Just curious to see how many people use either a chiropractor, massage therapist or both for their horse. I have been thinking about having one come out and wanted to get peoples thoughts on this before I do. I have a 20 year old pony who is a bit hard to work with. He doesn't trust people and I don't know if this would even be possible to do on him. Yesterday he started acting really bizarre though! I fed in the morning and he usually goes outside after eating, with no issues. He will stick his head out of his stall and patiently wait for me to get his fly mask and halter on. But yesterday, he would not let me get near him! He acted like I beat him or something. I have NEVER EVER so much as lifted a hand to him. He's spoiled rotten, I have worked so slowly with his trust issues, never forcing anything on him. But he wouldn't even let me touch him yesterday. After several attempts and after about a half hour of trying, I had to go to work, so I left him in the stall. When I got back from work, he was yelling because he wanted out, but did the same thing he did in the morning.... took off to the back of his stall the minute I tried to touch him. Needless to say, he stayed in all day yesterday. In the evening I had to go in his stall and get him and put his halter on. I brushed him, and he seemed pretty normal. This morning he acted the same way. This time I had time to mess with him for a bit. I went in his stall with his fly mask and he went to hide in the back corner. I gently put my arm around his head to lead him out of the corner and he didn't really give me any issues putting his stuff on. He was worried about me touching the top of his head to pull his forelock out of the mask... very touchy. He walked out normally, seemed happy while outside, he came back inside later normally. After I took his stuff off of him, he was back to the "don't beat me!" game. What is up with that?! He has never acted like this toward me before. The major problem is that he has never let anyone else handle him but me. Now he's acting all weird with me. I have been scratching my head, trying to think of why he would be acting like this so suddenly since yesterday morning. The only thing that has been unusual was the day before this started him and his pony buddies were outside and they all started going nuts, running, rearing, bucking. He doesn't get worked. His exercise consists of eating and being out in the pasture. Could he be sore from this? Could he have pulled a muscle or something and just be hurting and worried about being touched? He has been letting me scratch his withers and back and likes it. But the minute I try to touch him on the face/head anywhere, he goes away and gives me a look like... don't touch me there! It's so weird because if he's inside he always puts his head over when I approach the stall to lick my hands and check my pockets, etc. The past two days he just wants me to go away. If anyone has had anything similar happen with their horse or just has some ideas that I can maybe have something to go on, it would be greatly appreciated.

this may seem a little to obvious to be helpful but did you check his head and neck for lumps and sores? he may have gotten kicked and doesn't want you to touch it. My boyfriend's horse is the same way. He just doesn't find joy in being around people, just tolerates them when he has to but he has always been this way (i believe due to being cowboy broke, beat and turned out for months at a time w little interaction). If he is sound, a little ground work could be beneficial to your relationship with him.

I visually checked his head because he is not letting me touch anywhere on his head. Last night he let me pet him on his face a little bit. I have to halter him and hold him to groom or he moves around everywhere. He's been normal during grooming. Typical stuff, checking me for treats and stuff. He was probably treated the same way as your boyfriends horse at his previous home(s). What I don't understand is why all of a sudden? He is usually very friendly with me. I'm the only one who he was friendly with, but he has been friendly with me since about a month after I got him up until now. It will be a year this month that I have owned him. I keep trying to think of anything unusual that could have happened. The only things I can come up with is either he's sore or got kicked or something around his head or maybe it could be his vision? I am going to have the vet come out to check him over. I really hate calling the vet because he's sooo bad for anyone to work with. It makes me feel bad that he's so fearful of people. I have looked at his eyes, but they don't look cloudy or anything. He is missing a part of his bottom eyelid, but that injury seems very old. He is sensitive to sunlight, and he wears a fly mask whenever he goes outside. His one eye will tear a little bit after he's been out. But that has always been the case. Nothing new. The last time the vet was out, he said his eyes looked good and clear. He's black in color so it's not like he has any pink, sensitive skin anywhere. I haven't noticed him bumping into anything or acting clumsy. If he got his mask caught on something in the pasture could that cause this kind of reaction? I don't know.. it's very confusing.

You have done a great job.Such an informative and well formed post! Thank you for sharing that, it was wonderful of you.