Hollyanna
Well-Known Member
Help / advice needed regarding shoulder stiffness/ stuffy in front..
About a year and a half ago my horse started to seem tight in one shoulder, taking a shorter step in front when this leg was on the outside. He didn't look lame to others but made him look tense. He feels stuffy in front (whereas he never used to be, but it crept up over a period of time) and he definitely takes a shorter step when that leg is on the outside and has to travel further (its not very noticeable to others, i can feel it but when i point it out people on the floor see it the odd time). I also feel it when that leg has to cross over in leg yield. He also used to do a fabulous medium trot but now its more medium shuffle!!
I got the vet up about a year ago and told him to find out what was wrong. He flexion tested him and told me he couldn't find anything wrong and that he would pass a vetting. At this time we didn't have access to a school, but he suggested to keep working to see if it got better or worse. It pretty much stayed the same.
For various reasons he had 6 months off, so I figured, if there was any lingering injuries it would hopefully give him chance to rest and recoup. I slowly brought him back into work, however low and behold he is still the same. So I have recently begun eliminating items one by one.
1. It is not the saddle - still does it with me riding bareback and I have had saddle checked.
2. It is not a sore back - I have had his back done (both massage and chiro) and saddle checked and he still does it on lunge with no rider or equipment on (although it is only the odd step, and you have to really look for it like when i ride him).
3. Massage lady says he has some tight muscles in his shoulder, so I have been massaging and following the regime she has given me. He does seem a little better and I am hopeful. The massage lady said it could be habit and that it might take him a while to get back to normal (I wonder if at all?), which worries me a little.
Just wondering if anyone has any similar stories like this and what they found / what the outcome was? He isn't lame, but he definitely isnt right. I really don't want to start nerve blocking unless I have to and want to eliminate all of the obvious things before we go down this route with the vet.
Many thanks!!
About a year and a half ago my horse started to seem tight in one shoulder, taking a shorter step in front when this leg was on the outside. He didn't look lame to others but made him look tense. He feels stuffy in front (whereas he never used to be, but it crept up over a period of time) and he definitely takes a shorter step when that leg is on the outside and has to travel further (its not very noticeable to others, i can feel it but when i point it out people on the floor see it the odd time). I also feel it when that leg has to cross over in leg yield. He also used to do a fabulous medium trot but now its more medium shuffle!!
I got the vet up about a year ago and told him to find out what was wrong. He flexion tested him and told me he couldn't find anything wrong and that he would pass a vetting. At this time we didn't have access to a school, but he suggested to keep working to see if it got better or worse. It pretty much stayed the same.
For various reasons he had 6 months off, so I figured, if there was any lingering injuries it would hopefully give him chance to rest and recoup. I slowly brought him back into work, however low and behold he is still the same. So I have recently begun eliminating items one by one.
1. It is not the saddle - still does it with me riding bareback and I have had saddle checked.
2. It is not a sore back - I have had his back done (both massage and chiro) and saddle checked and he still does it on lunge with no rider or equipment on (although it is only the odd step, and you have to really look for it like when i ride him).
3. Massage lady says he has some tight muscles in his shoulder, so I have been massaging and following the regime she has given me. He does seem a little better and I am hopeful. The massage lady said it could be habit and that it might take him a while to get back to normal (I wonder if at all?), which worries me a little.
Just wondering if anyone has any similar stories like this and what they found / what the outcome was? He isn't lame, but he definitely isnt right. I really don't want to start nerve blocking unless I have to and want to eliminate all of the obvious things before we go down this route with the vet.
Many thanks!!