Bad back - turn away?

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loverly

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I'll cut a long story short.

But basically the horse in question has had ongoing bck problems (?) for the last few months. He has been seen by a veterinary physiotherapist and chiropractor and vet and all they come up with is that he is slightly out and a bit sore.

He has got a lot worse recently, especially on the left rein where he will plant and buck and rear to prevent going forwards. Had chiro out today and she couldn't find anything :-\

Hes had his teeth and saddles checked.

I'm thinking of taking shoes off and turning him away untill the new year...

What would you're next step be?
 
My physio usually refers back to the vet if the horse does not respond to treatment, there is often an underlying problem that causes the back to be sore, frequently this is in the hocks and can be bilateral so the horse appears sound.

This would then need investigation, turning away may help but it would depend on the reason for the problem often it will flare up when the horse comes back into work.
If you are insured you are losing time while the horse is turned away.
 
I hate to say this but if he were mine I would have his back xrayed for possible kissing spine. Also problems/sprains in the supraspineous ligament can cause issues. Damage to this can usually be picked up via ultra sound. Soft tissue injuries will heal with time off in the field but bony problems wont.
 
I would have a full investigation done. My horse had back problems and I have spent the summer building him up but he is now lame and it turns outs the back issue were a side effect of problems with his hocks. Good luck
 
loverly said:
I'm going to try a Mctimoney practitioner (she also does gait analysis, hoof balances etc..) to see her view.

Then if all else fails, he will be going for a full investigation at the vets. How much does this roughly cost?
Click to expand...

Depends what you have, mine has had full body scan and various xrays and treatments and I am now nearly at the end of my £5000 claim.
 
Ask them to give you an estimate for a lameness work up specific to your horse, that should give you some idea, then you can take it from there. I tend to agree that if physio, chiro and mctimmony (really rate them!) can't find anything then it's time for vet work up.
 
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