Bad back & lunging

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cpendle

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My young horse has got a really sore back, I'm not sure how but am guessing high jinx in the field.

The physio can't come and look at him till mid next week but I want to keep him ticking over until then as he's fit and ready to compete.

I thought I'd lunge him every day and ideally would like to put side reins on. But I don't know whether this would cause him discomfort/pain if he has a bad back?

What do you think I should do?
 
can you loose school until then?? less pressure on the back and would keep the heart rate up. the other thing is to hack out with a loose rein, shouldnt do any damage
 
I certainly wouldn't lunge a horse with a bad back certainly with side reins on, if giving the horse a rest isn't an option , very light hacking on a loose rein so he can stretch through his back.

But resting the horse imo is the best option.
 
My preference would be to turn away until you can get him looked at.

It's what I've done with my horse for the same reasons.
 

Hmmmm, if it was just for the week I'd be inclined to turn him away until the physio can come out.

If you can't do that then long reining on a loose rein would be better than lunging. If you really have to lunge then I'd certainly not use side reins & I'd keep the circle very large so it's not putting too much strain on him. I certainly wouldn't ask him to work in an outline or anything like that.

You could end up making the problem worse, as well as causing him pain/discomfort if you were to lunge him with side reins.
 
i had to wait 8 days for my physio to come out - suppose it depends on how back his/her back is, but I was told preferably no schooling mainly light hacking but all "long and low" and definately no lunging.
 
I would turn him away, its only a week so he wont loose any fitness, you dont want him to associate pain with work as this could turn into a major issue in the long run!
 
When I had back problems I used to be in tears with the discomfort of walking, never mind running around in circles! Give the horse a rest in the field for a week until the physio comes.
 
Hiya, My horse has just damaged her back very badly whilst being stupid in the field, it happened 2 weeks ago, i had to wait 12 days for my Mctimothy lady, my vet insisted no lunging at all, short walks in hand and longreining for 10 mins or so. However in the first week after she did the damage she was only allowed 5 min walks in hand and had to chill out in field, then start quiet long reining. She will need a few more visits from backlady so in mean time just longreining and little walks. My vet said even if I ask for 3/4 circles on lunge then change the rein it will set her back going into spasm again so the best thing to do is to longrein doing loads of serpentines, figure eights etc... hope this helps.
 
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