Ziggy_
Well-Known Member
My mare had last winter off work due to lack of time and facilities. When I started riding her again in spring she wasn't quite 'right'. Unfortunately her routine changed a lot over the summer (moved yards several times, sharer came and went etc) so I put the difference down to this and didn't get it checked until the end of the summer, when I realised she still wasn't right and I called the physio.
The physio came in September and said that her neck, back and shoulders were in pretty good shape but she had some tightness around her hindquarters and this had lead to one sore spot on the right side of her back as well (her right side is her stiffer side). She was treated accordingly and has been much, much better since, working properly again and really beginning to muscle up correctly. The physio said there could be various reasons why the problem started - perhaps she was stiff and sore from the time off (she has arthritic hocks) perhaps I moved too quickly when I brought her back into work resulting in fatigue, etc etc.
Fast forward to last week - I wrote my car off and relying on public transport I haven't had time to ride, the weathers been atrocious so she's been stabled several days too. Two days ago I hacked out, just roadwork in walk and today I gave her a little lunge and she had a massive hooley. Once she settled I realised she seemed to have become very tight in her neck and back on the right rein, which is exactly how the problem started last time.
Obviously I don't want a repeat of last time - I don't want to try to 'work her through it' and risk making the problem worse - and I have no idea whether the problem is stiffness, she pulled something on the lunge or what. I'm intending to ring the physio for advice and will book an appointment if necessary but I'd like to know what you guys think and what you would do if it was your horse. Any opinions welcomed.
The physio came in September and said that her neck, back and shoulders were in pretty good shape but she had some tightness around her hindquarters and this had lead to one sore spot on the right side of her back as well (her right side is her stiffer side). She was treated accordingly and has been much, much better since, working properly again and really beginning to muscle up correctly. The physio said there could be various reasons why the problem started - perhaps she was stiff and sore from the time off (she has arthritic hocks) perhaps I moved too quickly when I brought her back into work resulting in fatigue, etc etc.
Fast forward to last week - I wrote my car off and relying on public transport I haven't had time to ride, the weathers been atrocious so she's been stabled several days too. Two days ago I hacked out, just roadwork in walk and today I gave her a little lunge and she had a massive hooley. Once she settled I realised she seemed to have become very tight in her neck and back on the right rein, which is exactly how the problem started last time.
Obviously I don't want a repeat of last time - I don't want to try to 'work her through it' and risk making the problem worse - and I have no idea whether the problem is stiffness, she pulled something on the lunge or what. I'm intending to ring the physio for advice and will book an appointment if necessary but I'd like to know what you guys think and what you would do if it was your horse. Any opinions welcomed.
