Has anyone experienced this?

[Bea_millard]

I had the physio out to one of ours today and she basically said that she thinks he’s fallen and popped a rib out and that’s made his whole right side a lot weaker, as his pelvis is also tilted with the right side higher. Therefore, he’s crooked. It fits with how he rides. Shes given us exercises to try and straighten him out but I was wondering if anyone else had experienced this before?

 

[AdorableAlice]

Popped a rib out ?

I would ignore that comment and refer the horse to a decent equine vet for answers.

 

[tristar]

i did something like this when i bent over, it got better on its own, but would consult vet soon as possible and would not be riding as it was pretty sore

 

[SusieT]

'popped a rib out' I would get a proper qualified vet who specialises in horses to examine him. That's a load of rubbish..

 

[cobgoblin]

Where has the rib popped to?

Is it floating around the rib cage unattached?

 

[cundlegreen]

'popped a rib out' I would get a proper qualified vet who specialises in horses to examine him. That's a load of rubbish..

I'm afraid I haven't got a great opinion of physios in general. Get a good chiropractor who knows their anatomy. Not sure what a vet would do without exhaustive tests, unless the horse is lame.

 

[Shilasdair]

'Popped a rib out'

Seriously, OP the minute someone says something like that, laugh hysterically and throw them off the yard.
Get a qualified vet/physio instead.

 

[sport horse]

Presumably your vet approved the physio visit (as required by her professional body) so I would ask her to report her findings back to your vet who can then discuss it with you.

 

[merlinsquest]

I’ve dislocated a rib & it bloody hurt! Could horses not do it too?

 

[PurBee]

https://thehorse.com/19095/rib-fractures-a-surprising-cause-of-horse-lameness/

The article above is quite revealing about rib fractures being common, with just a small % of horses exhibing pain response upon palpation of ribs. Lameness generally is seen on the side of the fractured rib.
Few % of the fractures were from acute trauma, while some were relatively minor incidents.

So maybe the physio is onto something, but just didn’t express their findings accurately!
A popped rib - do they mean fractured/broken? Or dislocated?

Imaging scan is the only real method to know if theres a rib crack etc due to many horses not responding to vets rib pressure investigations.
You say he’s riding crooked, so probably best to rest him /ground work until further investigations.
Has he had a fall recently, unexpectantly banged into a building/stable door?

 

[Skib]

My sister and I both inherited quite square rib cages and it is possible and painful if one bends or turns awkwardly, e.g. when getting into a car for one lower rib to cross over the next on the same side. I have never consulted a doctor - it hurts but sorts itself out. It has never happened to me when mounting or dismounting nor when riding.

 

[Leo Walker]

I dont know why people get their knickers in a twist about this. Physios and other body workers, will quite often use terminology like this. No one thinks for one second that the rib has leapt out of place and is floating around internally or that the pelvis is twisted round. But the muscles can and do pull the body out of shape. I cant find it now but I've got an amazing before and after photo of one of mine where the pelvis does appear to be twisted and once the muscles are treated he looks level again.