Sore horse

[Waikato Valuta]

A friend from my yard has a pony that seems very sore.

She has always been cranky and girth but a few months ago has become very sensitive on her chest and ribs. She lays years back and tries to bit you. Very unhappy pony.

She is 23yo, and a little on the skinny side. She is not lame but there is some heat in the chest.

I asked when the saddle was last restuffed and she said Never in over 7 years and it was second hand then :eek: So I'm hoping that the problem as the saddler is coming soon.

What can you do to alleviate the pain? and what could it be?

[Tor&Warrior]

I would suggest not riding the pony until the saddle has been checked as it is only going to make the problem worse.

If she were mine I would also want her to be checked by a vet and chiropractor. It could be so many things I'd want to know for sure and only a vet will be able to do this, and if theres a chance she's had a saddle which didn't fit great, I'd want the Chiropractor to check her back out. Especially as she's not young. Just getting the saddle re-fitted isn't really enough. They'll need to make sure she's 100% other wise it wont matter that the saddle fits she still be in pain.

Hope she's better soon!

[Waikato Valuta]

Well the saddle fitter is coming and a masseuse and she will only be ridden once a week in a 30 lesson. and with a saddle that I think fits pretty well.

I dont go along with this person although i dont wish to stir things up. so I’m trying to advise her on what she should do, although she thinks here ponies aggressive behavior is all a result of past treatment. i have noticed the horse get good and then bad again around ridding times.

[entreat]

I'm in two minds about that little girl!

I've ridden her a few times and often the pain seems real. Something close to her withers. But then there was a couple time when she had a pain reaction to me taking my feet out of the stirrups (I was very careful to make sure I wasn't shifting my weight).

I would lean toward the actual pain, just from how she seems to me. It doesn't look like she's trying it on.

Did it suddenly get worse after the fall she had? (when she bruised her chest?)

[Waikato Valuta]

It's hard to tell becuase we only just noticed it after that. So it could have been around before.

But the flinching at her ribs being touched (making very nasty faces), was around long before that. I know she does the girth up VERY tight becuasse she is a round horse and the saddle slpis. I dont do it up tight, but I have fallen of once becuase of it slipping.