[horse345]

My 9 year old paint mare had been off for over a month due to being kicked on her back leg by another horse and I've just started to slowly get her back in work. After she got kicked, we had her checked out by the vet and had x-rays done. She checked out okay, I was given about a months supply of NSAIDs and he told me I could begin riding within 2 weeks, but I waited a few more weeks just to make sure everything would be okay. Before the injury she has always been fairly pleasant to ride, compliant, focused, responsive and easy to maneuver.

My last couple of rides on her have been a nightmare. Her diet has not changed, had her teeth done 6 months ago. She seems really grouchy to be back to work. I don't think she is still in any pain. No limping, no lameness, she is not stiff, she plays and bucks and kicks when I turn her out. She is unresponsive, distracted and difficult. On the ground she is the same. She gets nervous, anxious, paws, and won't stand still. She has developed a small "case" of buddy sour, and her new ground habits multiply if I take my other horse some place else where she can't see her, but she seems to calm down some when I return. (I've done some buddy sour reading on here and have tried a few techniques, but they haven't seemed to work very well). I'm not quite convinced I need to get a chiro out to look at her, as it just seems like she is full of new bad habits instead of needing a body adjustment.

I've been very frustrated lately trying to deal with her. I feel like she needs an attitude adjustment, but not quite sure how to go about this. I normally show her in the Western and English events. I have thought about teaching her to do something else that she doesn't know---like jumping. I have also felt like I should just sell her and get something else these past couple of days, too.

Any suggestions??

[pippy]

Don't give up on her that quickly - I often get frustrated with riding.

Two things that I will mainly do:

Put the horse back into the paddock before I get to the almost tears stage, keep rides short and to a minimum.

Go get a lesson to help me get back on track.

Or just go for a hack and pretend not to care whenever the horse doesn't something the anoys me.

Oh - another thing is - just go ride another horse a few times thats nice to enjoy it, then go back to the "pissy" horse

[JBandRio]

A month of NSAIDS (really? That long?) combined with every symptom you describe screams ulcers to me.

[lawquin]

I have the same problem with my mare. She wants to turn and run back to pasture with the other horses. What is working for me right now is this:

I started out riding her in the pasture with the other horses for a couple days. She did better then when she was by herself.

Stick her in a round pen (if you have one) and sack her out or make her run. But with another horse. Get her all tired and sweaty so all she wants to do is walk.

After about 4 days of doing that I took one of my other horses and rode my mare while leading the other horse in the arena. She wouldn't stand still when I went to tack her up, until I tied the other horse next to her. She quit pawing, snorting, and jumping sideways. If you go on trails take the horse with you but only go a little ways at a time. Take a different horse every time that way she doesn't buddy with just one.

[horse345]

Originally Posted by JBandRio

A month of NSAIDS (really? That long?) combined with every symptom you describe screams ulcers to me.

I thought this, too. But she has not shown any signs of colic, weight/muscle loss or a dull coat.

[JBandRio]

So? LOL

Not every issue displays every possible symptom

[caity and billy]

YES, i DO get frustrated, everytime i move him to a fresher paddock its back to square 1, he gets pushy and crowds me and just does NOT listen...your definatly not the only one.

If i feel its not going anywhere i put him back...maybe a wait a few hours or eben just the next day.

Id say its because he had enjoyed his time off and cant be bothered getting back into it. I had a month off whgen i had my appendix out, it took a little bit for things to get back to normal but it did.

[Mira]

I too encounter the random days of going out to ride, getting on and things just are not working. He won't focus or is tense, I get frustrated, it all goes to **** from there. I know it's gotta have something to do with me so on days that it's really bad and we're having a lot of trouble getting on the "same page" I just focus on something I know will go well, get it done so we end on a good note, and then get off. Next day I can get on it's like nothing ever happened and we're both working together as usual. Just another one of those days

[BNA526]

Not so much frustrated as getting that feeling of defeat. Those days where nothing seems to click and he is unresponsive to every single aid.
I just will usually try to find one good note to end on, even if it is a stretchy walk. Something that I KNOW we can do, and then get off. Because at the end of the day, your horse is still just a horse, and they have off days like we do. They aren't machines.

Or heck, it very well could have been me that was having an off day.
I know my young gelding sure lets me know when my aids are too strong or will make me work 10x harder for something if I'm not asking the same way I normally do or am too light.

[CJnBucksMom]

Originally Posted by horse345

I thought this, too. But she has not shown any signs of colic, weight/muscle loss or a dull coat.

Those are not the only signs of ulcers though the most common. How has she been drinking? Is she hydrated and drinking as much as she should be or do her water pockets look somewhat 'sunken' or empty occasionally? That is how we realized one of my mares had ulcers. Her water intake was way down and she just wasn't interested in drinking at all. Vet came out, checked her over and sure enough....Now that she's on sucralafate 2x a day there's a world of difference.