Sore Spot on my TBs Back - Worried.

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NaughtyMagpie

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I've owned my 16.3hh 8yo ex P2P TB gelding for about 3 months now & over the last three weeks or so he's been getting steadily worse, first with saddling up, then bridle & now getting on & riding.

He's always been a bit sensitive when girthing up, I assumed this was because he was quite soft, having been out of work for 6 months or so. This is now turning into far more severe "cow kicking", tail swishing & ears back. He never goes to bite - so far.
As soon as I walk towards him with the saddle, his face literally drops & he's not happy at all.
This went on for 3 days. Prior to this he was happy enough, good in the school & had good movement when I rode him. Then overnight he has changed & when I finally do get on him, he's very short in trot (ok in walk) & bucks when asking for canter. I've been working him on the lunge since, for about 10-15 minutes every other day & he has no problem with this. However, it's visible on his right hind that he's twisting it in a little when on the right rein.
Touching his back he's okay until you come to his right buttock just behind his hip & then the tail swishing starts! So there's obviously a very sore spot. It's about two hands width from the back of the saddle.

My instructor has recommended a back person (Lesley Bayley), who is coming out on the 12th Feb & I'm pretty much leaving him alone as regards riding/exercise until then. He's not lame & when let go in his field he charges off leaping, bucking & snorting the same as ever.

Another thing I've noticed is that he won't let me pick up his left hind foot to pick it out, as if he simply can't put his weight on the sore right side.

He was shod on 9th Jan & had jabs & teeth rasped on the 15th Jan. His saddle is a £100 secondhand synthetic saddle (17.5 med width) that my instructor isn't too worried about - though he has muscled up quite a bit in the 3 months I've had him.

He's an extremely friendly TB & this behaviour has got me really worried. Can any of you suggest anything? Had anything similar?
Any advice would be great & if I've not included any details, let me know!

Hannah.
 
Yep - my boy receives regular treatment and therapy on his back.

You're doing the right thing by not working him until he is seen IMO. Do make sure you have your tack with you when the back lady comes - as she will want to see the saddle on his back.
 
You're right to get his back checked. The saddle might well be causing problems now he's muscled up a bit and from what you describe he might have sacro-illiac pain, which he could well have done goofing around in the field. Hope he gets better soon!
smile.gif
 
Thanks for the advice, the vet did have a little look at him when he cam & rasped his teeth, it wasn't a full examination as it wasn't quite that bad/serious a couple of weeks ago. He said to get the back expert out if it got worse. I mentioned about saddle fitting but he was of the school that believes that saddles will fit a variety of horses & to put a thick pad underneath. I went out & purchased a beautiful lambswool half saddle pad & it was after trying this out that he started bucking! Don't know whether this was a coincidence or not.
 
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I went out & purchased a beautiful lambswool half saddle pad & it was after trying this out that he started bucking!

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Exactly the same thing happened with my horse - the half pad was moving quite a bit, and causing him to get sore again. I don't use it any more.
 
That vet wants shooting for his appalling level of ignorance. I suspect there is your problem. Putting a thick pad under the saddle was possible the worst think you could do. I would imagine that the saddle was probably not a bad fit but as your horse has started to work and use his muscles he has widened out so the saddle is possibly too narrow - the thick pad will make a tight saddle too tight causing bridging touching at the front and back and nothing in the middle - that will cause serious back problems and can cause fore limb lameness.

Think about it in this light - if your shoes were too tight and someone said you can make them more comfortable with a really thick pair of socks you would be gobsmacked by their stupidity. I wouldn't bother with this vet - he has no idea.
 
hear hear, bosworth.
my first thought after reading the original post was "saddle". it really is so important that it fits and is soft-flocked underneath ideally (i don't know a lot about synthetics, most of the ones i've seen have seemed very hard underneath). if the horse looks miserable when you walk towards him carrying his saddle, he is telling you something.
i would get a good saddle fitter out and see what they say, after the back lady has done her stuff.
 
A good saddle fitter will definitely be my next port of call. My synthetic saddle is quite hard underneath & it wouldn't surprise me if that is the root of the problem.

Dying to start riding him again, it's only been about a week & I miss riding! I hope it's not too serious.
 
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