Pelvic Mis-allignment and/or Sacrollic injury

[Neptune]

Does any one have experiences of the above?

What signs did your horse show they were uncomfortable? Or are there any typical signs for either?

Horse has been dipping away from grooming brushes around the pelvis area (just in front of) He does not look impressed
every time he is tacked up, head raised and ears back, but just stands still, no true agrression or aggitation shown. He is becoming
more reluctant to take the bit for the bridle to be put on. He is reluctant to stay into the contact and has become a lot more spooky
of late, although it was in his nature previously to be spooky. When jumping he lands dis-united after the fence if the landing side leads into
the corner of the school. He is regularly going dis-united in canter on the lunge. He does not whilst schooling but the canter does not feel
'correct' almost as though he is bunny hopping on the inside hind. But others on the ground have said that he is not lame. He does not wish to
do more collected movements and would rather bowl along on to his forehand. Some schooling sessions go absolutely fine without any problems showing
then other days I may pick up on any of the above.

He took a tumble on the lunge about 3 months ago, silly horse spooked and fell over his own feet! After this is when it all started to be a bit odd. I had a
Chiro out to him a couple of weeks later whom claimed one side of his pelvis was higher than the other. They did their bit and he felt a new horse
afterwards, but he still had the dipping of the back whilst grooming. Then after about a week, he went back to how he was previously. I was noticing
his incorrect canter on the lunge and the dipping of the back mainly.

I gave him a couple of weeks rest from work thinking he had maybe pulled or strained something. During those weeks I bumped into my vet
at my yard whom I grabbed and got him to check the horses back for me. He poked and prodded him (i am sure in his more technical
way than i describe!) and said he had not re-acted to any pain anywhere, so if I was still concerned to continue with the rest a few weeks and then
go from there and continue as normal.

So I did and he came back into work exactly the same as previously. I spoke to a few people on the yard whom suggested a massage / physio type
thing to help release any tight muscles holding the pelvis incorrectly. So he was booked in.

Physio did her work and again the dis-uniting dissapppeared but the dipping of the back when groomed remained. Physio suggested getting my saddle checked
which he is also now booked in for (although it is regulary done every 3-6 months anyway) and he is also re-booked in for a check up appointment in about
another 4 weeks time.

So we continued on and still all the problems remain. He continues to go dis-united after jumping some jumps (although note not always) He doesn't
dis-unite when schooling, but does on the lunge, he is only lunged naked in a headcollar when he does this.

I have left a message for the vet to call me to discuss the above and if he thinks a full lameness work up is required, or any others suggestions he may have,
but note he is not actually lame.

Just wanted to see if anybody else has exeperience of anything similar to I describe?

Sorry for the long essay!
Thanks

 

[Pigeon]

Sounds like what I went through with my little Pip, although there was no injury as such that triggered it. He started to go disunited in canter, but only occasionally, and was also reluctant into the contact. He would find circles, even in trot, disproportionately difficult. I got a lameness work-up done. Vet said he was SLIGHTLY stiff in one hock (he's a sensitive soul!!) and we decided to get his hocks medicated. It made a world of difference, he is a much happier horse, and things I thought were unrelated (he was always a bit tottery downhill, for example) have improved massively. We also started him on an ulcer supplement at the same time, because we had a bag of gastro aid kicking around. I have no idea if this helped too, but whatever it was, it worked!

I was hesitant in getting the work-up done, firstly because he wasn't actually lame, and secondly because I had convinced myself it was something dire and they would tell me he couldn't be ridden any more.

There was no specific injury with him, though it did start happening very rapidly!

I would definitely recommend the lameness work up, just to give you a clearer idea of what you are dealing with.

If it's inconclusive, maybe time off, or maybe physiotherapy. My vet was so lovely and supportive, it was actually a very reassuring experience, so I am sure yours will be able to advise you.