Next hurdle; Spondylitis?!! Or bad back??

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smanf

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I am really fed up and I wonder if anyone can expand on the advice that I am currently giving myself of just calling the vet? I'll try and keep it short...

I have had my 6yo since November, he is very green and inexperienced. We have started to pick up the pace a bit where work is concerned, but the last couple of times I have ridden him, he has seemed reluctant to move forward when asked to trot (starts walking in practically every direction except for forward and if I really tell him to move on, he kicks a leg out). I suspected that this was him testing the boundaries with me, but also had a niggling feeling that he was trying to tell me something.

So I called a chiro practor out to have a look at him who suggested that he has 'a touch of spondylitis' and to call the vet who will probably give him a cortizone injection. He made light of it and I wasn't too worried, but when I got home and looked spondylitis up, I was horrified to read that the condition is connected to Kissing Spines. So now I am thinking 'Oh great, my horse is *******ed'!

I want to put my mind at rest and get this sorted as it is yet another reason why I can't continue with my boy's education, (I am terrified of hurting him) but I am also concious that calling the vet could result in some epic diagnostic journey, which I am struggling to find feasible, owing to the fact that my boy had a 5 stage done when I bought him, and was not worked hard as a youngster (I know his history).

For another £50, I am toying with the idea of seeing what the back lady that used to do my old boy has to say about it, (whose number I only found, once I had already booked last night's appointment!!)
 
I thought that chiropractors, physios etc had to have vet approval before they could treat a horse :)
Mine would prefer it be run past a vet first if you think there is something*wrong*,as opposed to a regular check up.
Does your vet practice do reduced call out days? I'd rather know what I was dealing with before trying a different therapist I think.
You can always say no if the vet suggests diagnostics :o
 
Milliepops, ok yes, you are right, vet is now booked for Thursday. :o

In the meantime though, what on earth could be going on?
 
My youngster started to do this, He was going like a dream then wham out of no where he just did not want to move forward as would lash out behind.

A change of saddle and the sports physio session sorted him out and npw the problem is gone. the saddle he was in was a dressage and it was fitted to him three times over 6 months but he had just changed shape so much, moved to a GP and massive difference from the word go.

I do hope it is nothing serious and as simple as my boy.
 
Yes, likewise, fingers crossed eh?:)

Sorry, didn't mean to come across as a lecture, only that my friend is a physio and I think she finds it a little frustrating when she is called to see a horse that needs a vet's opinion/skills really before any therapy. Owners end up having to cough up for her visit and vet anyway. Suppose it colours my opinions a bit!:p
 
Oh no, that's fine, I didn't take any offence ;) Milliepops, you are right.

Thanks Ouch05, I hope it is the same scenario but I must admit I have lost the will to live with the saddle business. I bought a saddle off ebay [puts tin hat on] and had a saddler come to see if it was any good. He said yes but that a prolite pad would compensate for any irregularities whilst he is changing shape :rolleyes:

The other day, the yard owner and another girl said "that saddle does NOT fit", with which I had to agree, but who was I to question the saddler? Anyway, YO promptly brought out one of his saddles and plonked it on my boy, and even I could see it was a vast improvement, and the chiro last night said it was a good fit too.

I thought that the problems I am experiencing at the moment could be as a result of the previous saddle not fitting very well and that he might just need a 'tweak' the ensuing revelations however have left me rather surprised and a bit worried. Oh well, fingers crossed that the vet can put my mind at rest :(
 
Ha I feel your pain, The same happened with me. saddler said yes fine just use xyz under it while he fills out:confused: she came again 2 months later and said it was a little long:confused: but did not mention any where else. Got my old saddler back (should not have changed) how put my thorowgood from my other horse on him and he was a changed boy.

defo get the vet check as well just for piece of mind but I noticed a difference pretty much over night.

He to was going like a dream then in the space of a week was pretty much literally going backward.

Would love to know how you get on.
 
Ah thanks Ouch, I have the vet booked tomorrow (need to know now) I am keeping everything crossed that its not horrendous news. Tbh, the more I think about it, the more I think "you WHAT? Rubbish!!" I just hope I am right. Ill let you know...
 
Oh thanks so much, that's really kind of u to ask. The vet straight away went down the muscle route which put my mind at ease and said that anyone who can suggest spondylitis without having done an X-ray must be very gifted! The vet did acupuncture (whether that is a good thing or not, I dunno!) but well see if it works. Might try riding him in a minute :)
 
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