Stiffness or more?

StarlightMagic

StarlightMagic

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7 February 2011
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My boy started kicking out and not being willing to go forward last Thursday. Saddle was professionally fitted on the Tuesday. No obvious injurys, still willing out hacking. Only in the school when he is pushed to go forward a little more he is kicking out and being unwilling.

This is out of character, I've had him for 3 years and he's NEVER kicked out. The leg he is displaying symptoms in most has a capped hock which he did upon being imported (over 3 years ago). He has mostly been used to hack with a little schooling and jumping (less than once a week for a few months).

I lunged him today with no tack on at all, and when asked to go into a faster canter he kicked out and then started to bunny hop with his hind legs, he has never done this either. Tomorrow I have someone coming out to check over his back and hindquarters for any muscular stiffness as he is not lame and still forward in a straight line out on the road.

My main concern is could he have some underlying hock damage, done at the time he capped it which is only coming out now his workload is increased and we are asking more of him? If there is no improvement with rest then I will be getting the vet but if its just muscular and hes a bit stiff (maybe had a hooley in the field?) then I want to give him sometime for it to settle.

Anyone able to help at all? Any suggestions welcome.
 
hopefully the back person you have coming out can shed a bit more light on it. Perhaps ask her/him to watch your horse work in the school as it may show them a little more as to what is going on and give them some more clues as to whether you need further investigations doing. It could easily be the hock but seems a bit of a coincidence that this has all just started after a change of saddle. If nothing is spotted then perhaps get your saddle fitter back out to recheck the saddle. One thing to note is if the saddle was fitted with a thin numnah and perhaps you are using a thicker one then it could be pinching maybe. If the back person is concerned there is an issue with hock or something else they will recommend you contact your vet as they will give the vet a report on their findings anyway.
 
It seems to tie in with the new saddle, that would be the obvious place to start, getting the back checked may show something get the physio to look at the saddle, if nothing shows then vet would be the next step, it is unlikely that a capped hock will be causing issues as it is usually no more than a blemish and just swelling under the skin.
 
Thank you, my instructor has said to investigate all possibilities before we put it down to him remembering a saddle pinching before (never behaved badly in anything but could be?) or just him trying to get out of working hard. I use the thinnest numnahs possible and it was fitted with that. Vet will be my next port of call.
 
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