Has he got a back/shoulder problem?

[vicm2509]

When changing my horses rug he chucks his head up and down , not always but most of the time. He seems to do it when I am fastening or adjusting the front (when the rug is moving around his shoulder area).

I gave him a massage yesterday and he moved away from me when I applied pressure to his shoulder and back and also moved his head, he did not appear happy with what I was doing so I stopped.

I got my vet to look at him a few months and she said he was fine but I just have this niggling feeling. He is a sensitive horse and gets rubs easily and hates the whip if you accidently tickle him, he feels literally everything. Could it be that he is sensitive (he is fully clipped) or do you think he may have a problem? I am getting the saddler out in the next few weeks anyway as I am getting him a new saddle for Christmas. He does not bother at all when you tack him up so I am thinking that the saddle isnt the problem. He has always figited a bit when you change his rug, so I dont know if its just the fact that I am putting a cold rug on or if its actually hurting him.

Do you think I should wait until after the saddler has been or get the vet back out now? I just dont know if I am looking too far into things or I should follow my instincts.

 

[PapaFrita]

Hmmmm, difficult to say; if he's not moving away from the saddle, but he IS fidgetty when you touch him he could be very, very ticklish- especially as he's clipped. PF is very ticklish and particularly sensitive when she's changing her coat. What's he like when you ride him? Is he showing any resistance/discomfort? Any tail swishing when he didn't do it before?
I'd get a vet/back person out just to put your mind at rest. After all, he's your horse, you know him best and if you've got that niggling feeling you might well be right!

 

[vicm2509]

He swishes his tail when you tickle him with the whip but thats all, and he has always done that, when I got him I couldnt use the whip at all as he hated it. To ride he is coming on leaps but he does do the occasional buck when you ask a lot of him (I mean a very lot, again hes always done this and stops when he realises you mean business, he doesnt do it agressively, just tiny ones every now and then.

He moves nicely but it does take me ages to get him working long a low, in dressage the 'needs to work more over the back' is always emphasised.

 

[PapaFrita]

Hmmmmm x2 ... still hard to say. I had Antifaz checked when I got the ride because of the bucking, tail-swishing, general grumpiness, etc (I was convinced he was in pain) but vet said he was just a sod

He still swishes his tail but the bucking is much reduced. I think that since you've got your doubts you should get someone out just so you can breathe easy. Might be nothing, might be a bit of low-grade pain but better to catch it early if it IS pain.
Good luck