Stretching head and neck downwards? Really need advice please.

[showjump]

Just a little background for you. My mare was jumping to the right over fences, a month earlier she seemed to bang her head in the stable as window panels were missing and she was acting odd. Got vet and he said she was fine!

So got physio 2 weeks ago and she said her left side (mainly neck) was in spasm and quite bad. Which would of caused the jumping pro. Also she was sore behind the saddle on both sides.
She had 3 days off following the treatment.
For the next few days she felt fine, walking out nice and relaxed, and moving much looser.
After that she seemed to want to stretch her head down after about 15 mins of work.

She also did this whilst leading her to the field? In herself she was quieter, didnt gallop off when turned out ect.
Physio came and did another session yesterday, and her neck was much better but back sore in same place again. We explained about the stretching down, and we are all abit stumped as to why she would be doing it?
Her saddle is getting checked on the 29th feb, so till then we are going to lunge in the pessoa.

So has anyone got any ideas as to why shes doing this? I am hopeing it is the saddle, otherwise physio didnt seem to have an answer. Hopeing its nothing more serious? Also is there any chance of it being habit?

Thanks.

 

[Orangehorse]

You have had the physio, but how about a Bowen Therapist. This is very good at treating muscle problems. It does sound as though there is still some problem somewhere.

 

[CBAnglo]

This sounds like a saddle problem, and if she is sore in her back I would try doing gentle exercises with her, stretching the muscles in her back and neck, rather than forcing her into an "outline" using the pessoa (sorry - I really hate that gadget). You say that she has put her head down but is she lifting her back under you or just hollowing and going on the forehand?

Try long lineing her, so that you can get her going straight and encourage her to stretch her neck long and low. As she does and starts working from behind, her back will lift. i would avoid working her on tight circles, as it is obvious that her neck is quite stiff and sore. Is she displaying any lameness in her hind legs? Often we think the horse wont bend at the poll because they do not want to flex/their neck is sore but actually they do not want to take the weight on their inside leg. But I think lots of stretching and in hand work will do wonders before the saddle comes out.

 

[showjump]

What is the difference between physio and bowen? Thanks.

 

[showjump]

Should of said, she is doing stretching exercises using treats twice a day since the first physio visit. The physio was the one who said using the pessoa would help her to stretch down ect. And as you said only large circles. She is on rest now until friday as she will be sore.
No she just seems to just want to stretch downwards as far as poss. She doesnt seem to be hollowing, which is what i would guess she would do if it was the saddle (as thou to get away from any pain there is?)
No she isnt lame at all.
The physio did have a quick look at the saddle on her, and did say (i know she isnt qualified to fit saddles, but more experienced than me!) the saddle didnt no look a bad fit. She also has been wearing a gel pad.

Thanks.

 

[kerilli]

usually they stretch down to release, so i wouldn't worry too much - if it was saddle i'd expect her to raise her head and neck and go hollow, more than stretching down (which raises the back etc into the saddle area, obv.)
i'd let her do it for a minute or two, then gentle encourage her back up again for a while, and use it as a reward.

 

[Petrie]

They tend to stretch down like that when they are tired/sore.
Baby horses do it a lot when they start to get tired, as do horses with sore backs and badly fitting saddles. I'm surprised the physio didn't know that.

If she was having muscle spasms she was most probably holding herself in a certain way, and now she's had her body worked on, she's probably using muscles that weren't working before. She might be tired and sore. The pessoa is really hard work for them.

Perhaps she needs to build up very slowly and gradually, and I would def get a proper saddler out.

 

[showjump]

She was doing when being hacked, as we havent done much else with her due to her poss being sore for a while. Yes saddler is coming next sat.

Physio did say it should be the saddle causing it, however commented that the fit didnt look bad enough to make her back as bad as it was. Hope that makes sense?

She had been treated for back in first session and in yesterdays session mare was as sore in back as last time.

 

[Petrie]

Yes, it's still a sign of tiredness, especially on hacks when they've been carrying you for an hour or so. My young horse was trying to stretch his head right down at the end of our hack yesterday - we didn't go that far, but I think he'd been charging round the field a lot beforehand which could be why he felt tired!

I've also known a couple of horses with kissing spine that would really try to stretch their heads down at the end of a ride.

As for the saddle, it's worth getting a saddle expert out to look at it, even if the physio is saying she thinks it's OK.

 

[showjump]

Yes saddler is coming.

Would she not have been doing it before tho? Or will she be feeling more tired as a result of the treatment she's had?

She starts doing after 15 ish mins?

What are the other symptoms of kissing spines>

Thanks.

 

[CBAnglo]

I would try long reining her. I really dont like the pessoa as it pushes them from behind and as soon as they stretch their neck they get gobbed in the mouth. Try and work her at her own pace and in her own outline and do lots of stretching/in hand work. As you say, the saddler is coming out so that should resolve that potential issue.

 

[htobago]

I would get another proper vet out for a second opinion. Explain the symptoms very clearly, and if poss ride her so vet can actually see what happens.

May sound daft, but I would also get her teeth/mouth checked - this sounds a bit like it could be an evasion - trying to avoid contact cos something is uncomfortable in her mouth.