osteopath out

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showqa

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Had the osteopath out, and it was found that my horse has some misalighment in his spine which is sort of a back to front "s" from poll to tail. Also some tightness in his shoulders and wither (although this as a result of the curves in the spine). Osteo is not overly worried - said that with a few treatments and 6 monthly top ups he will be fine, but just wondering if any of your horses have had the same and if so, what sort of thing did you do to try and help it along? Thanks.
 
When I bought one of my Arab mares (Very cheap as a rescue case) She was out from poll
to dock. I had a chiropractor out twice to deal with the problem.

After that I used a Pessoa twice a week, did a lot of passive stretching and massage to help the muscles to relax.

When ridden I did shoulder in and half passes to make her bend and also rode her on a long rein after exercise again to get her to stretch her back.

She is checked by my Chiropractor every six months or more frequently is I feel she needs it. Before a major competition I sometimes get her checked too.

All my horses get a six month check anyway.
 
Pauline - that's really useful info. Thanks for that.

Have you found that it has inhibited her progress in any way?
 
not at all.

She is a mare that never complains. The only thing that has been noticeable was that last year she had a virus and semi tyed up down on Exmoor (GHS) and traveling home she slipped in the trailer.

At the beginning of the year she started to throw herself around the trailer (Although competed well) My Chiropractor came and again she was out from Poll to Dock. She was treated twice within 3 weeks.

This year she completed the 160k class at the GHS, came 2nd in a 100k Race Ride and was part of the team at this years Home Internationals at the Red Dragon (Endurance Ride at the Royal Welsh Show Ground) where she did 80k race on the Saturday and a 40k CR on the Sunday coming 4th overall.

She is 17 years old
 
Well as I understand it, whereas the natural shape of the horses back is a gentle banana - like curve in one direction or another, with each vertebra following that curve smoothly, when it's "out" then some of those vertebra have become misaligned. In the case of my horse, it's up around his ears and also towards his tail, creating two kinks in the banana shape.

This can be caused through trauma, maybe slipping and saving themselves but wrenching their backs in the process, it can be through a vigorous roll or buck, it can be through long term use of a poor saddle, it can simply be conformational (like humans - some have weaker backs that others).
 
Pauline H, you have put my mind at rest there. Your horse sounds amazing frankly!

The osteo that came out is very well respected nd works with some very high profile horses, and certainly, he wasn't unduly concerned. Trouble is I then become my own worst enemy by thinking this, that and the other!
 
showqa

This is my mare

CrystalattheHomeInternationals.jpg
 
My horse is very out from poll to dock and slightly out in the pelvis - this is a very obvious reason behind why she is happiest in trot on the left rein and canter on the right.
 
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