When a Dream Horse Becomes a Mystery
Bob was everything his new owner had dreamed of—a young, talented competition prospect, from an exceptional bloodline, bought from a well-recognised sale for over £20,000. He passed his vetting with a clean set of X-rays, and his experienced owner was thrilled to bring him home.
For the first two weeks, everything seemed normal. Bob was given the best start in his new home—daily turnout, a slow introduction to work, and all routine checks covered (farrier, dentist). His workload was light and varied—a balance of schooling and hacking, just enough to help him settle in.
But then, something changed. And it changed fast.
The Behaviour Shift That Couldn't Be Ignored
At first, Bob just seemed a little tight under saddle—nothing alarming.
By week three, things escalated dramatically:
🐴 In the stable – His behaviour became aggressive. He hated being touched, pinned his ears, and even threatened to kick when being rugged. When his owner walked into the stable, he’d turn away or move to the back corner to avoid contact.
🐴 During tacking up – The moment a saddle appeared, his entire demeanour changed. He turned his head aggressively towards his owner, nipped at the girth, and shifted away whenever anyone tried to mount.
🐴 Under saddle – He refused to move forward. When pushed, his tail swished angrily, and he started threatening to rear. Even asking for a simple trot resulted in resistance, napping, and pinned ears.
His owner, who had spent her entire life around horses, was deeply concerned. She knew this wasn’t bad behaviour. Bob wasn’t just being “difficult”—he was trying to tell her something.
This is when I was called.
When I First Met Bob…
I still remember my gut instinct when I first saw Bob.
His eyes were hard, his body was tense, and there was a consistent pattern in his behaviours that told me this wasn’t just a training issue.
As an animal chiropractor and bodyworker, I’ve seen many horses exhibit discomfort, but something about Bob’s case made me pause.
I went through my usual assessment—watching him stand, move, and react to touch. But before I even began treatment, I knew I needed to take a step back.
This was pain-related, and it was beyond my scope to treat alone.
I told the owner, “This isn’t just tension. I think your vet needs to be involved.”
The Vet’s Diagnosis—But Was It the Full Story?
The vet came out and did a full assessment.
📌 The official diagnosis? Grade 2 ulcers.📌 Treatment plan? 2 rounds of ulcer medication and management changes.
Now, ulcers could absolutely explain Bob’s reaction to touch, girthing, and overall sensitivity. But here’s the thing…
👉 Why such a dramatic behaviour change in just TWO WEEKS?
👉 Why did his symptoms worsen despite the “perfect” start in his new home?
The clean X-rays said he was sound.The ulcer treatment should have made him comfortable.
So why was Bob still unhappy?
What Happens Next? Stay Tuned for Part 2
Bob’s journey didn’t stop here.Even after ulcer treatment and further nerve blocks, his discomfort remained.
Something was still being missed.
🔹 What did the vet do next?
🔹 What was really going on with Bob?
🔹 And most importantly—what can we learn from this?
📌 Stay tuned for Part 2—The Vet Visits & The Final Outcome.
💬 Have you ever experienced a similar situation? Drop a comment below or tag someone who might relate!
Why This Story Matters
💡 Lesson from Part 1:
🔹 A horse’s behaviour is always communication.
🔹 A clean X-ray doesn’t mean a horse is pain-free—we ride the body, not the X-ray!
🔹 If something doesn’t feel right, trust your gut and keep asking questions.
Have you ever had a horse that passed a vetting but later showed serious discomfort? Let’s talk below! ⬇️
Comments