Interesting Physio visit.

[dorsetladette]

AS some may know its been a rocky road with our Benjamin Brown. I've attached the threads I've previously started about him for reference.

Benjamin Brown update. - proud mummy post☺️

This weekend has been dry and mild with us, with no scary wind either. So it was time to crack on and work with B2. As I've said in previous posts/threads he's a bit special and scared of pretty much everything. But we seem to have turned a corner in the last few weeks. Yesterday we lunged and...

forums.horseandhound.co.uk

WWYD - At a loss

I have another thread in C&T about my nervous/scared little welsh cob. He's come back from the 'lovely ladies' breaking and schooling yard and we have decided not to continue with his ridden career. His reactions are just to unpredictable and extreme for him ever to be a safe pony to ride, or...

forums.horseandhound.co.uk

https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/big-selfish-decision-made.795123/post-14432369

Anyway, with vets, physio's and other professionals not being able to get to the bottom of his odd behavior we agreed he would be a none ridden horse and spend his days in either mine or my sisters care. Plans don't always work out and sister needed to downsize her herd to zero, luckily we found a loan home as a companion just round the corner from me. He's done 12 months there and then come back to me. He's a different pony to the one who went away two years ago. Calmer and affectionate, generally enjoying peoples company. So we took him to a local show and he did amazingly well with coping with the new enviroment, I think he actually enjoyed himself. While there I got talking to our physio who was there.

Physio popped out to him last week (agreed with vet) for a maintenace visit as he had been away for a while so nice to give him some attention. I wasn't sure how he would react to pressure as thats what normally results in a reaction, but she started slowly on his off side (better side) and he really seemed to enjoy it.

But the interesting part was not only did he really enjoy his session (things touching him is traumatic) but physio found what she describe as scarring/scar tissue/scarred muscle just behind the wither on his nearside. It is just behind where the front of the saddle would sit, sort of the front third of a saddle panel sort of size and in the same area. Now I've felt it I can feel it too. But I would never have known it was there. This answers so many questions - he never liked anything going over/across his withers, especially from the nearside and tightening girths/rollers/syringles freeked him out. No wonder if it was putting pressure on a sore/scarred muscle, it must of felt horrible.

So, we have some exercises to do to help broaden his chest and open his shoulders (best way I can describe it) as they appear a little narrow at the top (by his wither) and some raised poles to help with his tight ham strings. Overall physio thinks he is pretty well muscled especially as he is a field ornament.

Mostly I feel I've got closure on an issue I felt I couldnt fix or leave alone. So I'm happy. I'm sure people will disect my post and find fault in the route we went down to get answers. Its really hard when you have a none ridden pony with no obvious physical issue to get any professional to take you seriously.

 

[Sossigpoker]

I've not read your earlier posts but wondering if you x-rayed his neck?
I also had a vet not take my cob's loss of performance ("thats just how he moves " when he was toe dragging !) So I know the frustration.

 

[SEL]

Vets don't always pick up on anything relating to muscles or fascia. Its quite an odd feeling when you are doing bodywork on a horse and literally hit something that 'sticks'. Sometimes its obvious what caused it (for instance at the back of the saddle or over withers) but other times you can only assume there was an injury which hasn't left an external scar - but you'd find something if you peeled the skin back.

Clients horse isn't lame but has a slightly quirky action on her left hind. Nothing to see on her hindquarters but under my fingers there is an odd collection of lumps and bumps so I wonder whether its an old kick injury. She doesn't react to palpation but I can't help but think the fascia and muscle is affected.

I'm not saying you should ever ride him but regular massage will help that scar tissue you've found. Did your physio think it was an old injury?

 

[dorsetladette]

I've not read your earlier posts but wondering if you x-rayed his neck?
I also had a vet not take my cob's loss of performance ("thats just how he moves " when he was toe dragging !) So I know the frustration.

Yes he had x-rays when he had a pain/lameness work-up.

nothing- was put down to being an 'unhandled' pony. felt like a naughty child that the teacher didn't beleive at this point. Out of all my ponies he's handled the most as I thought regular work would help work through his nervousness.

 

[dorsetladette]

Vets don't always pick up on anything relating to muscles or fascia. Its quite an odd feeling when you are doing bodywork on a horse and literally hit something that 'sticks'. Sometimes its obvious what caused it (for instance at the back of the saddle or over withers) but other times you can only assume there was an injury which hasn't left an external scar - but you'd find something if you peeled the skin back.

Clients horse isn't lame but has a slightly quirky action on her left hind. Nothing to see on her hindquarters but under my fingers there is an odd collection of lumps and bumps so I wonder whether its an old kick injury. She doesn't react to palpation but I can't help but think the fascia and muscle is affected.

I'm not saying you should ever ride him but regular massage will help that scar tissue you've found. Did your physio think it was an old injury?

yes pretty old as it now is not sore to touch. I think the 2+ years being turned away has helped 'heal' what ever it was. I think it happened before he came to us. Potentially why he was free to a good home?