Does this sound like a sore back?

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Toodles

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Tried to school my boy this evening but when I got on his behaviour was out of character and he just felt a bit 'wrong'. My conclusion was that he might be sore in the back - does that sound likely? or might it just be an 'off' day? or him trying me out/taking the p*ss?

He is a 6yo who I backed at 4 and have been bringing on since then so we know each other pretty well but of course he is still growing up! He felt fine when I hacked him on Sunday and normally schools fairly nicely (is working at novice [/ elem]). He had yesterday off, seemed fine in himself in the stable today, temperature is normal, I couldnt find any soreness to the touch, and he appeared sound to me, but when ridden:

- there was LOTS of tail swishing, especially when asked for a transition

- he was 'coming back at me' and on several occasions seemed to be threatening to go up, particularly when I asked for a walk to trot transition (bizarrely) - not normal
- this seemed to happen most when riding up the long side, especially on the right rein, he wasnt going quite straight all the time, some times he would carry his quarters a little to the right and when I asked him to straighten with my leg he would skew his body to avoid my aids and come back at me again

- his whole demeanour was grumpier than usual with ears back at times

- he was spooking quite emphatically at things in the corner of the school. There are often jump wings etc there and he does spook from time to time when feeling fresh or trying to avoid work, but these were some new barrels and he reacted disproportionately strongly to them

- his paces felt quite flat, lacking cadence and oomph, he wasnt really going forward or relaxing over his back, he seemed to be staying short in his paces and toddling along in a sort of 'safe' zone, if I asked him to come together a bit he didn't seem to be able to come up and when I asked him to lengthen or gave him a longer rein and asked him to stretch, he did so a bit but didn't feel loose over his back or to be relaxing and using his limbs like usual

I decided it was better to get off and lunge him a bit to look at his movement. He appeared sound but again paces seemed a bit flat and on the forehand - but perhaps I was just neurotic by then!

What do you think? Does it sound like a horse in discomfort to you? Or could it be he is just trying me out because I am starting to ask him to work a bit harder in his flatwork and he would rather not have to? I have texted my back lady to see if she can pay him a visit asap, but is there anything else I should be doing? If it is just a muscle strain from playing in the field should I just give him a few days off?

Sorry this is sooooo long, am just having a bit of a panic as I want to make sure I do the right thing for him (but obviously I don't want to let him get away with stuff if he is being naughty). eeek
 
I like your approach, you know your horse and when he is different, you notice and begin to automatically list reasons for the change.
If it is because he's having to work harder, then having him checked over won't harm anything other than your pocket, but sometimes getting the all clear is worth paying for.

His temperature is ok, and all other signs fine ? Don't forget to look at feet too, No foot pain, ie thrush etc ? Brewing an abscess ?
 
Has he been living in? Had a great hooly when he has gone out? Sounds like he could well be sore somewhere, one of my lads didnt want to work through so much after having turnout time and I did find some heat in his hock after he had worked. Feels better already after a few quiet days.
 
It sounds like discomfort to me. I'd trust the horse above anyone else's view.

Right hind lameness? Would account for him not wanting to engage the right hind correctly when working on the right rein.

Do you generally notice how even, or uneven, he is when you trot on different diagonals? ...... just swapping diagonals every few strides? If so, then it'd be interesting to compare whether there's any difference now? I once had a pony with bilateral hind suspensory problems, one leg much worse than the other, and I was very aware of how different she felt on different diagonals, despite me always having done as much as I could to ensure both of us were as even as possible. Also, as she worsened (before diagnosis), the saddle started slipping slightly to her bad side (makes sense, as that was the side she was trying to avoid engaging).

Not suggesting your boy has a similar problem, but just that some of these signs can point to at least some sort of physical problem.

Hope you manage to get to the bottom of things, and that it's soon much better.

Sarah
 
Thanks for your replies guys! :)

He is stabled at night, out in the day, and yes sometimes very much enjoys a hooly so certainly may have done something to himself when buffooning around. Temperature is absolutely normal, feet seem fine in terms of visible or smellable(!) ailments, no thrush certainly, he was shod a week ago but was fine afterwards and was ridden twice after shoeing with no problems. In the stable his demeanour is as friendly as usual, (he is a very personable soul).

Back lady is coming at noon today, so we'll see what she has to say.

The other thing I noticed was that I kept hearing his back brushing boots brushing together, and I don't recall hearing that noise very often normally. Think it rather indicates he is holding himself in a different way / moving differently at the back.
 
Toodles said:
Tried to school my boy this evening but when I got on his behaviour was out of character and he just felt a bit 'wrong'. My conclusion was that he might be sore in the back - does that sound likely? or might it just be an 'off' day? or him trying me out/taking the p*ss?

He is a 6yo who I backed at 4 and have been bringing on since then so we know each other pretty well but of course he is still growing up! He felt fine when I hacked him on Sunday and normally schools fairly nicely (is working at novice [/ elem]). He had yesterday off, seemed fine in himself in the stable today, temperature is normal, I couldnt find any soreness to the touch, and he appeared sound to me, but when ridden:

- there was LOTS of tail swishing, especially when asked for a transition

- he was 'coming back at me' and on several occasions seemed to be threatening to go up, particularly when I asked for a walk to trot transition (bizarrely) - not normal
- this seemed to happen most when riding up the long side, especially on the right rein, he wasnt going quite straight all the time, some times he would carry his quarters a little to the right and when I asked him to straighten with my leg he would skew his body to avoid my aids and come back at me again

- his whole demeanour was grumpier than usual with ears back at times

- he was spooking quite emphatically at things in the corner of the school. There are often jump wings etc there and he does spook from time to time when feeling fresh or trying to avoid work, but these were some new barrels and he reacted disproportionately strongly to them

- his paces felt quite flat, lacking cadence and oomph, he wasnt really going forward or relaxing over his back, he seemed to be staying short in his paces and toddling along in a sort of 'safe' zone, if I asked him to come together a bit he didn't seem to be able to come up and when I asked him to lengthen or gave him a longer rein and asked him to stretch, he did so a bit but didn't feel loose over his back or to be relaxing and using his limbs like usual

I decided it was better to get off and lunge him a bit to look at his movement. He appeared sound but again paces seemed a bit flat and on the forehand - but perhaps I was just neurotic by then!

What do you think? Does it sound like a horse in discomfort to you? Or could it be he is just trying me out because I am starting to ask him to work a bit harder in his flatwork and he would rather not have to? I have texted my back lady to see if she can pay him a visit asap, but is there anything else I should be doing? If it is just a muscle strain from playing in the field should I just give him a few days off?

Sorry this is sooooo long, am just having a bit of a panic as I want to make sure I do the right thing for him (but obviously I don't want to let him get away with stuff if he is being naughty). eeek
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What my back person said one way of checking run your fingers each side of the wither down to the tail with a amount of pressure, if they hollow then yest their back needs sorting.


(this was the case in my first mares case)

This by all means is not the only way, their was my mares warning sign

Speak to your vet
 
Thanks Leviathan - I did the pressure test along each side of the spine last night, but no real response to that.

I should also say that the saddler checked the fit of his saddles about 3 weeks ago, and I am using the same saddles on him now as I have for the last year or so.

Funnily enough, yard owner is friends with a very good vet who is visiting for lunch with today so although not my own vet (as this one lives in Sth East) hopefully she will be able to take a look at him.
 
I am off to Cambridge with my five year old cob tomorrow, who I have had since may. Go with your gut I bet it is pain, bypass the back lady and go straight to the vet in my opinion. My boy went actually lame on Thursday, rang vet he came out Monday and he is off tomorrow.

I had gut instincts for along time that something was wrong but nothing to take further, he had a sore back in June, which was fixed but that was the early warning sign. His back has been fine since. The other warning signs where, the odd turn in the field that isn't quite right, I was very slightly leaning to the left when riding him. He started intermittently head shaking in October, needed a stronger bit, six weeks ago started yawning lots after a ride. Putting his tounge over the bit.

When I had the vet out for his jabs, I was starting from afresh, they trotted him up each time and all looked good. He has only been hacked apart from four lessons, and each time I said to the instructor is he lame, they always said no, it was just that odd stride every now and then.

This accumulated to riding out on Thursday and his off fore giving way, and him nearly sitting down in the road. I said to my vet all these subtle , tiny hints I knew there was something wrong, as he said we are the best judges of our horses, and gut instinct is generally right. Most horses aim to please, and react in varying ways to pain, some with very subtle hints, others with very obvious hints.
 
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