Sore girth area-muscles rather than skin! *a tad long, sorry!*

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kgj66

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My mare started showing signs of being sore last week.
feeling very tight when I got on, swishig tail in agitated way, so dismounted and she proceeded to rear and buck her way down the yard. I had been on Hol the weeek before and she had been turned out-she does tend to throw herself around a bit when turned out so I assumed she had done something when I was away as she was fine when I left.

To make sure it was her back rsther than slight lameness/soreness in limbs i lunged with and without saddle-went berserk with saddle on so phoned Physio rather than vet. I gave her the week off as Physio could only come out on Monday with gentle lunging and turnout, though the lunging resulted in a lot of messing around as she was building up energy !
Anyway, Physio said she was v. Tight through her shoulders and v. sore round her girth, especially right side thus resulting in exploding behaviour, and She had most likely fallen/twisted herself in field. She treated her and said to start back gentle work tomorrow.

Dilemma:she still is v.Touchy when grooming girth area-could this be she is anticipating pain? She is slightly better when being fed carrots, but still not entirely comfortable. I have been trying to groom her lightly and just touch her girth area to try and get her accustomed-I wish they could talk to us! Was thinking put saddle on and girth loosely tomorrow, see her reaction and maybe lunge on thurs gradually tightening it and it she seem ok go from there

Anyway, I'm not really sure what I'm asking-has anyone had a similar thing? And was it righted by Physio?

Since my last horse was misdiagnosed countless times by physios/vets I'm petrified it is kissing spines or something awful!
She is a 4yo TB.
 
It may be that she is expecting the area to hurt, did the physio give you exercises to do and suggest massaging her, which is what I would be doing.
Has the saddle been checked, my physio always likes to see the saddle on and in your case would look at the girth. It could be that her girth is not suitable, elastic on one side or the humane type can cause pressure.
I have a horse that has been girthy from time to time he is now very happy in a leather shaped girth with no elastic.
 
Was thinking it might be girth as it Is elasicated on one side. I have a stud girth which I haven't used but might try. It is elasicated on both sides and would spread pressure a bit more?
Yes I have a few exercises to do with her so hopefully they will work!
 
It is quite easy for them to injure their sternums if they fall in the field, and they can stay quite sore for a while. It can come across as being soft tissue damage but if the soreness continues I would be tempted to have a vet check.

Otherwise just take it easy, the stretches will help relieve any muscle soreness :)
 
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Please get a good vet to look at her.
Ask around for a recommendation (I know you say you have had bad experiences before). Don't be tempted to ride her again until you get a good vet's opinion. Speaking as just had a bad experience of potentially very dangerous 'advice' from a number of 'experts'. Luckily listened to own common sense/intuition and 'knowing the horse', asked around, got a second opinion from another vet. The second opinion has not brought welcome or happy news, but at last correct diagnosis.
 
I dont want to worry you - but my horse has had sore pectorals and shoulders for a few months - physio seeing her every few weeks to ease tightness but still didnt go away - changed girths, etc. Just had a niggly feeling and refered her to specialist - she has 8 touching kissing spines so holding herself tightly everywhere due to the pain - So if it doesnt go away after physio just think about getting back checked - Mine never once bucked, she was girthy and could try to bite on occasion when girthing
 
I find putting lashings of witch hazel and arnica on the sore muscles helps massivley, i would be tempted to not put a saddle on while she is sensitive and would be doing lots of passive stretches. Did the physio get refered from your vet?

Hope she is feeling better soon:)
 
No but she's a Physio that's highly recommended.
Hoping that she is jst anticipating pain, as I can poke away at her when she's eating and she isn't bothered, bt if the stretches etc don't work will def get vet out
 
Allover said:
I find putting lashings of witch hazel and arnica on the sore muscles helps massively.
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Really? Even though there is a huge amount of scientific evidence showing they have no effect above placebo?

Kgj - but surely you had your vets permission to get the physio out anyway? Otherwise they were acting illegally.
 
I'm in NI. I don't know how it works in England but we don't have to have vets permission to get Physio? To be fair over here, or whanyway my area anyway vets don't like physios and vice versa! They rarely recommend eachother! And I work on a yard so i know nearly every vet in the area(about 6 of them) and they're all the same!
I lunged her today without tack and although the rearing and tail swishing was gone she was bucking going into right canter,unless she rushed into it, I.e not using her back end properly so I'm taking her to vet at weekend to get her checked out! Fingers crossed!
Thanks for all your replies :)
 
rhino said:
Really? Even though there is a huge amount of scientific evidence showing they have no effect above placebo?
Click to expand...

Yes, i use it a lot. Science scmience IMO, i see a difference on the animals i use it on and would always use it on soft tissue injuries!!:)

Do you use sports/muscle gels on yourself?
 
Allover said:
Yes, i use it a lot. Science scmience IMO, i see a difference on the animals i use it on and would always use it on soft tissue injuries!!:)

Do you use sports/muscle gels on yourself?
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No! :D I would consider using ones containing substances with proven efficacy, such as ibuprofen though. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has recently reclassified arnica as an unsafe herb due to the level of adverse effects reported.
 
rhino said:
No! :D I would consider using ones containing substances with proven efficacy, such as ibuprofen though. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has recently reclassified arnica as an unsafe herb due to the level of adverse effects reported.
Click to expand...

I will be interested to see if the FEI bans it, Arnica is used a lot on SJ horses and a lot of comp vets recommend it, both orally and topically, on a regular basis.

As i said before, the horses in my care will be the ones to tell me if something works or not:)
 
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