Paddy's got more problems - it's his back now!

Busybusybusy

Busybusybusy

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www.racehorsetoridinghorse.blogspot.co.uk
So Paddy has been down at Rockley for the past 6 weeks for rehab on his feet, which are now changing shape & he is getting slowly more comfortable on different surfaces. He has not been worked since November when he went lame. When I first bought him he was underweight and lacking in muscle & top line. Throughout last year I changed and increased his feed and worked him and he put on quite a bit of weight and his top line was looking much better, however he lost this when he stopped working and I of course had to change his feed regime to one that was much more foot friendly. He did start to put on a little weight, and since he has been at Rockley he has also put on a little more weight, but not to the degree that we were expecting. With this in mind we decided that it might be a good idea to get him scoped for ulcers, although he has never shown any signs that he might have them.
Any way, the vet came to see him and thought that it was not an ulcer problem, but there was something wrong with his back as did the other vet who came with her. The vet has taken some bloods & is going to x ray his back tomorrow. He has never shown any signs that he is uncomfortable, works well when schooled, doesn't buck or do anything untoward when being ridden or mounted, in fact there have never been any signs that there was anything amiss. I had his saddle checked & changed his saddle when he had put on weight as his other one did not fit him any more.

I am worried that trying to rehab his feet & sort his back out might conflict with each other & I can't believe that there is something else major going on & this has thrown me into major turmoil again, just when I thought we were getting somewhere. :(

Does anyone have experience of this or any words of wisdom to offer? :confused:
 
I was told that my girls back pain was due to her compensating for the pain and restricted movement on her feet. I've used acupuncture with great effect on a horse with back pain who I also took barefoot and he is moving better than ever.

They say that the vast majority of horses would show changes to the spine if xrayed, I wouldnt worry too much.
 
Back pain goes hand in hand with other problems as said above they over compensate then as the other issues are treated the back pain is left as a "new" issue, a good physio can usually work to alleviate this I think xrays are probably a bit premature as it is most likely muscular.

I am surprised that Rockley do not have this more frequently one of mine that has had some hoof balance problems was showing poor response to physio which is why we went on to xray his feet, now the feet are sorted his back has not needed so much treatment and his shoulders are now moving more freely so no treatment required on them last time.
 
Paddy does not appear to be in any pain - he just has absolutely no topline. I am hoping the x rays will not show anything drastic & that once his feet are better, he will be able to work better & therefore his topline will improve. My gut instict is to sort feet first and then see what we are left with because as you all say, it could be that he has been compensating for his feet and once this is sorted he will be able to use his back more & will be able to build up more muscle.
 
Busybusybusy said:
Paddy does not appear to be in any pain - he just has absolutely no topline. I am hoping the x rays will not show anything drastic & that once his feet are better, he will be able to work better & therefore his topline will improve. My gut instict is to sort feet first and then see what we are left with because as you all say, it could be that he has been compensating for his feet and once this is sorted he will be able to use his back more & will be able to build up more muscle.
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My girls feet issues were found only because we investigated why she was unable to gain topline, she was fed right and worked right yet she was sooooo weak across her back - the issue was her feet. I have 2 others who since having shoes removed have gained topline they never had in years of work in shoes.... :)

It takes time, they need to learn to move differently and there is always going to be a period of adjustment, most horses that go b/f need some physio to help them adjust. I've read too that quite often they go up a saddle width or so too :)
 
Red's issues do seem similar - she came home from Rockley 2.5 weeks ago and has been getting tighter in her shoulders since then, had physio out & I need to get a new saddle. Seems like you have to go through eliminating one thing after another...

Keep your chin up, I'm sure Paddy will get there, can just seem like one thing after another though...
 
Problems with the feet will often result in an issue with the feet.

Sort the feet out, and (providing it's really not a back 'issue') then his back should improve.

It would all tie in with the inability to put on good muscle over his topline.
 
Nic has a lot of experience of horses that are weak along their top line and agrees that when their feet improve, so do their backs / top line, but paddy appears to have no muscle at all and it is this severe lack of muscle that is not usual. She sent me some pictures of him which are here so you can have a look.

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I am going to see him the weekend after next, and will not have seen him in the flesh 8 weeks by then, so I should be able to clearly see any differences.
 
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