Horse holding tail to the left

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jjflash

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Hi,
I'm getting worried about my horse who had begun to hold his tail to the left when moving, be it led or ridden. He doesn't do it when standing still and doesn't seem to react to me pushing the pressure points on his back but has started to feel very tense when I ride him, head up, walking really fast and trying to run off. He is also very twitchy round his withers and if I even touch a bit of mane there he shakes his whole body and rushes off. I've stopped riding him completely and am getting his back and fit of his saddle checked. I really hope it's nothing too bad :(
Has anyone had an experience like this with their horse? :confused:
 
My horse does something similar and has never affected him, he does have Arab breeding - his grandam was a PBA but I don't think it's that :) He has had his back and saddle checked recently plus he went through a five stage vetting when we bought him! As to do with the riding he hasn't changed, just his tail - the twitch etc could be unrelated
 
How long has he be doing it?

My horse was very similar when I brought her in one Saturday evening "very twitchy round his withers and if I even touch a bit of mane there he shakes his whole body and rushes off". She was also holding her tail when moving. I got the vet out on the Monday, and after a week of bute, took her in for X-rays. She was diagnosed with a fractured vertebra.

I felt terrible as she seemed well in herself just twitchy as if she had flies on her when I brushed near her withers.

I suggest you get a vet out. My horse is now back in full work and going better than ever so it's not all bad news.

Keep us updated x
 
My chap holds his to the left, he's an Arab. It's very noticeable and I asked the vet at Hsu vetting; it's not an issue and he's always done it. However a change to the tail would suggest a back issue to me.
 
Thankyou for the comments - it is not something he has always done, I've only noticed it recently and it seems to correlate with his becoming uncomfortable under saddle so I'm supposing it's his back.
Blythwind that is worrying!:eek: sounds very similar to how he is now. He's completely happy and his normal self apart from what I have mentioned. Maybe I will get the vet out before the physio/saddle fitter!
I will keep you posted! X
 
Ring your physio/back person and tell them about it. If they a like mine, they will tell you they won't treat your horse until they've had vet permission/recommendation anyway. I'm sure it's nothing serious but best to be sure x
 
This can be something or nothing but if its suddenly appeared it needs checking out I would ring the vet and get a recommendation of a ACPAT physio from them and take it from there.
 
Possibly pelvis out, try (gently) pulling the tail to one side and then the other, look at how he tenses the muscles from the girth right back to the tail, especially between 'point of the hip and flank, do they flex evenly on both sides?

If they are, I would be tempted to try a good back/chiro first (with vet permission/recommend).
 
My warmblood does this! But passed a 5 stage vetting so vet said hes just a tad weird!! Bless him hope its nothing too serious with urs :)
 
If I remember rightly I asked a lady who does myofascial release about this and she said it would mean tight down the right side and tail is compensating for this. I might have got my rights and lefts mixed up
 
Mine does it when tense or upset about something. Had full back check with physio/chiro and not a thing wrong with him. Hopefully it's not something serious. Blooming horses, they do like to worry us. :)
 
Mine does it too! It seems to be more common than I thought - I was worried at first, but she passed the 5 stage vetting, and the physio / chiro found no issues so I think it's just her style..
 
If your horse has a high tail carriage and has tail flaps on his rug, it may be from the tail flap stoping him holding it up Normally while the rug is on. I found my arab was doing this, but soon stops if I remove the tail flap (although I keep a couple of rugs with them on for very bad weather :) )
 
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