Back spasms??

[fleabag]

Hi there was wondering if anyone has come across a horse showing anything like this before....

So my horse is behaving rather odd... He is reacting to rug, roller and saddle especially girth. He is almost humping his back and throwing is hindquarters to the right creating a banana shape with his body, especially when asked to move from being stood still??! Was seen by a Physio 2 weeks ago and although he did have some sore spots nothing she did made him spasm... Her advice was to rule out saddle. I now have a new saddle and he is still doing it and I think it is possibly becoming worse to ride/lunge he is fine and let's me mount fine and shows no reaction to my weight on his back... Ulcers has crossed my mind although he wouldn't normally be considered as the type, very laid back fed adlib forage and low starch/sugar due to previously tying up as a 4 year old...

His field pal had been sent away for schooling for a month which would tie in with the start of this behaviour I thought he may of tweaked something being a idiot in the field... But could the stress of this caused an ulcer???

So I guess I'm asking what would your next step be were he yours??? Scope, new saddle checked by someone else???

Thank you and sorry for the essay!!! ☺️

 

[be positive]

I would not have bought a new saddle while he was still undergoing treatment unless the original one was clearly the cause, most physios will check the saddle and be able to assess whether it was the cause of his sore spots, muscle spasm is a normal reaction to being treated by a physio and would not overly concern me as long as the horse responded positively to the treatment and improved while doing the recommended exercise regime.

If the horse was mine I would wait until after the follow up check, usually about 2 weeks after the initial treatment, and see what my physio thought, if the horse has not responded as well as expected they should then refer back to the vet assuming they are working with the consent of your vet, if your physio is working without consent and has not booked a follow up then I would suggest you get the vet as the next step.

It could be many things from back pain to ulcers, hock issues can cause pain higher up, only your vet can really get to the bottom of it.

 

[fleabag]

Thank you for your response!
Saddle was something that I was going to do anyways as I couldn't get along with it myself... So I was happy to swop it. Physio is ACPAT so is working with consent from vet she left me with a work plan for 2 weeks and stretches to be done daily but was convinced saddle was the issue and didn't book a follow up appointment? Hmmm!! Ok i think il give it a week more with this saddle and call vets if no improvement, very annoying instructor thinks he's moving a lot better in the new one and he seems fine once he is in motion...
Could it be anticipation of pain from previous saddle??

 

[be positive]

It could be simply that the physio has not "finished" the job she started, I have only very rarely got away with just a single treatment, my physio always comes back even if it is just to check all is well and if no treatment is required there is no charge, as you have used an ACPAT physio I would get them back ASAP to do the follow up as it is very likely she has adjusted something that is now in spasm and needs help to sort out, I would do that before getting the vet involved as it may just require a couple more treatments to make him comfortable.

The problem with treating animals is that they cannot speak so what may seem to be minor to the therapist may in fact be a stoic horse who has a lot more going on than expected, it is why they are supposed to do a follow up, unless they know the client and are sure of getting correct feedback if they just phone instead of visiting, yours may be trying to save you money or be extremely busy and struggling to fit everything in but they should not take short cuts.

 

[fleabag]

Right ok I'll give her a call tomorrow thanks!
He is normally fit and healthy so frustrating not knowing what to do for the best!! Poor boy!