25/02/2025
My horse passed the vetting⦠so why is he unrideable?
Imagine this: You invest in your dream horseāa talented, well-bred competition prospect, bought from a reputable sale with a clean set of X-rays. Everything looks perfect on paper.
For the first 2 weeks, things seem fine. Youāre careful with their introductionāgiving them time to settle, turning them out daily, ensuring their feet and teeth are checked, and gradually easing them into work.
No accidents.
No obvious trauma.
Then suddenly⦠everything changes.
š“ Your once-quiet horse refuses to be touched.
š“ They pin their ears, bite at the girth, and move away when you try to tack up.
š“ Under saddle, they nap, swish their tail, and even threaten to rear.
You rack your braināwhat went wrong?
You check and double-check everything, but thereās no clear answer.
Thatās when Bobās owner called me.
The Moment I Knew Something Was Off
When I arrived, Bobās body language told me everything I needed to know.
š© His eyes were hard.
š© His muscles were tense.
š© His responses were defensiveānot just resistance, but pure discomfort.
His owner was confusedāāHeās never been like this before!ā
But as an animal chiropractor and bodyworker, Iāve learned to read beyond the obvious.
I went through my usual assessment, but before even laying a hand on him, I knew I had to take a step back.
Bob wasnāt just tight or stiff. He was in real pain. And it wasnāt something I could fix alone.
What The Vet FoundāAnd Why It Wasnāt the Whole Story
I referred Bob to the vet immediately, and after a full assessment, the diagnosis came back:
š Grade 2 ulcers.
š A full course of ulcer treatment was prescribed.
Now, ulcers could definitely explain some of Bobās behavioral changesāthe girthiness, the aversion to touch, the discomfort under saddle.
But something didnāt add up.
What Happens Next? Stay Tuned for Part 2