Could a back problem cause a horse to lean heavily on the bit (fairly long!)?

Hels_Bells

Hels_Bells

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My horse just isn't himself at the moment. I've had him about 2 years now and in the past month or so he's developed a lean on the right side of the bit when ridden. He has a history of back trouble - previous owner said he was lame with it at one point. When he came to me he was a nightmare project free horse and with a change of saddle that fitted properly he soon turned into an angel. I got him a saddle with changeable gullet and keep a close eye on his shape to change the gullet as necessary. When he started to lean I got the dentist out to check his teeth but nothing seemed to be causing a problem. Since then (about 3 weeks) I have sought advice from my instructor and others on how to stop leaning and tried a few different tricks/techniques etc to try and stop him but without much luck. I simply can't get him into a decent outline if I completely give away the right rein on which he is leaning he get agitated on the left and if I try to use the right rein he just leans on it.

I have been recommended to try a waterford bit or a bristly cheek attachment to stop leaning but haven't tried this yet as am reluctant to use gadgets.

Basically, horse and I have always been pretty close, he would follow me round the field if I came in and always come up to say hello when I passed by but now he runs away from me!! And when I go So I'm sure he's in discomfort when ridden. He is always sensitive when his back feet are picked up and we were at the farrier's last night and they really struggled with him. I have a highly recommended back person/physio coming to check him on Thursday morning and am praying she will find something to explain what is going on. But in the meantime does anyone think his lean problem could be caused by back problems???
 
Yes, definately. Back problems will cause a variety of schooling issues including leaning.

I would get the vet out for a full work-up. Once he has identified the issue he can work with the physio to sort it out (physio shouldn't really be seeing him without vet supervision and definately not while he is experiencing unidentified problems).
 
def sounds like back probs to me - i've been through thoses with my mare who came to me a bit broken due to bad saddle fit
fingers crossed physio finds the cause for you - but work having a prob and poke abut the saddle area too to see if that may be the cause
 
Thanks Booboos - vet is aware that physio is coming out, I asked them if I needed to do anything beforehand or if they needed to be involved etc but was said it was fine for her to see him without their involvement. (Not a lot of faith in vet at the moment, poor guy went lame a few weeks ago and they diagnosed a sprained fetlock. At Farrier's yesterday evening they said he's had an absess!!)

Maybe I should get the vet out first as don't want to compromise him in any way. Physio in question worked wonders on a friend of mine's mare and came recommended from **** eventer so am fairly sure she is very good.

p_h - thanks for reaffirming that this could be the cause.

My poor boy, I love him to bits but he's in such a bad mood with me at the moment. I wish he could talk and tell me what's wrong!!!
 
I would be inclined to get the vet out to investigate- I've found that sometimes if a horse is leaning and heavy in the hand and theres no other reasonable explanation for it- it is sometimes due to some sort of hind leg problem, and the leaning/sore back is secondary to something else. Other people may beg to differ though!. Best of luck though.
 
That's really interesting K27. It's definitely his hind legs that are the problem - he nearly kicked a poor junior farrier last night who tried to pick his back feet up (and he's so not a kicker). He's ok to pick his feet out at home but when the farrier tried to get them right up there he got very upset. And that is where he had gone lame from back trouble with his previous owner. He's definitely very "front wheel drive" at the moment too. I think I'm going to stop riding him until I have a better idea of what is going on with him.
 
Not being rude to your vet, but it might be worth getting another vet in. The reason I think a vet is a good starting point is that it could be so many things.

I had a horse who I thought was having some schooling problems leaning on the right hand. This had been going on for about 6 months (I had only owned the horse for 6 months so I had no comparison), but the horse was qualifying for Novice and getting placed Elementary so it looked like a 'normal' schooling problem. Unfortunately it turned out he had bilateral stiffle OCD. When he was treated the difference was enormous and when the problem returned I felt it again through the riding and his leaning to the right.

I've had another horse who would not track up and that was due to a back problem caused by a saddle but the physio could not find anything significant (saddle was causing neurological issues).

Good luck!!!
 
Thanks again for great advice Booboos, it all seems extremely relevant to our situation. After your first response getting a 2nd vet opinion was exactly what I thought. I know of a couple of specialist horse vets around here (we use a more general vets practice at present) so i think i might get one of them out to him.
 
Hi
Post a pic of him and I will have a look. Leaning is a sure sign he has a bad back when he stands does he fidget and stretch his head down? Saddle still fit ok? Its easy to check.
 
PS dont call the vets they dont deal with bad backs and often overlook them! Call an equine Chiropractor, or bowen person.
 
Thanks The Black - I don't have any recent pics of vids to hand and as I don't want to ride him until we have investigated the problem some more I'm not sure if I'll be able to get any, but thanks so much for the offer to take a look.

He doesn't stretch down or fidget when still but is def reluctant to lift back feet esp if you ask him to lift them quite high like the farriers do. He was like this when I first got him but stopped after we sorted out his initial back problem due to the saddle he came with. I constantly check his saddle fit and change his gullet as necessary so he should definitely be ok from that perspective I also get a master saddler to come out and double check every 6 months.

I already had a McTimoney person who is really highly recommended booked in for tomorrow morning, so despite advice to see a vet first I think I will go ahead with her rather than cancel as she really is supposed to be first rate and has done a great job with a friend of mine's mare whose pelvis was out - one visit and she is now going beautifully, so I think I will leave appointment in place.

Thanks so much for the help and advice everyone. Will try to post an update after McTimoney has been and let you know how we got on.
 
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