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  Discussion on Frequent urination while riding
Author Message
New Member:
aussiesr

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 21, 2009 - 10:19 am:

when i ride my 6 year old gelding he will stop and urinate as many as 5 times in an hour and a half. it is a normal amount each time and seems clear? could it be caused from having weight on his kidneys? he is a short backed horse?
Member:
mrose

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 21, 2009 - 10:46 am:

That isn't a normal amount of urinating. I'm sure Dr.O will comment as I'm no vet, but from a lifetime with horses, I'd say that is an inordinate amount of stopping to urinate. Does he also urinate a lot when at home? I think a first step would be to get some blood work or an urinalysis done.

As to weight on the kidneys, I don't know how heavy you are and how big the horse is, but regardless, if you have your saddle possitioned right,( unless it's a very big saddle on a very little horse,) and you are sitting in the right place, there should be no weight on the kidneys.
New Member:
aussiesr

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 21, 2009 - 2:55 pm:

he does not urinate alot while he just out in the pasture. he is a small horse with a short back.
My saddle is a barrel saddle and i weigh about 170
that why i was wondering about the kidneys. He doesn't act sick and his urine looks fine. I thought it might be nerves but he is not a nervous type horse.
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 21, 2009 - 4:40 pm:

Sara makes a good point about whether the saddle might sit too far back, especially possible if the horse has a short back.

I think that some horses will stop more often to urinate sometimes due to general discomfort from a saddle problem or due to fitness issues. It feels good for them to stop and stretch out and they have learned that stopping and stretching is permissible if they urinate.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 21, 2009 - 5:53 pm:

Welcome Mike,
No, pressure on the back over the kidneys is not a cause of increased urination. You would be amazed at how much muscle, tissue, and space there is between that point on the back and the kidneys. And the kidneys are more like a filter than they are a sponge.

But why your horse would have normal urination at all other times is a little hard to figure Mike and makes me wonder if that is a good observation or if the pony is not emptying out at each stop. It is hard to believe normal kidneys would be able to filter that much water in an hour.

Hmmm...let me ask you do you pretreat the ride with any medication or electrolytes? Does your horse have any other health issues?
DrO
New Member:
aussiesr

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 21, 2009 - 6:11 pm:

no issues that i know of. when he went 5 times it was excessive even for him. I don't treat him with anything. His yearly is coming up anything you would reccommend to talk with the vet about?
Member:
mitch316

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 21, 2009 - 6:58 pm:

Hmm..another puzzle on HA. I am curious too about why he would only do it when on rides. If he started doing it out of the blue and did it all the time, it would at least narrow down a bit. And you say it is clear? What about the consistency...is it smooth and thin, like water, or thicker than you would say a normal horse is? Did you notice any "flecks" or spots in it?
Member:
scooter

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 21, 2009 - 8:17 pm:

Well I can tell you what my coniving horse did...exactly what Vicki said, he learned if he stretched out to pee he got to rest AND he ate grass while he was doing it! I don't know HOW they can make themselves pee...but he did. He never went 5 times on a ride but he usually managed 2 or 3 times on a couple hour ride.

Once I put 2 and 2 together...no more eating grass when peeing AND a little hard work when he was done. The habit disappeared rather quickly and never came back.
New Member:
aussiesr

Posted on Tuesday, Apr 21, 2009 - 8:36 pm:

as far as i can tell it is clear and normal.
Diane describes something that is a very good possibilty with this horse. Once the vet checks him out and he continues i will try changing some things while i am riding.
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 22, 2009 - 8:16 am:

Mike, you should discuss with your veterinarian having the kidneys checked for normal function and you can read more about that at Diseases of Horses » Urinary System » Kidney Disease and Failure in the Horse.

That said Diane's suggestion that this is behavioral rather than disease is most consistent with the facts as you present them: has your horse trained you to stop and take a break? In general I finds animals much better trainers than people.
DrO
New Member:
aussiesr

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 22, 2009 - 8:55 am:

you are probaly right. He is a very sly guy.
I will take your suggestion and be well informed when i go to the vet.
thanks
New Member:
karend

Posted on Thursday, Jun 17, 2010 - 4:10 am:

So what ever happened with this problem? When I was reading all this and 2 other posts, I felt I reading about my horse. He is a 8 yr old QH and he dose the same things only he will pull the same tricks in an arena where there is no grass.
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