Violent reaction with farrier

[Sdel]

The odd thing is that this horse absolutely loves this stretch. His chiropractor does it with him monthly and does it much more than the farrier with his foot on the stand. I do a forward stretch with him too. Only difference is maybe the length of hold, and he was in the position for some time before the initial reaction.

Anyway, whatever is going on, it is affecting his muscles again. He is having a symptomatic back and shoulder again as the muscles are clamped down and he’s back to toe dragging this morning.

[glitterless]

I give bute the night before the farrier appointment and the day of and it seems to have helped. My boy was always fine for the farrier, but started trying to pull away once he hit his early 20s. He’s sound and happy otherwise, but I think some of the stretching and flexing that the farrier requires is causing pain now that there’s some arthritis happening.

[Annie10]

I had a mare like you describe. We just didn’t cross tie her, and between that and a little extra consideration from the farrier and some banamine she was fine.

[4horses]

I think there is an easy work around. Don’t cross tie and don’t bring the leg forward to finish the hoof. Yes it is easier to bring the foot forward to address flares and make everything look pretty. But I don’t think it is necessary. My old horse struggled to stand for the farrier and I started trimming her with her laying down until her condition progressed and I had her euthanized.

Cross ties can create panic issues and I won’t use them on a horse that pulls back (which it sounds like this horse does).

Use banamine beforehand for pain relief.

[4horses]

Has the vet pulled muscle enzyme levels on this horse? I’m wondering if the horse has pssm 1 or 2?
Muscle stiffness sounds like a muscle problem.

[Sdel]

He is not pssm 1. I have asked the vet for years if they think he is 2. None of them have said he presents like a pssm horse. When I bought him his bodyworker said he was the stiffest horse she’d ever worked with. I am constantly fighting muscle stiffness and body soreness. I will bring it up again.

That said, he’s had more significant muscle tightness before and no problems.

[Simkie]

How does he do on a hefty dose of robaxin?

Although truly, it sounds like you know he’s got a host of issues and this is likely to be an indication of progression of those issues.

[Sdel]

He’s never been proscribed robaxin despite my insistence on the muscle issues.

[4horses]

Have they done an exercise test? I would have someone video tape him while you work him. Tape him the first few minutes and again after 15 minutes and see if there is a change in his movement. Also pull blood to check CK and Ast.

[stargzng386]

Keep in mind that steroid injections usually only last 6 months to a year. If it’s been 2 years since the last injection it’s very possible the neck pain is worse.

[Simkie]

So he’s never been on robaxin. You’ve not done a hefty dose of nsaid prior to the farrier. How long did you trial gabapentin? Usually that sedative effect is pretty transient and they get through it over time.

It sounds like you have a lot of things to try, at least. If you’d like to explore.

I agree with @stargzng386, at two years out you’re well past the usual expiry of neck injections.

[Sdel]

@4horses

Have they done an exercise test?

He’s too unstable and violent. He does all the behavior on the lunge, including various forms of trying to fall. He’s really only stable at liberty where he can be on straight lines or large circles. Any tight turn at speed causes an explosion.

[skydy]

How middle aged is he?

[beowulf]

If he is unstable and violent, it’s time to ask yourself whether his QOL is on the up and up or if it is gradually declining. No judgment, I have been there myself with cervical arthritis horse. They are so stoic, until they’re not. It made me realize you can’t really trust a horse to tell you how bad it is just from watching them in the paddock. How they react to being put to work is the real tell.

[Sdel]

3-4 months. There was no change in anything. He’s been on Equioxx for 6 months over the winter. He’s had vet eyes on him multiple times over the last several years and he’s never presented in a way that they think he screams pain. I have asked every time they have seen him. I didn’t repeat the injections because they never resulted in a change in the issues or behavior I was seeing. I’m not opposed to them, they just simply haven’t helped, and I ask every professional each time they see him if they notice any changes in him that I might miss from seeing him every day.

What has helped: Bodywork, chiro, accupressure, and focused proprioception work. Every professional I’ve worked with has seen the changes those methods have made. Like I said, he’s been a head scratcher. I’ve provided photo proof of the neurological stuff, he does, they’ve seen him almost fall over on the lunge, after they deemed him perfect on a w/t lameness, I’ve described his explosions and their conditions. I’ve told trainers he’s rearing with me on the lunge and they don’t believe me…tell me he’s picture perfect (and he was until he wasn’t) until they see his switch flip and he started rearing on them at the mounting block. He sees a chiropractor monthly (which he loves btw). He’s does all the stretches and stuff and there has never been any indication that he’s in severe active pain, and she does a lot of stuff with his neck. I can’t give him something for pain that I can’t get others to see.

He’s just constantly has some kind of muscle stiffness and body soreness in the chest/shoulder area and goes through phases when his topline sucks.

@OverandOnward can tell you, he does not present as a horse that is in daily pain. Whatever is going on, it’s subtle, until it’s not, and then it is dangerous. Multiple professionals have told me this.

[Simkie]

@Sdel

He’s had vet eyes on him multiple times over the last several years and he’s never presented in a way that they think he screams pain.

What? You describe him as too unstable and violent to even longe him for the vet. That’s…extreme.

@Sdel

He’s too unstable and violent. He does all the behavior on the lunge, including various forms of trying to fall. He’s really only stable at liberty where he can be on straight lines or large circles.

Poor guy. He doesn’t sound like a head scratcher at all.

[Sdel]

He slams on the brakes and rears or bucks violently. I had the vet lunge him for a lameness (after telling me he was perfect at the w/t), no rearing or bucking but immediate fetlock buckling, cross-cantering, stopping and almost falling over because he couldn’t find his feet. He was speechless. Chiro came out and said he was out everywhere and put him back together.

Head scratcher.

The horse has always been fine, on the ground or gaits less than a canter with just a mild toe drag and some loosey gooseyness. Until now. That’s why he’s been around for so long. He really has seemed to be happy to hang out and be pleasant, until recently. Once you get to canter, he goes to crap. Lately he’s actually been appropriate at the canter at liberty as long as he’s on a straight line or very large bend.

[CHT]

Would Diazapam before the farrier visit help both to calm and relax muscles?

[Simkie]

@Sdel

immediate fetlock buckling, cross-cantering, stopping and almost falling over because he couldn’t find his feet. He was speechless.

What on earth is head scratching about any of this.

[Sdel]

I dunno. Maybe because he was not presenting lame at all just minutes before, and it was a pretty spectacular fail? Not even I was expecting it to present as bad as it did, and I know his issues. Seriously, his only day to day symptom is tight muscles.