I would get a neuro evaluation done. My guy slowly lost topline with the EDM. It was subtle…he was been working in one saddle that the fitter had adjusted for him. Then it just wasn’t fitting right…I assumed it was just him being young and changing shape, so I swapped to a different saddle that was a bit narrower. When I took him to the clinic for the neuro eval, the sports med vet also looked at him…now she had seem him in June for the stifle issues. This was January…she immediately remarked at how much topline he had lost. And that was before we had the neuro eval done. Dr. Amy Johnson is one of the top neuro vets in the US and is at New Bolton/U Penn which might be worth a ride.
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Just wanted to provide a kind of strange update on this post: I contacted the previous owners who were very concerned about him and offered to take him back (I bought him last summer). He went back to their place last weekend and are assuming full responsibility for him. I am a little concerned about how they will handle everything and also a little concerned they will try to sell him again without disclosing everything, but I am not sad about not being financially responsible. Hopefully I made the right decision.
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I think it was the correct decision. There was definitely something going on & that something was of the nature that chasing it down has the potential of becoming a Sisyphean task. I tend to think that horses can sometimes sense & start reacting to physical issues before that issue has progressed to the point it is even discoverable via diagnostics. And, of course, horses have no way of telling us if they’re experiencing a brain chemical imbalance, etc.
Good luck & I hope you find something that works out soon.
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I have two others still! And you’re right, no time for the Sisyphean task of figuring it out or getting hurt. I did ask them to stay in touch.
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From what you’ve shared here, I think it was the right decision.
It’s apparent that this horse was constantly testing your tolerance limits. That is stressful. I’ve been in a somewhat similar situation, and sometimes it just isn’t the horse experience we need.
Sounds like he’s in a good place, and no longer on your worry list. Well done, imo. 
