Could the rug have caused or contributed to this?

[Ellietotz]

My mare has been very stiff and short footed on her front the last few weeks.
I noticed my saddle was slipping forward onto her shoulder when riding and she would get upset when I went to put the saddle on or shifted it about.
Had the saddle fitter out last Tuesday, a week after I stopped riding, different one to the last one who is also very reputable, who said my saddle wasn't the right fit for her at all and had such a small surface area on the front that sat next to her shoulder. He said it was a flared tree with teardrop type panels at the front which didn't work for her. My previous saddle fitter said it was a perfect fit and was her "lifetime" saddle so this still confuses me how their opinions vary so much. Anyway, I got a new saddle this week which fits nicely so far, although I still haven't ridden to give her some time off to get better.
Had physio last Saturday too which found her shoulders, especially the right hand side to be very sore but she moved a lot better afterwards although more noticeably lame just on the right side now, mildly but still there. The farrier also checked everything on Wednesday this week who couldn't find anything of concern.
She has also been on bute for 3 days to see if it helps but she still seems sore.
Finally, prior to all of this too, she had been wearing the Kool Koat Airstream which has left a balding line up her right shoulder where it has rubbed along the seam. It wasn't sore to the skin, just a general rug rub so didn't think it was a huge problem. Since physio though, I stopped putting it on just in case. I went to put it on last night and she was getting upset, moving away from it, not wanting it on which she only usually does when something is causing her pain. So now I'm thinking, is the right shoulder more sore because of the saddle alone and is it coincidence that the rug has rubbed on that side too or has the rug caused more harm than I thought?

Sorry, it's a long explanation to get to the main point but background was needed!

Just to note my reasons for having the rug on is because her coat is very fine and her white patches along her back can burn in the sun. I'm also pretty certain it isn't ulcers because I know her signs from before.

I'm still not riding her at the moment so I'm just taking her for short walks to keep the shoulder moving.

Thank you if you got this far! ?

Any advice appreciated!

 

[[131452]]

It is more likely to be caused by the badly fitted saddle although a rug that rubs won't help.
Your physio can't legally treat your horse without veterinary permission and since you've been giving bute I assume the vet has been ?
Majority of pain and lameness in the shoulder originates from the lower limb so as well as sorting the saddle out, I would get the vet out for a general check up if they haven't been already.

 

[Ellietotz]

It is more likely to be caused by the badly fitted saddle although a rug that rubs won't help.
Your physio can't legally treat your horse without veterinary permission and since you've been giving bute I assume the vet has been ?
Majority of pain and lameness in the shoulder originates from the lower limb so as well as sorting the saddle out, I would get the vet out for a general check up if they haven't been already.

Thank you. She doesn't usually shy away from something unless it is hurting, same as what she does with saddle if it hurts and I was wondering if maybe the rug being around her shoulder was restricting or causing more pressure or bruising.
Yes, my physio works with the vet and is recommended by them so everyone is aware. They don't believe there to be any problems lower down from the shoulder area. This has all been checked.
Edited to add, the vet attends the physio session to sedate.

 

[shortstuff99]

Is she short footed or pottery looking when not being ridden in the field etc? Have you checked for digital pulses as that sounds a bit like lami to me

 

[[131452]]

As I said it sounds like a problem caused by the saddle but the fact is that majority of shoulder issues originate from the limb , which is why i think that a vet should come and have a look.
With respect, your physio isn't a vet and the quality of physios as well as vets varies hugely when it comes to assessing movement and soundness.

 

[[131452]]

If she is short in front then she is lame . I missed that bit. A vet should definitely come and if your physio hasn't told you this, this is not a decent physio.
I would treat her as laminitic as a precaution until your vet gets there.

 

[Ellietotz]

Is she short footed or pottery looking when not being ridden in the field etc? Have you checked for digital pulses as that sounds a bit like lami to me

She was before physio but only on the front. Checked multiple times for heat and pulses. Farrier has checked for it all too, as well as my friend. No signs of abscess either. The pain is definitely in the right shoulder as that's where she responds to the pressure when touched there.

 

[shortstuff99]

She was before physio but only on the front. Checked multiple times for heat and pulses. Farrier has checked for it all too, as well as my friend. No signs of abscess either. The pain is definitely in the right shoulder as that's where she responds to the pressure when touched there.

If it was me I would be getting a vet to check as it hasn't seemed to be improving.

 

[Ellietotz]

If she is short in front then she is lame . I missed that bit. A vet should definitely come and if your physio hasn't told you this, this is not a decent physio.
I would treat her as laminitic as a precaution until your vet gets there.

She is on a low sugar diet anyway as she has previously had ulcers. The field is basically dust and she is getting a handful of hay every night with dinner. The vet is at the physio sessions as they come to sedate so she has been checked. She is not short or pottery now, just mildly lame on the front right. No issue with back legs. She responds negatively when pressing around on the shoulder. The physio found her to be really sore and tight there.

 

[dogatemysalad]

My horse wore a power cooler overnight in his stable. The next morning, the cooler had pulled back and was really tight over his wither and shoulders. He was lame on the left fore for a couple of days.
Same thing happened a year later with the Rambo airstream. He wore it for 4 hours before being schooled and was uncharacteristically stiff through the shoulder until he'd fully warmed up.
I really hate seeing horses in tight rugs as targeted pressure over a long period of time must be very uncomfortable.
Ps, the Kool koat airstream seems to come up smaller than the earlier versions, which were cut more generously. I gave my new one away for that reason, along with the power cooler and Rambo air stream. Expensive and frustrating mistakes.

 

[rabatsa]

I have known rugs to make horses very sore. They also wear them for hours at a time so a little misfit can cause a big problem.

 

[Ellietotz]

My horse wore a power cooler overnight in his stable. The next morning, the cooler had pulled back and was really tight over his wither and shoulders. He was lame on the left fore for a couple of days.
Same thing happened a year later with the Rambo airstream. He wore it for 4 hours before being schooled and was uncharacteristically stiff through the shoulder until he'd fully warmed up.
I really hate seeing horses in tight rugs as targeted pressure over a long period of time must be very uncomfortable.
Ps, the Kool koat airstream seems to come up smaller than the earlier versions, which were cut more generously. I gave my new one away for that reason, along with the power cooler and Rambo air stream. Expensive and frustrating mistakes.

This is really interesting. The rug does feel tight on her shoulder, I have tried adjusting it so its smaller around the neck so sits further up but seems to end up slipping back again and being tighter and tried making it looser too which is still too tight as it pulls back more and is just tight further down instead. I can't make it any tighter at the front to sit it higher up as I'm all the way at the top already on the straps with added holes.
I have only stopped putting it on since the physio came. Will be interesting to see if leaving it off helps then. Thank you for sharing your experience!

 

[Ellietotz]

I have known rugs to make horses very sore. They also wear them for hours at a time so a little misfit can cause a big problem.

My mare is in a rug 24/7 in winter with no problems but I suppose it is clear that this one doesn't fit properly with where it was rubbing.

 

[poiuytrewq]

My mare is in a rug 24/7 in winter with no problems but I suppose it is clear that this one doesn't fit properly with where it was rubbing.

I do think that nice fitting turnouts just sit so much better than the average fly type rug. Mine have no problems ever with winter rugs slipping or rubbing yet in summer some of them so pull back or rub.

 

[Wheels]

The rug may have contributed yes and it may have put pressure on the top of the wither as well but it sounds like the saddle caused the most issues.

Did she shy away from the saddle in the same way she does with the rug?

 

[Ellietotz]

The rug may have contributed yes and it may have put pressure on the top of the wither as well but it sounds like the saddle caused the most issues.

Did she shy away from the saddle in the same way she does with the rug?

Yes, as soon as I walk towards her with it, she tries to get away and she only ever does that when she is telling me it'll hurt.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Yes, as soon as I walk towards her with it, she tries to get away and she only ever does that when she is telling me it'll hurt.

I’d listen to her. You obviously know her very well so if she’s saying no then just don’t use that rug for the time being. I’m not saying that it caused your issues but it sounds like she’s not comfy in it for now.

 

[Ellietotz]

I’d listen to her. You obviously know her very well so if she’s saying no then just don’t use that rug for the time being. I’m not saying that it caused your issues but it sounds like she’s not comfy in it for now.

Thank you. I will leave it off and see how she goes. I hope she gets better soon.

 

[Pinkvboots]

I would definitely leave it off for now

 

[Ellietotz]

Just a quick update... so I have been unable to keep the rug off the last couple of days due to heavy rain although she didn't get upset about it going on, I think she started assuming maybe that it would be the same rug as the one that rubbed. However, I free lunged her in the school to see how she was moving on Sunday after a couple more days off on bute and she was moving loads better, really extending out in front and tracking up so I got on and did 10 minutes walking with some trot in the school in her new saddle which she was good in too. Coming off the bute now so fingers crossed it stays the same!
Would it be worth putting her on a joint supplement as she has suspected PSSM2?