How often do you have your Horses back checked?

[LaurenBay]

I've never had Rubys back checked in the 2 years i've had her (naughty I know) but I've never really felt the need to as shes the type to tell you when somethings wrong and I haven't had any reaction or indication from her to tell me she needs it. But as the back lady was at our yard anyway, I booked in.

I was really impressed with the lady as she explained step by step what she was doing. She said over all Ruby was very strong through her back, pelvis and shoulder area. Perfect weight but could do with some more muscle. The saddle is a good fit, but the flocking is slightly uneven and could cause problems further down the line (saddler is now booked for 12th June to sort this prob out) but right now isn't causing much of an issue. She has told me I need to do some raised trotting poles, working long and low, Lateral work and trotting downhill to build up muscle in the areas needing it.

Ruby loved the massage to end and fell asleep!

How often do you get your Horses back checked? or just when needed?

 

[maxine1985]

Usually every 6 months as a routine, unless i notice any one sideness, stiffness etc

I have my own back done every 3/4 months as i tend to go wonky quite easily and dont want this transferring to horse!

Happy hacking horses possibly dont need as often as those that are regularly jumping, schooling, competing, travelling etc

 

[vieshot]

Every six months for hackers. I would probably get her done more often if she were competing. Disgusts me when people never get their horses checked until the horse starts reacting to the pain. Some horses will do their best to tolerate pain and as such we may not know about it until they are so sore that they have no choice but to dump their riders....then getting labelled a 'problem horse'

 

[katiieking]

We don't check ours on a regular basis, we just do it when we think they need checked! Maybe if they have a bad day out, or it was a tough day on their legs (muddy crosscountry!) or if somethings just not right we get them checked! But I would say our back man is at our house every two months or so (we have 5 horses to be done!)

 

[maxine1985]

Every six months for hackers. I would probably get her done more often if she were competing. Disgusts me when people never get their horses checked until the horse starts reacting to the pain. Some horses will do their best to tolerate pain and as such we may not know about it until they are so sore that they have no choice but to dump their riders....then getting labelled a 'problem horse'

Totally agree, even the slightly feeling mine isnt 100% i'l get him checked, i dont understand how people can let them get to the point where they buck,rear, start refusing etc I would expect there were many subtle hints long before it got to this point, ears back in transitions or girthing up, not quite willing to bend one way for example

 

[AmiRobertson]

As a rule dizzy will be done every 6 months along with her teeth and saddle (very expensive week) at the moment though because she has just been started on natural balance shoes she will be done in 2 weeks (she was only done 4 weeks ago) and then again 3 months after that because the changes in her hooves will effect her whole body so need her to be comfortable. I love it when the physio comes I always learn so much from her!

 

[LaurenBay]

I wouldn't let her get into a bad state that she was rearing, bucking, bolting etc. If she showed signs of not wanting to be tacked up or girthiness that would be enough for me to get someone out and stop riding. She has the dentist every 6-8 months, vet visits whenever she needs. Must be doing something right as never had a problem with her mucking about ridden.

 

[nix123]

Every 6-9 mths. Unless they show any other signs of been unhappy. I had one horse in to sell for a client and the state of the horses back was disgusting, all down to an ill fitting saddle she had been using. It took me and the chiro months to get him anywhere near right before i could even consider selling him.

 

[Angua2]

My girl is booked in to be done every 3 months as a preventative measure..... in that it prevents me hitting the deck and costing a fortune in chiropractor fees

 

[Countrychic]

All 3 ridden ones get done between 6 and 9 weeks depending on workload. What I really like is my physio now knows my horses so well she can notice any small changes in them

 

[indie999]

Never had it done. Dont feel naughty about not having it done either. But I would like mine done when I have come off!

 

[ROMANY 1959]

Just booked back woman to see 3 on our yard, last done 9 month ago, but they only do schooling, hacking and local shows and new one does Polocrosse .

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Loan mare is done 2 X yearly which is part of the agreement; traddie boy is done once a year.

I have the same physio as the horses, she does humans & horses, which helps a lot as she can see issues which impact on both. Well worth doing.

 

[monkeybum13]

Every 6-9 months. I have an equilibrium massage pad so she has that on a lot.

 

[Nicnac]

I get the 5 year old done every month as he's changing shape so much and has grown an inch in 10 months. His musculature is massively different to when I got him last year and any soreness or changes are picked up. He recently had a bit of tightness in the lumbar area so I had him done weekly for 3 weeks until the spasm had completely gone.

The 13 yo TB gets done every 3-6 months depending on workload and how he is in himself.

There's no hard and fast rule, but I find regular maintenance avoids the bigger issues.

(I am trained in human sports massage so maybe am a bit OCD as know the benefits)

 

[Spotsrock]

Every 3 to 6 months unless they need it sooner. B1 has history of back problems.

 

[Goldenstar]

After a holiday they see the physio before they come back to work and they always see her when they come out of work .
In work in hard work normally monthly but at times it's fortnightly on average it's every six weeks it varies from horse to horse and depends on what they are doing.
It's not just the back we are checking though it's all over heads polls necks limbs hind quarters the lot.

 

[Megibo]

I'm a firm believer that every horse at least needs to be checked once by a good back person.
I personally have one once a year if no problems, 6 monthly if there is a problem.
There's a little pony up the yard (well, about 13.1) who threatens to go for you and tries to bronc when you touch his back lightly where the back of the saddle goes, but apparently he's fine and doesn't need to see a back person.

 

[AmiRobertson]

Agree with goldenstar my physio does the entire body everytime she comes she really is fantastic and the impact it makes on dizzy is huge so for £55 I see it as money very well spent. The lady I use as well can pick up on the tiniest little things and she is very holistic and spiritual which is another thing I like but I know it's not everyone's thing. I know a fair few people on here from Kent use her as well I love it when she sees dizzy haha!

 

[quirky]

Annually, she has only been sore once and the back lady describes her as 'loose as a goose'.
If I felt she wasn't right, I'd book her sooner.

 

[**Vanner**]

Annually unless there was any sign of an issue.

 

[pennyturner]

Never - if my horse has a problem, I adjust MY behaviour until he doesn't, and if that doesn't work, I call a vet.

At risk of upsetting alot of people...
How do you know that the 'back lady' knows anything at all, or has any 'special skills'? Most anyone can set up tomorrow as some kind of 'equine chiro-mancer'. The more voodoo attached (trademarked names and such), the more you can charge.

I have a 15yo NF who was given to me, having been retired with 'back problems' as a 5yo. We rebacked him at 9, and he's sound, superb across country, but in certain situations he's nappy as hell. So presumably if his original owner could ride worth a damn he'd have been ridden through it as a youngster, but she was scared of his behaviour, so told herself, and everyone else he'd got 'back issues'.

 

[katiieking]

How do you know that the 'back lady' knows anything at all, or has any 'special skills'? Most anyone can set up tomorrow as some kind of 'equine chiro-mancer'. The more voodoo attached (trademarked names and such), the more you can charge.

Fair point yes, however, some of us do use proper qualified people!

For example myself, my own personal back physio is also qualified to work on horses, we have seen his certificates of training!

Excluding that though, I have never seen a bunch of horses happier to see someone in my life, every time he walks in the yard he gets a nicker from them! And the difference in the horses every time is fab!

 

[quirky]

At risk of upsetting alot of people...
How do you know that the 'back lady' knows anything at all, or has any 'special skills'? Most anyone can set up tomorrow as some kind of 'equine chiro-mancer'. The more voodoo attached (trademarked names and such), the more you can charge.

Ermm, because I don't use any old fly by night, she has human as well as equine qualifications.
If she's good enough for one of the premier show jumping families in this country, she's good enough for my lovely cob

 

[shmoo]

Based on current predicament aroud every half hour or so...

 

[naid pollyanna]

i have equine touch on my horse(controversial as it is) every six-eight weeks if just in normal work or competing and if theres a problem she has one every week for two or three weeks. even though it is doubted my horse had serious back problems from a freak accident when she flipped over and the change in her is just phenomenal! it all depends on what you do how you ride yourself, if your horse does alot of bucking in the field etc!

 

[Goldenstar]

Answering pennyturners point.
Because shes a human and animal physio works a lot with my equine vet sends a report to my vet every time she sees one of my horses and will ring the vet at once if we find anything concerning .
She's very involved with the horses developments suggesting tweaks to their work plans and the exercises they do she's a key part of my system now.
She's also looks after me.
I do think bodyworker type people can help to keep horses comfortable but a fully qualified physio is trained to a whole different level she's used to working with other professionals like consultants etc in the NHS so she liaises really well with vets, farriers ,trimmers saddles as she always worked like that so it's just a great way to develop the horses.
I have learned a lot from her .
There's no way I would let just anyone loose on my horses I am not an idiot.

 

[windand rain]

Never as like Penny turner I think a lot are charlatans they always come and try to do something I think I was put off by a back person that came to a horse that had been hit by a tractor and trailer and proceeded to poke his back saying he had "put it back" and he would be ok
Sorry but it took ten tons of pressure to damage him 5 mins of finger and thumb pressure was not going to do anything to whit he charged a small fortune and left.
I did have a box resting pony massaged as I thought it would be something she enjoyed not for any real health help and yes she did enjoy it and fell asleep.
Would have greater respect for them if once in a while they would come and say nothing wrong so no charge

 

[becca1305]

As a regular check up - every 6 months. However otherwise as often as they need, one of mine kept going wonky, and at one point I had the chiro every 2-3wks. That was very yowchy on the old piggy bank so I invested in an fmbs pulse magnetic rug (initially even more owch on the funds) but it did a wonderful job and we were able to move to every 2-3 months chiro unless she did something silly in between (usually mucking about in field). She has definitely strengthened up and the pulse mag rug helps and we have just moved to chiro appointments every 6 months! My new horse had a horsefall eventing with her previous owner the season before so when I bought her I had the chiro out and she found a few areas where she was wonky. She had another treatment after 3 weeks, then one after 3 months and now has also gone to a 6 monthly appointment. She also wears the pulse mag rug before and after ridden work .

 

[katiieking]

Would have greater respect for them if once in a while they would come and say nothing wrong so no charge

Mine does this!

He comes out and does my sister, me and my dad, and then checks the horses, if somethings wrong he fixes it! And he's never more than £30 for the horse, he might come out and say nothing wrong so no charge, but we give him £20 anyway for his petrol money!

I love mine to be honest, he's reliable, doesn't rip the arm out of you in terms of money and he loves it when you text to keep him updated on the horses progress!