Is this a Hunter's Bump, and if so what should I do or not do

[MDB]

Hi all,

So this is regarding my lovely Lusitano-cross mare, who we rescued 9 months ago in a dreadful state, with no knowledge of her previous history. She is just recovering from her fistula withers, and we are building up her stamina and strength in preparation for riding. She is about 15, and definitely "stiff" when you see her move.. she just looks a bit wooden in her hindquarters. The vet did loads of tests on her, nothing major came up, but she did confirm she is stiff with likely some arthritic changes, but perfectly fine for hacking two to three times a week. We have no ambitions to go galloping across the countryside, she is my husband's horse and he is not quite a beginner, but he will only be walking and occasionally trotting her.

I forgot to ask the vet about her prominent spine at the time, and I am not sure whether this "boniness" is just residual lack of muscle or actually a hunter's bump. And if it is what should or shouldn't I be doing. We have been doing in hand up and down hills, two lots of 30-40 mins per day, with a day off every 4 days, to build up her overall fitness and strength in her rear end. But I read online that horses with a hunter's bump should avoid hills. So any thoughts, experiences and advice would be appreciated.

9 months ago.

7 months ago.

Now.

 

[Cortez]

If you mean a "jumper's bump", then that is easiest to determine from a side-on view; hard to see from behind. All it means is the croup is short and steep, often in association with overly straight angles on the hind leg. It used to be part of the Irish horse dealer's patter, but in effect it's nothing at all to do with a horse's jumping ability (or lack thereof), and all to do with poor hind end conformation. Nothing in particular you can do about it, just keep working on her overall muscling, weight and fitness. Good luck with her!

 

[SpringArising]

I call it a peach bum!

My old mare had one - it never affected her way of going or soundness.

 

[Cortez]

I call it a peach bum!

AKA apple bum? That would be the opposite of this (the bony processes of the sacrum sticking out), surely?

 

[9tails]

It's gradually going, so keep feeding her. The angles you've snapped her at are wrong for showing a jumper's bump, but I tend to think that a jumpers bump isn't so much a conformation defect/desire but rather damage to the sacroilliac or even some partial pelvic dislocation. Strengthening work should help, hillwork that sort of stuff.

 

[MDB]

AKA apple bum? That would be the opposite of this (the bony processes of the sacrum sticking out), surely?

Correct..I would love for her to have a peach bum or apple bum! I don't even know if this is possible on a horse like her... she is still very bony on her rear end. Hence the hill work. This is a side view...

 

[SpringArising]

AKA apple bum? That would be the opposite of this (the bony processes of the sacrum sticking out), surely?

No. Apple bum - fat horse. Bum looks like an apple.

Peach bum - looks like there's a peach sitting on the croup.

 

[Cortez]

Ah, great; thanks for a side view. Yes, she does have a short croup, but the angle isn't steep, so not a "jumper's bump" (or goose rump) at all, and the bump should go, or become less obvious, as she muscles up and gains overall condition. She does have a straight hind leg looking at what I can see, which may mean she is a bit restricted in the articulation of the joints; hard to tell from a partial pic 'tho, and I wouldn't be worrying about it too much.

 

[be positive]

I agree with Cortez it should become less obvious once she builds up condition generally, it would not worry me too much, the tb I have in my yard looked similar after being turned away, he came in with no topline and a very pronounced bump like yours and over the summer with steady work it is no longer obvious, we have plenty of hills, probably not like the ones you have, he shows no problems going up or down them.

 

[MDB]

Thanks Cortez and BePositive. OK, we will continue with hills and see how things go.