Uncomfortable mare? Why?

[starsandsun]

Not my horse but interested in the thoughts of others …

Young maiden mare, super talented mover, occasionally is completely unwilling to go forward under saddle - will move out on the lunge. Much has been checked … tack fits, teeth fine, no ulcers (gastroscopy done), sports medicine may become involved after thorough repro exam.

On regumate, behavior may coincide with cycling.

But here’s the weird thing … under tack, once she poops, she is happy to go forward.

That seems to be consistent. What would you look for?

[Jo]

Is she on a probiotic?

[Jealoushe]

Kissing spines

Possible tumor or growth on or around the intestinal tract?

[Dutchmare433]

My gelding had the same symptom. Absolutely would not move under saddle if he had to pass manure. We did basically all diagnostics possible (x-rated and ultrasounded all 4 legs and the entire neck and back plus a bone scan) and after changing vets and seeing an internal med specialist, he was diagnosed with right dorsal colitis via ultrasound. We treated that and he is now maintained on sucralfate (12g 2x a day) and misoprostol (900 micrograms 2x a day—down from 1800). He also gets 2-4scps of platinum balance a day. (More when he’s traveling or if he has to be on other meds.)

[starsandsun]

Yes - she has been on a probiotic for years.

[starsandsun]

Dutchmare, thanks. She has has an ultrasound but that did not show colitis. The bloodwork (most recent) will be available soon and I’ll be curious if there’s any low protein numbers. She has had sand fairly consistently in her manure. I’m thinking you’re on to something … did you ever try Succeed?

[myhorsefaith]

My gelding was similar- very balky to start, and usually after he had a poo, he clicked on and off we went. Thats how it started, and while that was really his only symptom I had all the things checked that you mentioned, and nothing was adding up. But it eventually got worse to where he wouldnt move under saddle unless I sat waaay back like a cowboy on my pockets. Spinal xrays showed severe bridging of the underside (ventral) of several thoracic vertebrae- basically everyone we could see clearly on the field xray there was that bridging. The top part of the vertebrae looked fine.

Ultimately I had to put him down at age 11, as he also had other bits of worsening arthritis in every joint we looked at practically, and also had cushings. He started having trouble going down, would not lay down in a stall, but if he did manage to go down for a roll outside, he’d shoot up and take off with his butt tucked like something was stinging him. He also started to trip and his hind legs would fall out from under him when he was moving.

I wish I had done the xrays sooner, and quite honestly now I do them on every horse I get just so I know what is going on.

[Dutchmare433]

I didn’t try Succeed, by the time the specialist saw him, he was well past the point where supplements were going to help. We went for the nuclear option and took him off hay for a month and weaned him back on.** (He was already on the misoprostol at that point, which definitely helped, but there was still very significant inflammation.)

A few months after pulling the hay, the inflammation was resolved but with lingering diarrhea. We then did a fecal transfer and that took care of the diarrhea and allowed me to half his dose of misoprostol. When I tried to take him off the miso entirely, the reluctance to pass manure under saddle started to come back.

**I’m not sure I would do this again. It did ultimately work but it made my unfailingly happy horse miserable and somewhat good aggressive for several months afterwards.

***I do know several people who have used both Succeed and Equisure with good results.