Long... suspensory/sacroiliac or kissing spine

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LansdownK310

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Last week thought my horse wasn't quite right, she became twitchy and sensitive to the riders left leg which got progressively worse (and not just mine).

Had the vet out on Tues he gave her a quick look over said related to her season or the midges... so fine cracked on. Tacked up and hacked out - didn't feel quite right and was very explosive to left leg (queue canter sideways when leg put on).

My instructor came up Weds and she was very tense and bunnyhopping in the canter, hollowing in both trot and canter, wanting to jog lots in walk. Popped a cross pole to see reaction. Concluded that she was favoring right canter strike off on both reins, disuniting on the left rein, trailing left fore over a fence and generally not herself as got very puffy after a short amount of work.

She is definitely objecting to ridden work. I insisted vet came back today, he looked at her in hand and on lunge no problem and not lame. Then he saw me ride and agreed not happy undersaddle. So he's coming back tuesday to do some more tests but thinks either both hind suspensory, sacroiliac issue or kissing spine.

I've had her not even a year, our progress was stalled last summer as she fractured her left hind splint bone in two places after a kick in the field. We had what I believe to be saddle problems about 12 weeks ago which the saddle was adjusted and she came fine again.

So have cancelled our entry for AUW in 3 weeks, have Bowen lady coming tomorrow, farrier for a check up and shoeing on Monday and desperately trying to get my saddle fitter back out to check it.

Apologies for so long but had to get it all off my chest as all I feel like doing tonight is crying :( I'm so worried that her eventing days are over before they've even started.
 
I had a horse who displayed similar symptoms for many months. He would always rush and hollow going into canter. I had to be so balanced to help him. The vets originaly thought it was his hocks and he was treated with injections. He didn't get any better. One day I brought him out of his stable and he couldn't walk straight.

When the vets examined him they found he had 2 bone cysts, one in his stifle and one on his pelvis, he had also fractured his pelvis and had kissing spine. Unfortunately the prognosis was not good and that coupled with his other problems left me no choice :-(
 
Wagtail said:
Gastric ulcers.
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Thought this initially but doesn't really display any of the other signs of ulcers. She's on a low cal balancer, with a handful of chaff and constant supply of hay with good grazing. Vet doesn't think its ulcers either. Always has access to forage, hasn't lost any condition.
 
TicTac said:
I had a horse who displayed similar symptoms for many months. He would always rush and hollow going into canter. I had to be so balanced to help him. The vets originaly thought it was his hocks and he was treated with injections. He didn't get any better. One day I brought him out of his stable and he couldn't walk straight.

When the vets examined him they found he had 2 bone cysts, one in his stifle and one on his pelvis, he had also fractured his pelvis and had kissing spine. Unfortunately the prognosis was not good and that coupled with his other problems left me no choice :-(
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How long did it take your vet to diagnose? This is why i'm worrying :(
 
I wouldn't start panicking too soon, see what your physio has to say & saddler, if your horse has never shown any signs of a problem until last week, maybe it's twisted or tweaked something possibly or it's saddle related. I'm having problem after problem with my dressage saddle at the moment, you think it's okay after adjusting and then after a couple of weeks he's sore again, so it could simply be something like that. Hope you get it sorted!
 
Agreed...do not panic yet! If you feel the vets cannot find anything quickly then ask as early as possible to be referred to one of the specialist units...it took them 11 months to diagnose my girly...If she had been referred earlier it would not have taken so long.

I number of things could bring about the reaction you mentioned and even if it is one of the above then there is a lot you could do.

Its the most horrid feeling in the world...but the fact that your horse isn't lame on the lunge is a very good sign.
 
Thanks... I know I need to stay positive... its very hard though! Will be interesting to see what the back lady, saddler and farrier say over this next week.
 
One of mine had PSD and Sacroiliac issues (both flagged up bright red on a body scan). He had steroid injections into both a year ago and also shockwave treatment. We took rehab very slowly, but (touches everything around me that is wood) he is now fine. He jumps, hacks, schools and competes. It's really stressful, but try and stay positive.
 
starsky said:
One of mine had PSD and Sacroiliac issues (both flagged up bright red on a body scan). He had steroid injections into both a year ago and also shockwave treatment. We took rehab very slowly, but (touches everything around me that is wood) he is now fine. He jumps, hacks, schools and competes. It's really stressful, but try and stay positive.
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How did yours manifest itself? Was it sudden or progressive? Are you back to the same level you were before? - Sorry for all the questions!
 
LansdownK310 said:
How long did it take your vet to diagnose? This is why i'm worrying :(
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When I bought the horse he had an asymetric pelvis and was a bit on the poor side, allthough he passed a full 5 stage vetting. For about 18-20 months he did well, put on weight and learned to work long and low allthough canter was always an issue. One day in the field I noticed he was slightly lame and it went from there really. I owned the horse for 3 years and it was during the last year that all the problems developed. I had a gut feeling that the problem wasn't the hind legs but because ' bony changes' were found on the x rays, that was where the vets started.

looking back I am convinced he had injured his pelvis prior to my ownership hense the asymetry and from then on it was a bit of a chicken and egg situation. I would advise you to get the horses back x rayed as at least it can rule out a problem there ( or not ) Sorry I can't be of more help. Good luck and keep us posted.
 
LansdownK310 said:
Thought this initially but doesn't really display any of the other signs of ulcers. She's on a low cal balancer, with a handful of chaff and constant supply of hay with good grazing. Vet doesn't think its ulcers either. Always has access to forage, hasn't lost any condition.
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The mare at my yard who had them, showed no other symptoms other than a reluctance to be ridden and especially a resentment of the rider's leg on the left hand side. The vet told us there was no way she had ulcers. She ended up going to AHT, Rossdales and finally the RVC at Hatfield. The owner asked for her to be scoped for ulcers after spending thousands on inconclusive diagnostic tests. She was found to have ulcers and after treatment returned to her old cooperative self.
 
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Sacroiliac problems often manifest themselves as problems with canter. My ned had sacroiliac problems, we think due to a fall/ slip in the field. Was never lame, just came in not quite right. Progressively got worse over 6-8 months dispite all other ususl checks with physio/ saddler etc Kissing spine was a potential first
thought, but xrays showed no issues. Vet was excellent & refered us straight away for a bone scan which highlighted the sacroiliac joint. Had steroid injections, a short break, then 2 months long and low Pessoa work before starting ridden work. Now schooling novice/ elementary level dressage with ease, hacking, fun rides, just started jumping & vets are happy he is fit and well.

However, I am extremely careful of how he works. He always warms up & down long and low and always works correctly from behind to keep the joint strong. He will never be allowed time off (vets advice) and I do quite alot of Pessoa work over raised trot poles & regular physio & saddle checks (3 monthly).

Pm me if you have any questions!
 
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