Help!!! kissing spine / ulcers / cold backed ??? *warning* long post

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kcoop86

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Hi all, i have recently purchased a new horse (2 weeks tomorrow). She is a 5 yro 3/4 tb 15hh. She is a dream horse to have really, allthough a bit mareish in the field with the others! She is good as gold to bring in brush down etc (inc under belly and back) but as soon as i start putting her saddle on/doing her girth up she just spins round side to side, once all done up completely fine again, fine on the lunge seems to be ok on both reins. She turns back into a pain in the butt again when it comes to mounting, she just will not stand still and walks through anyone who trys 2 hold her still or spins! just marches off when on, nothing naughty. once on her she has been fine so far, again seems fine on both reins, walk, trot and only a small amount of canter, maybe seems a little bit more forward on 1 rein ? ? Has jumped small jumps on lunge with no probs at all, no rushing/hesitation etc. Stupidly when i went to view horse i was fully aware that she had been out of work (hence why ive not done much yet) and the ground was rock hard so i said just to put it on lunge and show me minimal stuff, im an exp rider, wanted to just see if sound and shape etc thought if issues ridden i could deal with that. Obvs im not so sure of myself when it comes to possible vetinairy issues! (ive alot of bad luck in past and panik to much on horses health issues!). She has not bucked or bolted or anything like that with me, allthough 1 evening a friend of mine hopped on (i was showing off how lovely and well schooled she is :-) ) and my mare (after being even worse to get on!) turned into some mad beast out of a wild west flick! bucking, broncing, throwing herself into hedges/fencing etc! so i got on and alltough a little shaken she was fine so i then asked someone else to try, again fine! (my friend does have that effect on quite a few!). after probally scaring myself reading allsorts of stuff on the forums when only really checking for cold backed as this is what i assumed this was, i am now praying it isnt more serious! any ideas/comments gratefully recieved!!!
Saddle fits fine, unfortunatly my fab physio away atm but will see her when back as i like all my newbies mot'd! oh and everytime bar once i have used a mounting block as i know this can pull back etc. Doesnt seem to have any touchy points on back?
Sorry for super long post!!!!! well deserved glass of wine for anyone that managed the lot!!!
 
Obvs i realise this could just be young horse impatient behaviour etc or just cold backed i would just like other opinions after reading some of the scary stuff on here!
 
hi, i have 2 tb's, one with a kissing spine & one that was so sensitive when ridden that when i first got him his previous owner said he was cold backed because he often shot forward when tacked up & first mounted. So first the tb mare, she has a confirmed kissing spine, this was first noticed because she was touchy with her back when brushed, bathed, touched, girth done up, bucked when ridden etc.. ears back, flinchy, swing from side to side etc.. she had shock waves (or something like that) done on her back & is lunged in a pessoa..the last time her back was checked the back lady could find no tension with her what so ever...so if it is a kissing spine it isn't the end of the world..her x-rays showed that every other vertebrae in her back is kissing so it is quite a bad case. She's 9, jumps, is training in dressage & hacks. My gelding is just very sensitive, now he's used to me we have no issues at all but he would move away when went to put saddle on, shoot forward when first mounted..now after a couple of years together & now he's used to me he doesn't do any of it.. his back is checked every 6 months & no problems have ever been found. He will still get a bit like it if I let someone knew ride, but I find that it's when he doesn't understand what someone is asking of him he gets in a bit of a pickle.. I wouldn't stress too much until you have her looked at & if there is a problem it's not always the end of the road..x
 
If you go back over my old posts you will see I had similar problems with my boy just after I bought him (he also passed a vetting).
Tacking up was difficult with him moving around as the saddle was going on, getting on was a nightmare, sometimes once on he was ok but other times he would have a bronching fit until I was either thrown off or got off (the first time putting me in hospital and leaving me immobile for a few weeks!) Also my trot to canter transition was really hard to master, he would just run away with me..
I was told its just naughtiness as I was new and to sit it out etc but even though I had not owned him long I knew something was up. I also had a few different physio visits who didnt pick up anything on his back, said he had a dropped pelvis and to carry on riding him...
I eventually took him to the vets for a full lameness examination, it then that he was diagnosed with Kissing Spine.
On the other hand however, I do have a friend whos ex racehorse has just been diagnosed with ulcers showing similar symptoms...
If I were you I would take her to the vets, at least then you will know either way and can start to do something about it..
If you would like any more info or a chat please pm me, im more than happy to talk to you about your concerns! xx
 
Thanks everyone for your posts :-)
I had the saddle checked by a pro and also purchased her a new sj saddle (fitted) yesterday which i will try her in properly. I also use a sheepskin pad on her and a non pinch weight distributing girth (which im also going to sheepskin out!) As i havnt had her long i havnt yet sorted out insurance but will do asap so xrays etc if nothing else works is covered by them as i know if an op would ever be needed is a fortune! (my wb was thought to have ks last year-his behaviour was described by vets as completly dangerous and un-predictable etc (which i knew when bought him so not sudden onset) but luckily turned out to be all in his head lol phew fortune saved :-) ) At the mo i have started her on a test of ranitidine to hopefully confirm/rule out ulcers (she started yesterday). As i said she is fine to lunge/ride in canter on both reins, maybe more foward on 1 rein at all paces but not disunited, hasnt tryed to buck or rush off with me riding, just a very odd and dangerous episode when (experienced) friend rode which obvs she wont be doing again! but does feel like a bouncy timebomb underneath but she is a very forward little horse, doesnt nap and can hold a nice outline most of time allthough i do ignore the pulling at the bit now and again and coming out of outline as i just put this down to her still teething at mo (teeth are checked regualary). Havnt ridden her over jumps yet as she hasnt been back in work long enough but doesnt seem to have any probs on lunge. Old home worked her very hard, she was already xc and sj schooled at 4! and has the splints to prove :-( they did say she jumps v.well and v.bold and keen, allthough i understand they can show signs later on of ks etc. thanks all and sorry for the long post again!!! just trying to put full story across for more understanding of her! :-)
 
It's early days with your mare, maybe she is just testing you out in a new home? As long as you're sure her saddle fits I would give it few weeks and see if she settles before doing very much else, apart from maybe getting a chiropractor.

I had a boy with kissing spine and ulcers. I thought he was cold backed due to leaping sideways and rushing off when I was mounting - he doesn't do that now I've sorted his problems.

What is her flat work like? Is she able to hold a reasonable outline? Does she go disunited in canter or buck? Is she working through from behind, particularly during transitions?? Is she supple and flexible? Does she resist and back off your leg? Problems in these areas can all be symptoms of kissing spine. Grouchiness and girthyness could point to ulcers too.

The symptoms can cross over a little so if you do have her checked out, get her checked for both things.
 
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