How often, if ever, do you have 'the back man'?

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Dexter

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I had some Bowen done on one of mine once,more out of curiosity than anything else. I don't routinely have their backs checked. If theres an issue I call my god like vet. It seems to me that it is now considered essential to have 'the back man' out and I'm in the minority not doing so. So how often do you have your horses back checked?
 
Every 6 months without fail and more often if I suspect a problem, Micah has been done 4 times in the last 14 months and each time there was a minor problem.
Always with a new horse before I even get on it, good job too as Jake was really really sore!! and he had past a 5 stage vet
 
Don't think it's considered essential, it's just down to personal choice I think. A female physio in my case. Twice a year just as a routine check, sometimes he needs a bit of tweaking, other times he's fine. He's out in a big very active herd of 11 geldings and so there are often shennanigans so I like to have him checked over in this way. Obviously if he was very sore, lame, etc the vet would be the person I'd call. With backs and muscles I think horses can sometimes compensate for them a lot before they show us what's wrong.
 
I too would only get a back man out if I suspected a problem. I think that if I went to a chiropractor every few months that there would always be something tight/that needed tweaking on my back but I wouldn't have even known it and it wouldn't have been a problem. Until I suspect discomfort/problem/tightness/soreness then I won't have a back man out.
 
My boy had his back done this week for the first time. He's 5 and a half and I've had him about year and I broke him in. He's not been improving with his schooling and is very fixed on one side. More recently he's become awkward to touch on the inside of his right back thigh (kicking out) which is very unlike him. I was speaking to my instructor and she gave him a bit of a poke and he was quite "flinch-y" and she recommended I get his back looked at. Lady came this week and confirmed that he was quite sore and has uneven muscle build up on his pelvis. I'm a bit gutted because as I'm the only one that's ever ridden him I feel like it's my fault! but he seemed to respond really well (at first kicking out and flinching but by the end he was sleepy!). He's had a couple of days off and now the school is frozen - hopefully I'll see tomorrow how he's responded. The lady who did his back also gave me some really good advice about the way to work him (long and low!), he'll probably see her again in a few weeks. I'm guessing he'll have his back done as recommended if the results go in the right direction!

Sorry - this reply has gone on forever!
 
bryngelenponies said:
I too would only get a back man out if I suspected a problem. I think that if I went to a chiropractor every few months that there would always be something tight/that needed tweaking on my back but I wouldn't have even known it and it wouldn't have been a problem. Until I suspect discomfort/problem/tightness/soreness then I won't have a back man out.
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^^This!! :)
 
If I suspect a problem I get my vet out. He will then refere me to a very good McTimoney physio. My physio will only treat horses that have been refered to him by a vet, so therefore my horses only get there backs done if both I and my vet feel there is a problem. So no my horses aren't regularly seen by the 'backman', but if problens are suspected I get to the bottom of them!
 
bryngelenponies said:
I too would only get a back man out if I suspected a problem. I think that if I went to a chiropractor every few months that there would always be something tight/that needed tweaking on my back but I wouldn't have even known it and it wouldn't have been a problem. Until I suspect discomfort/problem/tightness/soreness then I won't have a back man out.
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This too ^^^
 
Usually every 6 months, although would be more often if we had a problem. I think its a bit like us going to the dentist - I wouldnt wait until I had a toothache - I like to have regular checks. But then I worry about everything- cant help it -just the way I'm made. Also our boy is in a herd of geldings that get up to all sorts.
 
The back man (lady!) comes out every 6 months for us, but less if my sister thinks Reg isn't quite right. He had a bad fall when he point-to-pointed, and now we're asking him to learn a very physically demanding job. How can we expect him to perform to his best and enjoy his job if it causes him pain? Every time she comes out, she comments on how much stronger he's getting but he does get sore round his withers. If she hadn't come out when we first got him we wouldn't have known because he was sweet, obliging and just gritted his teeth and got on with it... He did have days when he was stroppy and he was generally a bit tense, but he's a green horse who's being given a lot to think about.

I'm a bit surprised that some people have said they never do- especially if they're trying to get their horses to be fit and healthy and competitive. IMO, if your horse is doing the job of lugging you round day in, day out it's the least we can do to ensure their ongoing comfort. And a vet is all well and good, but Reg is a healthy, happy horse whose soreness wouldn't have been picked up by us so quickly and we wouldn't have phone the vet... And we're pretty paranoid about backs!
 
Larry has his done every 6 months and has his saddle checked at the same time!!

He changes alot in shape so i would hate for him to be sore or in discomfort :)
 
Nigsha said:
What is it you think these 'back people' are doing?
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The same thing they do to me when I go to see the 'back person' for humans *confused face*

Release of tight muscles through trigger points and giving exercises to stretch them out/strengthen in the longer term.

I had an amazing massage after a period of back pain and it was the most wonderful feeling walking around afterwards - everything moved properly, no clunking or clicking and no tension. I imagine it feels like that for the horse!

Unless of course that was supposed to be some sort of loaded question and you want me to say 'Oh he puts the horses' pelvis back in place' ;)
 
We had the back man out when we first bought him, never had one since.
We also had the physio out before he came back into work after 6 months box rest after his colic op, just to check him over and see what she thought :)

I don't see the need to have them out regually unless there is a problem, or your saddle doesn't fit correctly?
 
Had the chiropractor out a few months ago when I first bought my mare (was giving her a full MOT - back, teeth etc) and still felt she wasn't right so got referred to a physio who came out this week and said she'd been in so much discomfort if it had been a less gentle and patient horse you wouldn't have been able to even get tack on it let alone ride it. So, after the course of physio I will continue to have regular checkups cos it sounds like she would have to be in a huge amount of pain to tell me about it and I don't want to get to that point!
 
You can really tell when my two need their backs doing, but I tend to only have it done when they seem to need it. And in my case, it's the 'back woman' ;)
 
fadedv said:
The same thing they do to me when I go to see the 'back person' for humans *confused face*

Release of tight muscles through trigger points and giving exercises to stretch them out/strengthen in the longer term.

I had an amazing massage after a period of back pain and it was the most wonderful feeling walking around afterwards - everything moved properly, no clunking or clicking and no tension. I imagine it feels like that for the horse!

Unless of course that was supposed to be some sort of loaded question and you want me to say 'Oh he puts the horses' pelvis back in place' ;)
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no it wasnt loaded, a nice massage is lovely and soothing but its not truly solving some major issue is it honestly? I just ask as it feels like a bit of a fad TBH. Its not one that has caught on massively at my yard, and the horses seem to survive, we never had 'back' people or 'teeth' people years ago and our horses seemed to survive and thrive. I dont dispute that many horses love a good rub down, massage and manipulation, mine does but after watching what the one 'back' person I did have out did, I just do it myself!!
 
Nigsha said:
no it wasnt loaded, a nice massage is lovely and soothing but its not truly solving some major issue is it honestly? I just ask as it feels like a bit of a fad TBH. Its not one that has caught on massively at my yard, and the horses seem to survive, we never had 'back' people or 'teeth' people years ago and our horses seemed to survive and thrive. I dont dispute that many horses love a good rub down, massage and manipulation, mine does but after watching what the one 'back' person I did have out did, I just do it myself!!
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I honestly think it depends on the massage - as with those given to humans, there is a wide variety available and some are more effective, others are just relaxing. My 'back person' is very good - she is trained in a variety of techniques and will also say when the issue is one she cannot help with and the horse needs vet/farrier or whatever.

My horse is has a slight parrot mouth - when I bought him he had never had his teeth done, and it was fairly obvious that he was in discomfort and this had a huge effect on the way he moved and carried himself. There was an improvement almost immediately after his teeth were done, so I definitely don't regard the EDT's visit as either a fad or a luxury, it's a necessity for my horse at least!
 
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