Back Issues with Spanish PRE horse

[Orangedog01]

Just trying to gather information before the vet comes. Has anyone had an imported PRE/Spanish/Andalusian horse that has started showing signs of back problems? Horse has been here a year, is trained up to PSG level, but he is showing signs of discomfort, had back checked, teeth and saddle. When lunged his left hind kind of twists under him before it hits the ground. He's been reluctant to work in an outline when ridden, and hollows when I get on. He has a very slight dipped area behind the saddle but is not sore to touch/manipulation. I had a new saddle fitted 2 weeks ago but no improvement, but I tried a different style saddle and he was like a different horse. Just wondering if there are any common problems with PRE's that I can chat to the vet about. TIA

 

[be positive]

Any breed of horse can have back problems and I think PRE's will be even more likely to due to their build and way they are inclined to go under saddle, most find stretching their topline and extending their frame more difficult than collecting and shortening but other than that they are still equines with the possibility of something going wrong for any reason.

Your vet will look at the horse in front of him, he should do the normal soundness checks and not just target the back which is more than likely a symptom rather than the cause of whatever is going on, especially as he is not really sore in the back and has presumably not responded to treatment by the physio who checked him, it is far more likely to be coming from his hock, something going on there that is stopping him using himself correctly through the back, a change of saddle may give some immediate relief but until the primary cause is found and treated you may end up back to square one after a few days in it.

 

[FfionWinnie]

I've read on here their feet can be tricky to keep right over here as they are shod in such a different way over here. Cortez is who you need to speak to to find out about that if there is anything in it.