Roach back

[Sakuragirl20]

Hi I tried an ex racer which I fell in love with at the weekend.
However he has roach back. I think only slight, he hasn’t got much muscle because he’s only been ridden once a week by the owner, so I think it may look worse than it is.

He is 11 would problems have arose if he had any with his back by now?

 

[millitiger]

I had a horse with a roach back, never any issues.
As a conformational fault, I actually don't think I lt is known as a weakness really, more cosmetic.

 

[sbloom]

A roached back isn't usually conformation, despite what's been taught in the past. It's nearly always a movement/posture issue and is common in racehorses who have moved on the forehand, by definition, and on a large circle, for much of their lives. Do you have a really knowledgeable trainer or bodyworker, one who really looks at correct movement in the horse, who could look at photos for you?

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I used to help with exercising a TB hunter who was an ex-racer. He had a roach back. Lovely ride and a an exceptionally sound tough horse.

 

[Sakuragirl20]

horse – Google Drive

drive.google.com

This was him, and me riding at the weekend.

 

[Sakuragirl20]

A roached back isn't usually conformation, despite what's been taught in the past. It's nearly always a movement/posture issue and is common in racehorses who have moved on the forehand, by definition, and on a large circle, for much of their lives. Do you have a really knowledgeable trainer or bodyworker, one who really looks at correct movement in the horse, who could look at photos for you?

I do, she has said it is just a risk really as pure conformational roach back is rare and is usually caused by pain. However the horse never really shown any signs of pain at all when I rode him

 

[Sakuragirl20]

I used to help with exercising a TB hunter who was an ex-racer. He had a roach back. Lovely ride and a an exceptionally sound tough horse.

He is an ex hunter, it would be weird if it was the same one!

 

[Cortez]

A roached back isn't usually conformation, despite what's been taught in the past. It's nearly always a movement/posture issue and is common in racehorses who have moved on the forehand, by definition, and on a large circle, for much of their lives. Do you have a really knowledgeable trainer or bodyworker, one who really looks at correct movement in the horse, who could look at photos for you?

Really? That sounds interesting, do you have any info on studies that show this? I've trained two or three roach backed horses, one of which we bred, so deffo conformation, the other two (or one, can't remember now), were only around four years old, so unlikely to be caused by training. None ever had problems, our homebred was a very tough, sound horse all his life, and competed at PSG.

 

[Sakuragirl20]

Really? That sounds interesting, do you have any info on studies that show this? I've trained two or three roach backed horses, one of which we bred, so deffo conformation, the other two (or one, can't remember now), were only around four years old, so unlikely to be caused by training. None ever had problems, our homebred was a very tough, sound horse all his life, and competed at PSG.

If you could take a look at my picture and video that would be great! As ive never dealt with this before

 

[Cortez]

If you could take a look at my picture and video that would be great! As ive never dealt with this before

If that horse was properly muscled up you'd hardly notice the back. It wouldn't put me off buying him, and I'm sure you know that he needs to learn to go in a much better shape and carrying himself properly.

 

[Sakuragirl20]

If that horse was properly muscled up you'd hardly notice the back. It wouldn't put me off buying him, and I'm sure you know that he needs to learn to go in a much better shape and carrying himself properly.

would you get a vetting to have a look at him

 

[sbloom]

Really? That sounds interesting, do you have any info on studies that show this? I've trained two or three roach backed horses, one of which we bred, so deffo conformation, the other two (or one, can't remember now), were only around four years old, so unlikely to be caused by training. None ever had problems, our homebred was a very tough, sound horse all his life, and competed at PSG.

Speaking from experience and the reading I've done over the years, I can't remember the last customer's horse I saw that had congenital roaching but I see plenty that either have the hump and dip or just a spine starting to push up in the lumbar area. I don't have figures, and may be overstating in which case, apologies, but I barely see them.

The video is pretty fuzzy to be able to see much, but as per your response, it's part of the whole topline thing, and whether it would be good to take on a horse showing this would be down to the rider's ability to put topline on the horse, barring other issues that might be underlying. This is a useful post https://www.facebook.com/6171639917...by-excessive-flexion-of-the/1325551324214857/.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

He is an ex hunter, it would be weird if it was the same one!

Not possible, he is long dead at a good age.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Hi I tried an ex racer which I fell in love with at the weekend.
However he has roach back. I think only slight, he hasn’t got much muscle because he’s only been ridden once a week by the owner, so I think it may look worse than it is.

He is 11 would problems have arose if he had any with his back by now?

It wouldn’t put me off but he will become a lot better muscled with work and it will be hardly noticeable

 

[VRIN]

abloom - what do you mean by a spine starting to push up in the lumbar region? And is this a problem?

 

[Cortez]

would you get a vetting to have a look at him

Not because of the back, no. I don't generally vet horses that are inexpensive, but I have a lot of experience and don't insure either.