulcers will keep coming back. Back xrays are a good start. Both my chronic ulcer horses had back issues.