Horse not happy- what could be wrong??

charlie76

charlie76

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This is a decription of the horse in question:
lacking muscle but was poor when he arrived last yr (winter)
Has no trouble with collection but has started chucking his head a bit when asked to take a contact but then settles.
On Saturday put his back up when mounted, walked off fine but half way out on a hack did the same again when walking down hill.
Then was fine and was fine in the school
Sunday- got on, back up a little, worked well for about 15 mins then looked lame behind, would not work through. Got off and lunged without saddle- looked fine, put saddle back on, lunged- took off like a rodeo horse bucking, broncking and tail swishing. Stopped, saddle off- lunged- fine and sound. Trotted up- sound.
Put a different saddle on ( first was jump saddle, changed to dressage saddle)- took off like a rodeo horse.
Saddle off- fine.
any ideas??
He has never shown any sign of this before, usual tack and usual rider.
 
Sore back? Any evidence?

Could the saddle pad have rucked up under his saddle one day and caused the saddle to catch him and make him sore?

Perhaps run your hands all over the area where the saddle sits and round his girth and see if you can get any reaction from him.

Sorry, probably not very helpful!:confused:
 
Would suggest getting a good chiro or physio out to have a look at him. Does sounds like a back problem - strained something in the field or rolling maybe?
 
id get a physio it sounds like a muscular problem chiro's deal with spinal re alignment. although it could be that the spine is out and has caused muscle damage so you may need a visit from both.
 
charlie76 said:
This is a decription of the horse in question:
lacking muscle but was poor when he arrived last yr (winter)
Has no trouble with collection but has started chucking his head a bit when asked to take a contact but then settles.
On Saturday put his back up when mounted, walked off fine but half way out on a hack did the same again when walking down hill.
Then was fine and was fine in the school
Sunday- got on, back up a little, worked well for about 15 mins then looked lame behind, would not work through. Got off and lunged without saddle- looked fine, put saddle back on, lunged- took off like a rodeo horse bucking, broncking and tail swishing. Stopped, saddle off- lunged- fine and sound. Trotted up- sound.
Put a different saddle on ( first was jump saddle, changed to dressage saddle)- took off like a rodeo horse.
Saddle off- fine.
any ideas??
He has never shown any sign of this before, usual tack and usual rider.
Click to expand...

Your saddle doesn't fit him and is causing back pain.
It may have fitted him originally, but as you say he was poor so has gained both condition and muscle since then, which makes the saddle fit wrong (I suspect it may be 'bridging').

Trying him in the dressage saddle won't have helped for two reasons;
1. Even if it used to fit him (like the other) he's changed shape
2. His back muscles are sore - he is tensing them to hold the saddle up where it is hurting him.

If he were mine, I'd rest him for a week, and get a vet or a vet-approved qualified back person to examine him. I'd then bring him back into work without using a saddle - lunge, long rein, ride bareback if you can. And get a new saddle fitted (although if he is still muscling and gaining condition you may reach a point where it won't fit either).
Hope this helps.
S :D
 
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