Sore across and around shoulders

LadyGascoyne

LadyGascoyne

Still Fig-uring it out...
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My mares had the physio this morning and Mim was very tight and sore across and around her shoulders, on both sides.

I have made a diagram.

IMG_4512.jpeg

Our best guess is that she's thrown a party in the slippery muddy field and legs have gone off in odd directions but I wondered if anyone has any other suggestions as to what might be causing it?

It's not affecting her gait but she's a very economical mover anyway. She isn't sore to the touch but is tight and uncomfortable to palpate. As the physio pushed her fingers down the shoulder at the edge of the scapula, we had ears back / head bobbing / teeth grinding - which is very clear communication from Mim who is usually the happiest little horse. So it's clearly sore rather than a bit stiff from doing a bit of exercise.

I'm just trying to think of any other motion, bracing etc that might result in those muscle groups being affected. Physio doesn't think saddle but saddle fitter is booked for next week anyway.
 
Sanversera said:
Cold weather.
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I don't know, I think unlikely. It hasn't been terribly cold here and she is used to spending winters out on the top of our hill at home whereas she's nicely tucked up in her stable or a sheltered field where she is at the moment. She's not a terribly cold horse either, she's very well covered 😳 and has a nice coat.
 
One of mine recently presented with this, very sore both sides all through thoracic sling and shoulders, and as it's not a regular occurrence, we think it's where she jumped out of the field (thanks to the hunt thundering past!) which is on the side of a steep hill, and most likely the back end slipped away sideways as left hamstring also sore.

However, if she represents with similar I too would go down the front feet aspect again - as my mare is a bit of a loon in the field at the best of times, I'm hopeful that this is just down to her being a bit over enthusiastic...

Good luck with Mim, and hopefully it's down to the dance moves!
PS Could she have got cast?
 
So no signs of any footy-ness, heat or unsoundness in her fronts but I think I'll get them x-rayed for a foot balance check regardless.

She went on a long slow walk hack yesterday, on a loose rein, and then I got a friend who rides exceptionally well to ride her in walk and trot in the school for me today so I could see her moving properly. She went absolutely beautifully.

What I can see is that she seems to look for contact and then not quite trust it and relax with it, so either bobs her head up or opens her mouth. That's not something she did last year. She seems less open in front but improved throughout the session. She started very short in the neck.

So saddle fitter next week.
X rays to book.
Still possibly a field splat or getting cast.

But she is definitely better today than she was on Thursday, and was happy for me to press around her shoulder without any pain response.
 
LadyGascoyne said:
So no signs of any footy-ness, heat or unsoundness in her fronts but I think I'll get them x-rayed for a foot balance check regardless.

She went on a long slow walk hack yesterday, on a loose rein, and then I got a friend who rides exceptionally well to ride her in walk and trot in the school for me today so I could see her moving properly. She went absolutely beautifully.

What I can see is that she seems to look for contact and then not quite trust it and relax with it, so either bobs her head up or opens her mouth. That's not something she did last year. She seems less open in front but improved throughout the session. She started very short in the neck.

So saddle fitter next week.
X rays to book.
Still possibly a field splat or getting cast.

But she is definitely better today than she was on Thursday, and was happy for me to press around her shoulder without any pain response.
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Before you do that, a 10m circle jog on a hardish/gravelled surface will show up subtle footy/bilateral lameness which can definitely give rise to what you are describing
 
ihatework said:
Before you do that, a 10m circle jog on a hardish/gravelled surface will show up subtle footy/bilateral lameness which can definitely give rise to what you are describing
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We gave this a try and she was sound as a pound but the hardest bit of the yard is very wet. I might have to take her up to the pub parking are like a total loon 🤣


gunnergundog said:
Also, whilst getting a saddle check bear in mind the possibility of over girthing causing thoracic sling/pec issues.
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Very good point!
 
My immediate thought was bilateral front lameness. The less open in front and got better with work sounds very similar to one of ours. The vet was absolutely convinced he was sound as a pound on a hard surface circle and ridden on a surface, but daughter insisted something was off. Nerve blocks showed a massive improvement in stride length and looseness in front. He had slowly stopped moving as well as he used to but it was subtle and only when he was blocked did we realised how much he had shortened his stride. He had always been a lovely mover and was still out doing really well in dressage.
 
I would agree with front hooves and or saddle fit, Arabi would present as choppy and tight infront if his saddle wasn't right, maybe try lunging her to see how she goes without a saddle and rider.
 
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