Checking a horses back... only a month after last time??

[Bustalot]

How often do you have someone to check your horses back? My old horse used to be every 6 months.

My 5 year old had his checked last month as he was getting really heavy in my hands on one rein, found he was tight from his left hind to front right. All sorted.

Now only a month later he seems really tight from right hind to left front. He is falling out on circles out his left shoulder and doesn't want to pick up left lead canter, which was never a issue before. We have started do more lateral work so wonder if this has tweaked something? He had his saddle checked at the beginning of this week and the saddler did say the saddle had dropped over his left wither slightly. So thought maybe this was blocking him, but the right hind doesn't seem to want to work either and he hasn't improved as the week has gone on.

Would I be mad to get the back lady out again after only a month from previous?? Do youngsters need to get their backs checked more regularly as obviously they change shape / increase their work load.

All I seem to do is worry about that horse and that I am going to ruin him!!! arghhhhh!!!!

 

[be positive]

It could be that he is changing shape, muscling up more and growing to some extent at his age so plenty for his body to be coping with and adjusting to.
My physio always comes back about 10 days after treatment to make sure all is as it should be and that the horse has responded to treatment, she gives a few exercises or stretches to be done so that the horse continues to use itself properly.
Does your horse stretch well when warming up, cooling down, is his topline improving enough to cope with the harder work that he is doing, it does take time for a young horse to develop the strength required.
If you are worried either get the physio back or get a vet to give him a check if he does not respond to the physio treatment, the physio should refer back to your vet if there is any doubt anyway.

 

[Swirlymurphy]

My 5 yo is being checked/treated every month at the moment - he's just out of racing and his back/muscles are changing so I would expect this to continue for a while yet.

I wouldn't worry about getting someone out again.

 

[AmyMay]

Would I be mad to get the back lady out again after only a month from previous??

I'd actually get the vet up to look at the back, and with an eye to checking his soundness. Back issues are often a manifestation of foot issues.

 

[wyrdsister]

I had to get my back lady out twice in two weeks once. Big orange mare had put her back out pratting like a fool on a pleasure ride, then promptly did it again the day after treatment hooning around her field. It's frustrating, but sometimes they can just tweak themselves somewhere in a short time span. Amymay has a point though, may be worth double checking the balance of your horse's feet too.

 

[Josie Joe]

NB - big difference perhaps between 'back lady', and physio who has to liase with vet to treat and will also pick up if something else is wrong eg lower down. Many people 'treating' backs have no proper qualifications and rely on repeat visits for their income. Unfortunately they cannot justify or evidence what they do. They create a dependency from their clients who then believe the 'back person' is the only one who can treat or even cure whatever the problem is. I would only ever use my vet and a qualified chartered physiotherapist who has a duty of care to me and my horses, bound by professional regulations.