Had the osteopath to Patches this morning.

[Patches]

Very interesting indeed.

I didn't tell her about Patches dragging her toes although the vet had told her that he'd diagnosed the start of spavin changes in the hock.

She was very very thorough. Said her poll and neck were great ... that'll be those carrot stretches!

Immediately when feeling down her back she detected two areas towards the back of the saddle and just behind where her muscles were like wood! I felt what she was talking about too and the difference there to higher up her back and lower than this point was immense. She classes this as a chronic condition and said it's typical of ill fitting tack where the cantle sits digging into the back slightly. She wanted to see my saddle as she thought it might be too narrow for her and tipping back. However she said that was a lovely fit and it may be something she's carried for a long time, before I had the saddle co saddle or even before that time. Who knows. She also said that if she's carried this back problem for years that it'll be harder to break the psychological reaction and movement she adopts to counteract it.

She said she some reaction in the sacral (No idea how to spell that) region too which is all connected and then asked me if she ever drags her toes! How spooky! She said the glutteral and hamstrings were tight too and did lots of stretches there to free things up. The whole process lasted for an hour and she's coming again in two weeks for a follow up. Said her problems are far too deep seated to solve in one treatment and likely been ongoing for years.

She 100% said there is no way Patches would be able to step her hind end underneath her and work off the forehand with that type of tightness as it would hurt her to work in this way. She believes this is why I lack impulsion with her as more engagement and impulsion = more discomfort. Clearly why she's so keen to stay on the forehand regardless of how much you ask for more engagement.

She seems to think that this treatment will go along way to sorting out her gait, along with the treatment for her spavin. Told me she had nice limbs, well put together with good conformation for her type of horse. Made me feel incredibly guilty for not calling someone out to her sooner though! All that time she's actually been in discomfort of some sort.

She's having today off, light hacking tomorrow and schooling if possible on Thursday followed by treatment from the vet on Friday (which I may put off for a bit as I might wait to see if I can claim on insurance before I go ahead)

 

[Tia]

Finally!! Well done for persevering with this. I really wish you and Patches luck in getting to the bottom of this and eventually having her "sorted out".

Good luck with it all.

 

[leanne123]

poor patches, but a least you know that its pain related and your now getting her sorted. shes such a lucky girl to have a mummy like you.
all the best with your next session.
keep us updated please as im waiting for a happy ending.
leanne

 

[Patches]

Thanks Leanne

She was very lucky with her old owner too. Had a good happy life has Patches. Problem with some horses is they just seem to get on with things and not complain. Typical female eh?

Talking of happy endings...how's your Big lad?

 

[leanne123]

ive put some pics of his leg on vet section. not really changed much just waiting and walking out in hand atm.
im hoping by the summer he will be back to normal.
leanne

 

[seabiscuit]

She sounds really good and how great that she picked up on the dragging feet!
I'd be really interested to see what the outcome of this is, as Owen has a spavin too and drags his back feet. I'd say his symptons are identical to your Patches.Have spent thousands of £ on physio for Owen and am just getting nowhere. I may have to steal your osteopath! What sort of osteopath was she? And how is your vet treating patches? Sorry, hope you dont mind me asking, just interested in comparing notes!

 

[Patches]

Hi Forrest.

Patches was only diagnosed with early signs of spavin on Friday. The toe dragging isn't related to the spavin as she's always dragged her toes as long as I've known of her (which is the last 5 1/2 years) and she's only rising 9. There are slight changes on her x-rays which show the early start of spavin in her right hock and she's certainly not had that there since she was 3! LOL

The Osteo is convinced that the toe dragging is related to the problems with her back. Whilst she thinks she can sort her back problems out, Patches toe dragging is so deep rooted psychologically, and has become a habit, that we're not sure whether we'll ever be able to convince her that she doesn't have to walk like that for the rest of her life! Having said that, coincidence or not - I'm not sure, but she practically skipped in from the field and there was no toe dragging or swinging her legs out from the hock!

She's a human trained Osteopath who has gone on and done a further course specialising in equine techniques. Osteo's can work on both muscular and skeletal problems of your horse. Her philosophy is that whilst physio could help loosen her muscles, unless she had the chiro element her muscles would spasm back to where they were as the underlying cause would remain untreated and the pain which caused that spasm is still there. Likewise, if I'd had a chiro to sort her out, the muscles would have been sooooo tight still that they'd have snapped anything she'd sorted out back to it's original place again.

I think Bowen is Osteo techniques as well. But don't quote me on that.

Patches is having her hocks treated this Friday to try and prevent further degeneration of the joint, or at least slow it down. She's also on a joint supplement. Now that the Osteo is going to sort her back out over the course of a few treatments. we're hoping that she'll feel able to take the weight behind better and step under as her back will no longer be sore. Combined this should help her to keep her hocks more supple. Currently she holds herself very stiff to protect herself from pain. I feel so guilty for missing it and not getting her sorted sooner.

 

[Theresa_F]

A good osteopath can make a huge difference. I use a chap who is an osteopath, chiropractor and sports physio.

Jemina was very stiff through her shoulders - from being driven in badly fitting harness and very young. Her back end was stiff, her tail did not move and she pooed on it.

Within three sessions different little mare and she rediscovered the joy of tail flicking.

Fleur was so good after a session that she jumped and kicked out going into the field that my friend got kicked on the arm - she had never done that before. She then went bounding round the field with her heels higher in the air than we had ever seen.

Patches is getting very such great treatment - can I come and live with you - I am very stiff and my back, feet and elbows are killing me - volterol only does so much good.

 

[Patches]

LOL!

Shall I show you how "lively" Patches was after treatment? Head over to the gallery for a laugh at the long reining video from today!

 

[seabiscuit]

Thank you for that Patches, that is really interesting! Whereabouts is your oseteopath ( Have a feeling that you guys are up North- GROAN!)

 

[Theresa_F]

She looks great - look at her go. Think how fit you will be too.

 

[Patches]

Yes we are. She's in Cheshire.

 

[Butterbean]

Sounds good news about Patches, and the osteopath sounds like a good find! Would you mind PM'ing me her name? We are on the Wirral & one of our horses has had constant problems with his hocks/pelvis/back, he has regular physio but osteo might be an idea from what you've said.
thanks

 

[Lottie7]

Hi, it's me again [cough]

I just wanted to say that my horse also had loads and LOADS of physio. It really helped him. But when the physio treatment first started we did not know about the EPSM and at that time were thinking (or at least the vets were) that it was hock or sacroilliac. The horse was on prescribed field rest (well still coming in at night) and had been for 4 months when this physio first treated him. Like with Patches, she also found the glutteal and hamstrings to be very tight which would account for him not pushing from behind like his confirmation suggested he should be able to. She came out every two weeks for ages and ages and then every month. We could not work out why, within the space of the two weeks the horses muscles would harden up and be "back to square one again" as he was being rested. He was very sore and uncomfortable to treat. Now we look back, it was of course because he was having access to grass all day (ie sugar) and I was still feeding him starch. A couple of years later, when he was diagnosed and started the diet change, he responded to the treatments with relish and enjoyed interacting with the physio. The work she did softening and mobilising the muscles also stayed, if you know what I mean.

Anyway, I'm yaking on...... I just thought I would mention it as it's another similarity. Good luck with having the hocks medicated. She's very lucky to have you as her owner.

 

[KLL1234]

Hi, I have been reading with interest your problem with Patches. I too have a mare who drags her hind toes. She is fine in walk and canter but not trot - at times when it is really bad she could draw a line in the sand paddock with her toe!

I took her to the vets when she was 5 years old - they nerve blocked her and couldn't find anything wrong - they advised that it may be growing pains and to ride and work her as this should help.

I have also had the 'back-man' who advised that he could find nothing physically wrong and she just needed work.

She is now 8! And whilst she has made some improvements in her gait, her hind leg still drags. She isn't actually lame, is working fairly well, tracks up well and enjoys jumping but it is still niggling me that there may be something afoot! Especially because at times she can be a right little madam (probably just hormones!).

Can you give any advice? After reading your entries, I have made another appointment with the vet next week, and I have rang an equine osteopath but I'm not sure of their credentials, although they are registered. I was wondering if you could let me have the contact details of the lady you used, she sounds great!. Sorry to waffle on!

Also I am due to enter a dressage test next week, will this effect her score? Bit paranoid they may think I'm riding a lame horse!

Thanks.