Spanish PRE Showing Signs of Back Issues

[Orangedog01]

Just trying to gather information before the vet comes. Has anyone had an imported PRE/Spanish/Andalusian horse that has started showing signs of back problems? Horse has been here a year, is trained up to PSG level, but he is showing signs of discomfort, had back checked, teeth and saddle. When lunged his left hind kind of twists under him before it hits the ground. He's been reluctant to work in an outline when ridden, and hollows when I get on. He has a very slight dipped area behind the saddle but is not sore to touch/manipulation. I had a new saddle fitted 2 weeks ago but no improvement, but I tried a different style saddle and he was like a different horse. Just wondering if there are any common problems with PRE's that I can chat to the vet about. TIA

 

[MagicMelon]

So the different saddle sorted it? I'd say that'd be the issue? I've got a half Luso who was originally very cold backed, he went strange ridden after about a year of using a saddle I'd had pro fitted to him - turned out the saddle never fitted him as it was too long in the seat (17") because he's so short backed like most Iberians I believe. I ended up getting a WOW fitted which had 16" panels for him and a 17" seat for me which sorted him and he was very happy from then on.

 

[sunnyone]

Yes definitely look at the saddle. Spanish saddles are cut differently to ours. The Spanish believe one saddle fits all and it does, but it has to be a Spanish horse wearing it.
I took my part ID to a livery yard in Spain for the winter a few years back. YO loved her and suggested giving her some lessons in medium dressage movements, so I agreed. However he insisted on using his saddle with her. She objected increasingly violently, double barrelling the air when it went on every time. YO tried to insist that she was reluctant to work, NO she did not do that when I used my English one.
Stands to reason horses of different breeds/types need different saddles. Pain can take time to develop too.

 

[Goldenstar]

The twisting you describe I have seen that with hock problem .
I just been through the KS thing my advice would be have a targeted work up done and X-ray the back .
My horse had no symptoms except a vague loss of performance ( he's advanced BE ) and an area of spasm with kept recurring no matter what we did with saddles.
Two vets looked at him and could find no reason to investigate his back further but I went with my gut and asked them to do it anyway , he had six dorsal spines removed I am so glad I asked for that X-ray .