Symptoms of a prior wither injury?

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Christmas Crumpet

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Just wondered whether anyone had any experience of horses with withers injuries?

My new horse is an ex racehorse and we've been slowly unravelling all the previous damage done to him. He's had his teeth done, back done twice (physio really pleased with him second time and he's due in another 3 weeks) and got a saddle that fits him perfectly.

However, he is still doing this odd thing of lifting his head quite high and turning it to the right when we trot (usually up hills). I tried to canter him up a steepish hill yesterday and he found it very hard work. I've started riding him in spurs and giving him a kick when he starts doing it and he then trots on - I originally assumed it was an evasion tactic because he's not used to trotting up hills etc. We've done tons of walking up hills - a good brisk walk and he's fine. He's got a great canter on the flat and slight inclines but sometimes finds it hard up steeper hills. He's obviously not used to trotting either - I think he either walked, cantered or galloped in training so have given him allowances for that. He doesn't do anything nasty at all when being made to trot that would indicate he's in pain but he's such a sweet horse that perhaps it might not be in his nature.

I just wondered whether it might be his wither hurting and whether a previous injury would cause these symptoms. I have also noticed his wither is not smooth but seems to have 3 bony lumps on it (in a straight line - bit like vertebra).

Sorry if this all sounds jumbled but am trying to describe everything I can!!
 
Horses in training do lots of trotting, many yards have indoor trotting barns and they are used for warming up before heading off to gallops. The horse I have seen with fracture withers have very noticable odd shape withers, your horse may just have a schooling issues, he may be finding it hard work so he is trying evade you
 
I hope it is just a schooling issue!! He's going for his first lesson tomorrow and my instructor is riding him to see how he feels etc. Fingers crossed.

He is pretty much ok trotting on the flat just not up hills or cantering up hills which is why I wondered whether it would be his wither hurting. He's pretty fit as well so shouldn't find it hard. The thing is he would have had to canter up the gallops which at the yard he was at are up a steep hill. if only horses could talk.
 
What is like trotting/cantering down hill, if his withers were sore then cantering down hill would be a major prob, he his probably using different muscles so finding it hard.

what was his racing name?
 
Both trotting and cantering down hills are awful too. It feels a bit like his back legs are going too fast for his front legs and it all gets in a tangle. He definately does NOT feel comfortable or remotely balanced going faster than a walk down a hill. I know there is something not quite right because I know when a horse feels right and wrong. Our hunters we trot up and down all our hills and they are fine.
 
He sounds terribly unbalanced to me - rather than perhaps having a problem. And at this stage I would avoid at all costs doing a pace any faster than walk downhil.

Remember the training a horse has in racing is quite unlike what we would do regularly. I think I'm right in saying that they will basically either walk, canter or gallop. And whilst they may do their fast work on an incline - it probably won't be that steep.

You heard of the phrase 'retraining a race horse' and I think that's the mind set you probably need to have with your new horse.

Back to basics, take it slowly and allow the horse to adjust to a different training regiment.
 
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However, he is still doing this odd thing of lifting his head quite high and turning it to the right when we trot (usually up hills).


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My mare does this too - although its not confined to just hill work. Strangely she doesnt do it if she is ridden in a Dr Cooks bridle, only in a bitted bridle (her teeth have been checked, although she does have a very slight overbite). Sorry - that doesnt really help you much, does it?
 
I love the term "terribly unbalanced". I couldn't put it any better myself!!

This is why I love this forum - usually someone on here will have had the same problem or question that you do which makes you feel so much better!!

I've got him a full cheek Happy Mouth with a peanut in the middle and am hoping he enjoys that. Have tried tons of bits - different variations of snaffles and he's best in a full cheek. He likes mouthing the bit and isn't strong so thought I'd try this next.

He's got his first lesson tomorrow night and I have a feeling "lots of lunging" is going to be suggested.

He's such a star and I just want him to be happy all the time!
 
Hi My horse fell over backwards and broke lots of bones in his withers but now 8 years on he has had no problems at all !!(just 6 months off) It might be a good idea to get someone to check him out, I use a fab person i can PM the number if you like, i think i am local to you.
 
My friend bought a horse about 4 or 5 years ago. He was lovely and had the biggest trot I had ever seen, but had his head in the air and was very uncomfortable.

He had come from a dealer and presumed he had had a hard time and was unfit.

fast forward 4 years. He was in the field playing with the other horses, came in lame went to the horsepital where is was found he had previously fractured his withers, the top pieces of bone. It was an old injury which he had before my friend bought him, but it explained everything. The lameness was a muscle spasm caused by the old fractures.

So after a long and lenthy explanation, I would suggest having this investigated if you can.
 
I am taking him for a lesson tonight and where my lesson is is also my vet's so will ask my vet tonight what he thinks. However, when the vet was looking at another horse a month or two back I got him to have a look at him and pointed out his withers and said he didn't think there was anything wrong with them. I guess a quick xray would answer that question!!
 
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