New horse needs back man, but might kick his head off!! Help!

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darksecret99

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So... my new horse had to be completely knocked out so the vet could clean his sheath in the end, cos even sedated so he could hardly even hold his head up, he could still kick! But it went well - he had a big lump of skank removed from up where he pees from and seemed much happer afterwards and has stopped doing his funny leg waving.....

But now I am sure his back is out!! I reckon it may have been masked by the anti-inflamatories for his sheath, and now he is not on them any more he is not quite level behind on the right rein and is very tender behind the saddle.... if you apply any pressure to the area, he kicks out!! He is booked in for the back man ASAP, but I am worried that he will not let the back man put him right!!

Part of me thinks he should be punished for kicking no matter what the reason, but the other part says that its unfair to punish him if I am doing something that hurts.... but I cant just not do anything or there is no way the back man will be able to treat him (unless he wears some sort of body armour and whacks him back into place with a 10ft long hammer???!!!)! And it will not be good long term if he learns that kicking is a good way of getting his own way!

I have been trying to get hold of the back man to ask advice, but he is being illusive....

Any suggestions?

I have been using the softly softly approach to try and get him happy with being touched along his back, and he is getting more trusting of me, but his immediate reaction if you do anything he doesnt like is to kick out (probs part due to him being a spoilt brat before I got him and association with the sheath thing too, but dangerous either way!) and the back man will be coming soon!

What a nightmare, I was hoping it would be onwards and upwards after the sheath thing was sorted, but now this as well..... not the best start!! And he had a full 5 stage vetting under a month ago!!

I'm sure he will be much less touchy once he is not in pain, but its going to be difficult to treat him if he tries to kill the back man!!
 
Two thoughts: I would personally leave his back well alone until after the 'back man' has been. Continuing to 'test' the sore area isn't going to help, and is just encouraging the kicking in complaint. Secondly, I wouldn't worry too much on the 'back man's' behalf. I am sure he will be very experienced in dealing with protesting horses, including kickers, and will be well able to take care of himself.
I hope he does the trick for your horse, and you will be able to go on with much better success than you have had to start with.
 
the back man should be patient enough to actually be able to treat ur ned.. my lad was done the day before yesterday for the second time and the backman had to dodge his flying feet! he kinda dug him in the ribs (not hard tho) and that stopped him!! good luck with getting ned back on track!
 
Thanks, for the reassurance....

I will give the backman pleanty of warning... I would just feel so guilty if he did kick him, but I guess its one of the hazards of the job!

Fingers crossed.....

Lets hope that its onwards and upwards after this!!
 
Just an idea, but you could put him in a horse box so that he can be worked on from the other side of the partition? This can be useful for horses that squash you against the wall and that kick, stand on your feet etc
 
sure the back man will be used to sharp horses, if major problem he may work around the worse area and come back for the main part once tension from around it relieved. i'd stop prodding the sore area though and keep working on being friendly everywhere else
what sort of horse is it?
 
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