Tight in shoulders/withers

[FelixPatches]

I'm looking for some advice. My rising 7 year old 15.1hh Welsh/TB hasn't been ridden much since Christmas, especially over the last month due to the weather/recent family bereavement. He has been lunged perhaps once or twice a week and ridden on average a further 3 times (but not at all the last week). He goes out in the field every day. I noticed about 4 weeks ago on a hack (when he hadn't dropped as much fitness as now) that he seemed a bit down/sluggish and when we had a little trot he seemed tight in front/choppy strides but not lame (so far as I could tell). Any time I have ridden since that is how he has seemed, certainly at first. I have just focused on stretching in walk and trot, short sessions, and he loosens off but I haven't wanted to do much. My trainer has lunged him just in a headcollar to encourage him to stretch and again she says after initially seeming tight he loosens off and works nicely. She thinks it is coming from his shoulders/withers. He does have a history of tightness there (plus he doesn't like stretching). My physio is coming to see him at the weekend but I wondered if anyone had any thoughts on what it could be/anything else I can do to help? I've changed his rug a few weeks ago as he twitched when I touched his withers and I wondered if his rug was pressing down on his withers, he's now in a high wither rug as opposed to one with a full beck cover. I've been using an equilibrium massage mitt which normally he enjoys but he seems agitated just now when I use it especially on his right side. He is also not standing square, preferring to put his right hind forward. I am worried that it is not stemming from his neck/shoulders but back end (he is muscularly weaker behind on his right side). His field is muddy at the gate and I did wonder if he might have tweaked something haring up and slamming the anchors on, but I would have thought it should have resolved by now. His saddle fits fine. Any thoughts much appreciated, I am awfully worried.

 

[ihatework]

Once your physio has ruled out any muscular problems then I'd say your next port of call would be front feet.
It's amazing how easy it is not to realise a horse has bilateral front feet issues. They appear sound but just little niggly things creep in over time, including choppy action and muscle tightness.
One test you can do is to jog the horse on a 10m concrete circle both reins. That will usually (but not always) highlight foot probs.

 

[old hand]

I would be very concerned about his front feet too, I would not waste to much money on other stuff until that was ruled out. Agree about the lungeing on concrete, do not put any apparent unlevelness down to slipping, sound horses do not slip much, if there looks like any reluctance to keep going or obvious shortening I would call the vet immediately.