Sore withers after accident, but owner can't see it! WWYD?

[Fools Motto]

Yesterday one of the horses had a nasty accident involving a rug. She is turned out at night, with rug with 2 other horses. I catch them in at about 9.30am. They had been seen at 7am, all fine. When I got there, she was standing alone, with the remains of the rug in an apron around her neck, with the front chest straps digging into the top of her withers. I obviously took the rug off, and she walked away sound. She has several small superficial wounds to her hind legs, and a few grazes on the outside of her front fetlocks. She had also obviously done a somersault as the front of her 'blaze; (she is grey) was very green- grass stained and had a few very minor skin scrapes, as was her now exposed hips. One wound at the top of her hind leg, although very small was very deep. I treated all the wounds and cleaned them up, but expressed my concern to her owner about her withers. I knew she would be sore. She told me not to worry, and to take her out for a ride. Tacking her up I felt awful. She was so sore she tried to bite me - very unusual, cow kicked and generally fidgeting. Everytime i even attempted to alter the poly-pad or sort out the mane, I felt she was a ticking time bomb.
She was however very good to let me get on, and although 'more yanking' during the ride, it went without problems.
I've told the owner everything, and yet it seems of no concern to her.
Today she wasn't ridden, and I felt relieved for her!

How would you handle it from here? Carry on as normal, or keep making noises about how sore she is?


PS- have I spelt 'withers' right? Does it have an H in it?

 

[AmyMay]

Tell the owner how unhappy she was to be ridden. And then refuse to ride her until she was recovered.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I don't really know what to say. I would have refused to ride her and suggested that the owner got her checked out by the Vet.

I think that you need to talk to the owner again, but sadly it seems like she's not open to the idea that her mare might be hurt. This must be so frustrating and upsetting for you.

Was it windy in your area this morning? Did the rug have leg straps or a fillet string?

 

[shampain]

Are you paid to ride this horse or sharing/loaning/some other arrangement, etc?
To be honest, if a horse that I was riding was in pain/feeling sore and evidently unhappy being ridden, then I probably wouldn't ride, regardless of what the owner says. Personally I'd give her a good few days off as she'll likely be sore and a bit bruised. If she still hasn't improved after a couple of days rest, then worth getting her checked over.

 

[ROMANY 1959]

I have to ask why you rode when she was in some discomfort? Could you not have walked in hand with her just in case she was a little stiff.. Put some alo Vera on wounds, it helps sooth soreness. What a thoughtless owner also.