Muscle Wastage Behind Shoulder - on one side only

MrsMozart

MrsMozart

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The Dizz has been eating and chilling for the last six and a half weeks. She dropped weight and I wasn't quick enough getting the right feed into her.

We've had her in at night to ad lib haylage and two feeds a day (Equijewel and Re-leve - used both before with her to good effect). Now she's out on the Summer grazing, which is putting on the weight nicely :D.

Today when changing her rugs I noticed that on the off-side she has nice firm muscle behind the shoulders, but on the near side, there is more of an ice-cream scoop effect (not quite as deep as that, but definitely a hollowing where there should be muscle).

When she dropped weight, she also dropped her muscle all over :(

My plan had been to get the weight on her to a decent level, then a couple of weeks Pessoa-ing to get some level of muscle and fitness up, then I get back on board, but now I'm wondering whether a back bod is needed or if I just need to work her in a specific way to get this particular muscle wastage sorted.

I have the saddler booked for three weeks time, before I get back on, but I'd like to have got her as even as possible before then.

Any suggestions anyone?

Oh, no pain reaction when poked and prodded (in my amatureish way) along her back.
 
Usually this type of muscle wastage is due to a badly fitting saddle or a problem such as kissing spine. My TB had muscle wastage 'wither pockets' and one side was worse than the other. Since his op, these have filled in again and he is even both sides. As I say, I have also seen it due to a too narrow saddle, though this tends to be on both sides. I certainly think your horse needs looking at by a physio or vet.
 
Oh poops...

Her saddle was new to her, of the make she likes (Barnsby), and has been checked every couple of months by a saddler I trust, plus it's not been on her for six weeks+

Ta Wagtail. I'll get the vet out. I'm hoping it's her pelvis issue, raising its ugly head as she hasn't got the muscle she should have.

Hope your lad is okay.
 
I would go the chiropractor/ physio route before the vet. My old boy had similar problem behind and vet messed around expensively for ages but when I got new (and better) physio, she sorted the problem and gave me a 16 week exercise program that gave a permament solution.
 
Thank you elduende.

Will have a contemplate.

She's been on and off like this for years (had her for three anda half years). Had two full lameness work ups/investigations - one at Rossdales and one at the AHT. Has bony irregularities on her pelvis, which led to secondary damage to her rear suspensories.

When she's muscled she is much better, but being low on weight I had to get that weight back before I could do anything about muscle.

Argh! Horses :rolleyes:
 
Could just be she's not using both hind legs the same which would result in the lack of muscle on the one side. I would be tempted if me, to get chiro out and see what they say before considering a vet visit x
 
Ta hunny :)

Sounds like a physio and then the vet dependent on what the physio says.


What ground exercises do peeps recommend for getting the bum end working? And with especial focus on one side more than the other?

I'm thinking the Pessoa, raised poles (lunge or long-rein, though she's a bit special on the long-reins!), alternate raised ends poles.
 
raised trotting poles, alternated either end is good, hill work long reining? Can you take a pic of her bum when she is stood square as you should be able to see if her hindquarters are level?
 
Ditto all the above, but something else to consider is you. :o I know you're coming back after a broken back and long time off - as you know I've had a couple of years off with my shoulder. I've found my saddle is worn to one side, as I have been compensating for years of adjusting to my injury, and ended up squiffy! Please don't take that as an insult - was a long winded way of saying that this is what has happened to me!!
 
Pidgeon said:
raised trotting poles, alternated either end is good, hill work long reining? Can you take a pic of her bum when she is stood square as you should be able to see if her hindquarters are level?
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She's always slightly higher on the right, due to the pelvis issue. When she's properly back in work it will be marginal, though the disparity will probably always be there.

Can do the raised trotting poles, ta :). She's not grand being long-reined - despite our best efforts she'll just turn round to find me, then we get tied up in the reins and she panics :rolleyes::eek:. I could put a bridle on and do the hills in hand walking next to her.
 
Honey08 said:
Ditto all the above, but something else to consider is you. :o I know you're coming back after a broken back and long time off - as you know I've had a couple of years off with my shoulder. I've found my saddle is worn to one side, as I have been compensating for years of adjusting to my injury, and ended up squiffy! Please don't take that as an insult - was a long winded way of saying that this is what has happened to me!!
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Not at all an insult hunny :D

Saddle is new, only had it since about October last year. Given the weather and this time off, it's not much used, and the saddler has had her mits on it every couple of months :cool:. But I am definitely wonky! Hadn't considered it as not ridden for over six weeks. Thank you! :D

Coming back into work after the cold weather this year, the muscle was wasted on both sides, 'till she's had this bit of time off,and it's during this time off that it's come back on the right, but not so much on the left.

I'll call my saddler on Tuesday and ask what was recorded at the fittings.
 
Our pony had muscle wastage on one side. I believe that it was because his hay net was tied nearly in a corner, he moved away from it on the left rein. This meant that he was constantly on the left rein in his small bare paddock. I moved the hay net & he improved.
 
although no expert I would hazard that the fact she's been off work and not using her back end properly has contributed to this, so try not to worry! Give the work a whirl and get the chiro out ASAP and touch wood nothing much wrong with her that some work and hills won't sort out. If I remember correctly the effects of the hind end are seen on the opposite diaganol, so if her off side fore side is out it would indicate a problem with the near hind?
 
Sorry! Pressed the wrong button.

Was going to say - get chiro out, get her back into ground fittening work, get the record from the saddler, and have the saddler out before I get back on.

I'll report back! :D
 
good plan of action :D I wouldn't be overly worried, you should have seen the indents Pidge had with his previous saddle, majorly rubbish master saddler :mad: resolved with proper saddle fitter :D
 
Ta hunny :)

It's a bober isn't it!

I'm hoping my saddler can do her magic; between that and the chiro/physio and the work we'll be doing over the next two weeks, we will get there :D :cool:

And if it doesn't work, then it will be back to the vet.
 
Coming from an owner with a horse with a pelvic problem - joys eh - I would say the few weeks of increasing pessoa work is the best way to start.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend the hill work. My physio advised against it for my boy as it would be just too much pressure on his pelvis.

Hope you get it sorted, my boy is knocking on 20 so things are a bit different, but my physio has been an absolute god send!
 
Aye SS - the joys! How did yours happen? We think the Dizz was when she was dropped as a youngster onto concrete.

I'll take it very easy on the hills, ta :). I know what she's like. I'll need her with some muscle before we can start them, then keep it in a steady walk on gentle hills, slowly building it all up.
 
There's always something isn't there?
I'd recommend a physio for the pair of you. I was amazed at how the physio managed to straighten me up. I went to her after a diagnosis of a trapped nerve in my neck, following a fall from 16.3hh. She sorted out problems that had been there years (all horse related) from my neck to my toes. In fact I must make an appt and go back soon.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
There's always something isn't there?
I'd recommend a physio for the pair of you. I was amazed at how the physio managed to straighten me up. I went to her after a diagnosis of a trapped nerve in my neck, following a fall from 16.3hh. She sorted out problems that had been there years (all horse related) from my neck to my toes. In fact I must make an appt and go back soon.
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Aye! The joys ;):rolleyes:. I was a bit Eek when I found the difference. It's not huge, but it's there.

I've been physio'd and chiro'd and equipilates'd, but I'll get myself back there before I get back on and make sure I'm as straight as I can be :D. Hope your tweaking goes well m'duck!
 
Damn it Wagtail you mentioned the KS word(s).Horse Ive got on loan has muscle wastage both sides! Im totally paranoid about backs and hocks, I think Ive got Munchhausens syndrome by proxy!
 
alma said:
Damn it Wagtail you mentioned the KS word(s).Horse Ive got on loan has muscle wastage both sides! Im totally paranoid about backs and hocks, I think Ive got Munchhausens syndrome by proxy!
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Aye. There not so nice :eek:. Scary indeed. Just seen a horse go through it. Wouldn't be able to put the Dizz through due to her other issues, so I'm keeping all rightly crossed that she comes right with the plan we have.

Hope your ned is okay!
 
alma said:
Damn it Wagtail you mentioned the KS word(s).Horse Ive got on loan has muscle wastage both sides! Im totally paranoid about backs and hocks, I think Ive got Munchhausens syndrome by proxy!
Click to expand...

Much more likely to be due to his saddle. I have seen it so often!
 
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