Some horses just have bad backs?

[Skhosu]

What do you think to this? Sisters mare had physio again today, had a bad back around 6-8 months ago, then again in the last week or two. She is slightly cold backed naturally. It seems to come on quite suddenly i.e one day she'll be fine, then it will be sore the next day and will get worse from there. Physio(very good) reckons she just is that sort of a mare (sods law????)
Anyone else have a horse like this?
Only thing that worries me is that it has flared up as sister about to do b test (so is missing it ) but am wondering is it in a reaction to more work?
Same mare had big problems xcing last year and then sorted her back and was better, although she is an opinionated thing anyway..
Apart from 6 monthly check ups, stretches etc. there's not much we can do really is there?

 

[Theresa_F]

Yes. Fleur was very touchy with her Sacroiliac area and got worse despite hundreds spent on treatment. She is a big mare - WB and slightly long backed - prone to weakness in this area. She was also very talented and not an easy mare to ride. In the end she became a broodmare - throws super foals and is a very happy mum.

Chancer on the other hand is a sturdy gypsy cob and my physio has said subject to having an accident with the way his back and pelvis are put together he should never have problems.

I have him checked every year and have done so since he was 2 - just to make sure all is well.

 

[Flame_]

Sorry, you probably already know this but I'll write it anyway in case you don't! Recurrent back problem could be due to rider, saddle, horse compensating for physical problem elsewhere - e.g. low grade lameness, or horse may be particularly talented at twisting itself into ridiculous positions in the field!

 

[Hullabaloo]

My horse is prone to back problems and I ended up getting a referral to a specialist. After having his back x-rayed and scanned we were able to rule out bone & ligament problems. The vet gave me a lunging programme to do with him over 12 weeks which improved him a lot but I do still have to do it regularly and lunge him before I get on otherwise he starts having problems again.

After saying all that, I guess the answer to your question would be unfortunately yes!

 

[Skhosu]

Her rider has a slight right twist, but it is a general thing, and behind the saddle rather than under it! Saddle was prof. fitted and is probably due checked but was checked last time and no problems.
Glad to hear others are just not good backs

 

[MagicMo]

I'm afraid I think yes as well. My welshie has always been prone to problems, when I got him his back was in a really bad way after having ill fitting saddles and heavy riders.
He needed quite a bit of sorting out to start with.

As his muscles have built up correctly he gets problems less frequently, but at 20 he still manages to fall over in the field with alarming frequency as he can't resist galloping about like a loonatic. Sadly he never appears to learn from his mistakes.

I once saw him skid to a halt from a gallop and summersault right over, very scary to see. Fortunately he just put his back out and din't actually break anything. Unfortunately I can't stop him acting a fool so I just have to pay to get him fixed

 

[kerilli]

yes, i think some are naturally weaker through their backs (due to conformation in a lot of cases obv), some have looser ligaments, some have a lower pain threshold/tolerance level, simple as that. also, some mares are terribly affected by their seasons, others don't show or seem to feel them at all.
just like people really - some people will soldier on and cope with anything while others don't manage so well, i guess. and what one person will call an ambulance for immediately, another will grit their teeth through for weeks...

 

[Stoxx]

I think some horses are prone to back issues due to conformation, limbs not moving correctly etc etc, I wouldn't say that they just have bad backs, if you know what I mean - which I think is what you mean too

.
My horse has a dipped back and always has therefore making it hard for him to really let go of his back and work through from behind, but with work he has got better. Also he moves his right hind slightly diagonally across himself (as I think the leg maybe on slightly wonkey

) and therefore has to compensate somewhere, so he generally gets tight through his left back and right shoulder.
My physio comes out to see him when I can feel in his work that he is struggling to stretch through that right shoulder, so therefore he becomes stiff to the left. That normally is every 2-3 months depending on his level of work.
It doesn't surprise me that the horse you speak of is a little sore when her work is upped as obviously it's harder on her muscles and will show up any little soreness issues that might have been underlying for a while.

My only advice would be to have her checked more often so that small areas of soreness don't progress and become worse, that's what works for my boy! Good luck!