The vet came out today and examined Lad. She suspects EPM or some other neurologic problem. She was very thorough. She did a lameness exam, etc. She feels it is EPM or some other neurologic problem. She had me get on so she could observe Lad's behavior. Blood test for EPM was sent off to UC Davis and we should have the results midweek. She said groundwork should be okay, but agreed he shouldn't be ridden.I'm going to ramble here, because I'm not sure what may be a factor in my gelding, Lad, not wanting to walk under saddle. Lad is a gray thoroughbred in light work. No history of lameness, and he is barefoot. He will be 20 in 2016. I am a lower level dressage rider who rides three to four times a week. Recently (in the last month or so), Lad started to stop and resist moving - sometimes, he doesn't even want to move off from the mounting block. When he does this and I urge him forward, he feels like he is huffing up for a buck or rear (neither of which he has ever done). He was treated by an equine trigger point myotherapist for a sore area in the 12-to-2 quadrant above his right hip . My BO has walked along with us rewarded him with carrots when he walks. For two or three rides, we did this. Lad would walk off; we'd walk around the arena, cross the diagonal, etc., go back for a reward. He went willingly and quietly, but eventually, even the carrots didn't motivate him. I thought maybe it was a saddle fitting issue. I had a saddle fitting last November, but I recently noticed one side is flatter than the other and am trying to arrange for the saddle fitter to come back. Lad has had about a month off from work (a combination of bad weather and my being away for the Thanksgiving holiday). Today, I tried a different saddle with a wider tree and still the same reaction. My thought is that with the time off and a different saddle not making a difference, the issue probably isn't his saddle. Also, sometimes if I am saddling him up, he will put his ears back, swing his head up and down, swish his tale, and maybe stomp - again, this is recent behavior.
One thing I want to make clear is that when he indicates discomfort, I do stop whatever I am doing. If we are trying the walk, I get off. If I go to get on, and he acts like he doesn't want me to, I don't. I am not comfortable doing this if I think I am causing him discomfort, but I feel I have to keep trying things. As someone I respect told me, horses don't sit around thinking of ways to get out of work. The horse is clearly trying to tell me something isn't right.
Another boarder has a dressage horse who is retired due to navicular. For a few years before he was diagnosed, he refused to move forward to the point of rearing when he was pressed. Everyone kept telling her it was an attitude problem, but, really, it was the navicular. No one had any idea! She suggested that when the vet comes, I have her put the hoof testers on him. She said that even though the problem is manifesting in the back, it could be originating somewhere else. I do not suspect navicular at all, but it is not a problem just to check this box.
I have owned Lad for about four years, and he has never exhibited this type of behavior before. Would a poorly fitting saddle cause this type of behavior? Also, he has three lumps along the right side of the neck. He has had these since I've had him, and we have been watching them. Would it be possible for them to be pressing on something that makes him uncomfortable when saddled?
I am going to call the vet out and have him examined. I'm just at a loss.
