Horse has Sore Back

[Boots*McGruber]

He had chiropractor 3 weeks ago. It was due but also he’d been bucking when doing exciting work so I wanted to get him checked. She is used by a lot of other liveries and YO (who produces eventers to a good level) and came highly recommended. She was very happy with his back and made a couple of minor adjustments elsewhere.

The last two times I’ve ridden him he was reluctant to go forward and swishing his tail and on running my fingers down his back after my last ride he reacted very strongly to pressure on off side where the saddle would sit. I check regularly and he never reacts like this.

I’m going to see if I can get someone to watch him trot up today for me as I’m wondering if he is a bit short. He will have a break until I can get equine massage therapist to take a look and saddle fitter out as a first step.

My question is any ideas what could cause soreness so quickly? No changes to his work or riders in the last few weeks. He has been out more since it’s been drier and does like to play in the field. I’ve also noticed a bit of a rubbed patch at the back of where saddle would sit and think perhaps the saddle cloth is rubbing where his coat is changing but this is behind the sore area. He does have mild hock arthritis but has been sound without medicating for 18months.

Can I do any harm giving him a massage myself until I can get a professional out? Thank you.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Is it a specific area that is sore, this can also be a sign of ulcers, how is he a rugging up and girthing up?
I would try a soft massage. Obviously something isnt quite right. Hot water bottles are a good thing for the muscles and can often be used inside a pillowcase so soothe areas.
You said there is a bit of a rubbed patch, is the saddlecloth on the line of the back of the saddle?

 

[AmyMay]

I think this is probably one for your vet.

 

[TPO]

Horses should react and move away from pressure if you are running your fingers along their backs.















Not reacting and/or bracing against that kind of pressure that there is *something* going on.















What notes did the chiro leave you? How long did the horse have off after the treatment? Were you left an exercise plan?















If its now 3wks since treatment and this behaviour has only happened in the last two rides there doesn't appear to be a clear link to the treatment.







If muscles have been released this may be either a) affecting saddle fit or b) horse tolerated a bad fit hence constricted muscles, as these are now released the saddle fit is sore to tolerate.







Back pain is often/usually secondary to lameness. If you think he's short it's a vet job for a definite diagnosis. A therapist should do static and dynamic assessments prior to treatment so if the horse was noticed to be lame it should have been noted at that point.







Treatment shouldn't happen on an undiagnosed lame horse so the assumption would be horse was sound at that point in time and that something else has happened in the interim three week.

Edited- I missed loads. Vet job, I missed everything about hocks. Pad/saddle need looked at even more so that it's at the point of causing rubs. Massage therapist shouldn't be your first port of call; vet first then, with their advice/approval, physio then saddle fitter before recommencing ridden work (with vet and physio approval).

Using physio but mean any qualified equine therapist

 

[Boots*McGruber]

Horses should react and move away from pressure if you are running your fingers along their backs.















Not reacting and/or bracing against that kind of pressure that there is *something* going on.















What notes did the chiro leave you? How long did the horse have off after the treatment? Were you left an exercise plan?















If its now 3wks since treatment and this behaviour has only happened in the last two rides there doesn't appear to be a clear link to the treatment.







If muscles have been released this may be either a) affecting saddle fit or b) horse tolerated a bad fit hence constricted muscles, as these are now released the saddle fit is sore to tolerate.







Back pain is often/usually secondary to lameness. If you think he's short it's a vet job for a definite diagnosis. A therapist should do static and dynamic assessments prior to treatment so if the horse was noticed to be lame it should have been noted at that point.







Treatment shouldn't happen on an undiagnosed lame horse so the assumption would be horse was sound at that point in time and that something else has happened in the interim three week.

Edited- I missed loads. Vet job, I missed everything about hocks. Pad/saddle need looked at even more so that it's at the point of causing rubs. Massage therapist shouldn't be your first port of call; vet first then, with their advice/approval, physio then saddle fitter before recommencing ridden work (with vet and physio approval).

Using physio but mean any qualified equine therapist

Hi yes he was sound when the Chiropractor came out. Happy that he responded well to treatment and required only maintenance visit in 6months.

 

[Boots*McGruber]

Is it a specific area that is sore, this can also be a sign of ulcers, how is he a rugging up and girthing up?
I would try a soft massage. Obviously something isnt quite right. Hot water bottles are a good thing for the muscles and can often be used inside a pillowcase so soothe areas.
You said there is a bit of a rubbed patch, is the saddlecloth on the line of the back of the saddle?

Thank you. The rubbed area is under the cantle, I try and leave plenty of saddle cloth behind the saddle so it’s not sitting on the edge.

 

[Boots*McGruber]

Hi yes he was sound when the Chiropractor came out. Happy that he responded well to treatment and required only maintenance visit in 6months. Had the following day off as recommended and then light hacking for a few days. No excercise plan; carrot stretches suggested but he’s very bubbly so I don’t usually like to give him treats and had a chat with chiropractor about this who said not to worry about it.

 

[Boots*McGruber]

Not bubbly, nibbly!

 

[Pinkvboots]

You have had the back looked at now get saddle checked then if no improvement it's a vet job.

 

[Boots*McGruber]

Thanks all. Was worried I was over-reacting but good to get your thoughts. I’ve called the vet to see if they can come out this week.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Hi yes he was sound when the Chiropractor came out. Happy that he responded well to treatment and required only maintenance visit in 6months.

But you said that he had been bucking, which can be a sign of pain. Good call to get the vet.

 

[Boots*McGruber]

But you said that he had been bucking, which can be a sign of pain. Good call to get the vet.

Yes that was what prompted me to call the chiro. My comment re soundness was in response to TPO’s statement that “A therapist should do static and dynamic assessments prior to treatment so if the horse was noticed to be lame it should have been noted at that point.” When the chiro had me trot him up, turn in a circle etc she didn’t note lameness and proceeded with treatment. Appreciate that wasn’t clear in my post.

 

[SEL]

I regularly find sore patches which are probably saddle related when massaging horses. They will often compensate for a badly fitting saddle by twisting to try and reduce the pressure - this rarely shows up as lameness although I've had the odd one trot up a few times where something doesn't look quite right but its hard to pin down what or where. A massage or chiro session can release the compensation pattern which is a good thing except the horse then feels the pain they were twisting away from - so you can end up with them looking worse than they did before the session.

Rob Jackson (the horse back vet) straightened my mare once and even though she trotted up sound before and after his session she was definitely lame the next day. The lameness had been there all along but she'd been twisting away from the sore leg and it was only when he unwound her compensation pattern that it became obvious enough to show to a vet.

So your saddle could be at fault here and I'd probably get that looked at first unless he's definitely short on the trot up then its a vet. It always worth just checking the underneath of your saddle - I had one once where the flocking had lumped up and I only spotted it after getting royally dumped by a horse who had been telling me for a little while all was not OK.

 

[Boots*McGruber]

I regularly find sore patches which are probably saddle related when massaging horses. They will often compensate for a badly fitting saddle by twisting to try and reduce the pressure - this rarely shows up as lameness although I've had the odd one trot up a few times where something doesn't look quite right but its hard to pin down what or where. A massage or chiro session can release the compensation pattern which is a good thing except the horse then feels the pain they were twisting away from - so you can end up with them looking worse than they did before the session.

Rob Jackson (the horse back vet) straightened my mare once and even though she trotted up sound before and after his session she was definitely lame the next day. The lameness had been there all along but she'd been twisting away from the sore leg and it was only when he unwound her compensation pattern that it became obvious enough to show to a vet.

So your saddle could be at fault here and I'd probably get that looked at first unless he's definitely short on the trot up then its a vet. It always worth just checking the underneath of your saddle - I had one once where the flocking had lumped up and I only spotted it after getting royally dumped by a horse who had been telling me for a little while all was not OK.

Thank you. I’ve left messages with a few fitters so hopefully one of them will get back to me.

 

[Sossigpoker]

I'd stop wasting money on chiros and saddle fitters right now and get your vet out. The horse is in pain. Bucking and not going forward means he's in pain.
Your vet needs to diagnose the pain and treat it , then it's time to work with your chiropractor and saddle fitter.

 

[Boots*McGruber]

Thanks, vet is booked.