glenatron | Poor lunky 'oss

Last monday we had the chiropractor out to check on the ponies, Zorro didn't need much doing but Small had a few things that seemed to need a bit of work. We haven't really had a chance to ride since then - we nearly did yesterday but we had to dash off for a lesson in the afternoon so we didn't really have time. Consequently today was my first chance to hop on and do a bit of schooling with the big guy.

We got about ten steps from the mounting block before Zorro reared and literally squealed as he did it. I've sat on some of his furious moments before and he was always totally silent so I was immediately a bit concerned. I got off, we went back to the mounting block and I carefully got on again. This time we hardly left the block before we got the same thing. At this point

sleepsy_mouse came over and so I described it to her and showed what he was doing- she took my camera and got a bit of video, from which it's clear that he's unhappy from the moment I get on.

On the ground he is fine- moving freely and with no apparent discomfort- it just seems to be a problem with him carrying weight. I'm absolutely without a doubt that this is a pain issue not a behavioural one- he actually quite enjoys ridden work most of the time and when he does have a tantrum it feels a lot different from that.

It could be co-incidence - we've been using this chiropractor for years and she has always done a brilliant job - but the timing does seem a bit dodgy so I'm going to give her a call first thing tomorrow and see what she advises.

EDIT: Now I've spoken to her, she says it sometimes happens that way- sometimes the reason they have a twist or something out of alignment is to cover some underlying pain and although normally straightening it out makes them more comfortable it's possible that in this case it has just revealed the problem again. I'm to walk him out in hand for about 30mins for the next three days and try getting back on him after that. She thinks that will probably be enough. If not she'll come back directly.