Topline - How To Build?

[sasquatch]

B has been off work for a little bit, and has been in/out again as he seems to be having phases where he appears fine, then he'll look very stiff or sore. I'm guessing it's the cold weather starting, as he was fine all summer when it was warmer but physio and vet will be coming out asap - due to my hours at college it makes it very hard to be able to find a time that suits us both and I would rather see them for the first time than sharers (and I can't always get down when sharers can)

He's definitely lost a lot of topline, he appears to be starting to look ewe necked which he's never done before, and he's lost a lot of topline along his back and across his hips and bum to the point he looks like he may be starting to get a hunters bump.

I do suspect he is maybe sore in his back, which I'm guessing is contributing as well as not being in ridden work/just lunged for 5-10 minutes to keep him moving (no side reins or bungees etc)

does anyone have any ideas on what to do to help with topline? he has no hardfeed, just haylage which I'm thinking of changing anyway to be able to give him a small amount of chaff and a joint supplement, he is able to live off air and last winter managed on just haylage until we got to the last few bales which were lower quality, so he was started on a small amount of hard feed just to make up for that. He doesn't seem to be losing condition, elsewhere, his coat is lovely and shiny and he seems to be very hydrated (he also still has a bit of a belly from the grass!) and he doesn't look ribby, he was in lovely shape over summer however he has lost a bit of muscle as he hasn't been worked as much and has been on/off for the past 2/3 weeks rather than doing 5/6 days schooling and hacking a week.

His field was also on the side of a hill, so he was doing hillwork over summer as he had to go up and down said hill to be turned in and out, and had to be walking up and down the same hill when he was in the field. Our main hacking was also up/down this hill for the most part!

 

[paddi22]

if he was doing hillwork all summer and still losing topline then i'd be tempted to get his back checked again. Usually it's the hillwork that gives them a nice topline.

what are your sharers like riding? the ewe neck would make me worry he is being ridden incorrectly and developing the wrong muscles which might be causing more soreness and stiffness.

 

[sasquatch]

if he was doing hillwork all summer and still losing topline then i'd be tempted to get his back checked again. Usually it's the hillwork that gives them a nice topline.

what are your sharers like riding? the ewe neck would make me worry he is being ridden incorrectly and developing the wrong muscles which might be causing more soreness and stiffness.

his back was my first thought, he has only started to lose it towards the end of summer and since he's been on/off with work over the past 2/3 weeks. Back man was meant to be out last week as he was doing a few horses, but I couldn't get down due to my college times so I will be trying to get someone else out asap.

Sharers riding wise aren't to bad, but I am wondering if they're encouraging him to work btv too much. He is starting to come down and soften to an outline, but he also has been working very round and engaged through his back without softening. The ewe neck seems to have come more with him losing topline and as his work seems to have deteriorated as well. He did do an intro dressage test two weeks ago, and seemed to be sound and had a lovely, round trot that looked lovely and balanced and he was tracking up nicely, even if his nose was poking out. He is very on/off with his work as there are days he seems fine, then other days he doesn't. He has started to drop btv on occasion, but he isn't asked for it and I don't encourage it from him either. He has never really worked to an outline, but he hasn't ever really looked ewe necked either!

I should probably mention he has a big thick cresty neck, but has had back problems in the past and it was a chiropractor who saw him last year that explained a joint in his hip wasn't releasing properly which may contribute to his odd canter pace, and she also did say his hind end wasn't as big or chunky as she would expect as he is so used to just using his front end. She also said about how he is worse on his left side, and that he seemed to not have as much stretch/seemed stiffer in a back leg but not to a degree of arthritis, just something to keep an eye on. Since he saw her, he seems to be much more comfortable and across all 3 paces he's really improved, as has his jump as well as he seems to be pushing from behind rather than just hurdling fences and getting to a nice, steady, round trot seems to be easier and his canter has come on as well - whilst he still shuffles, he is starting to lift himself a bit more.
The shape of his back end has changed as well, whilst he's much flatter, he actually has build muscle that you can actually see and is very well defined, and the roundness was starting to come as well - before he was just round behind and didn't seem to be as well muscled.

Saddle fit is also a concern of mine, however they seem to be okay atm but I haven't had a saddler out - this is another next point of call but again dependant on my college hours. He has a GP and a jump saddle, the jump saddle I'm not 100% convinced on the fit with so I don't ride in it, whilst the GP seems to be a much better fit and looks to be okay - it was also fitted and adjusted to him and his odd shape when it was tried so it's another one that will be looked at and sorted!

 

[stencilface]

My horse has had lots of leg injuries, but most recently had ddft damage in both fronts and even when his feet were better he wasn't sound. He had muscle wastage and just looked a bit ropey. He's obviously seen lots of vets, a chiro/physio a day had saddles checked. However, when I had a trimmer out for the first time (he's now bf) he said the lameNess issue wasn't in his feet but one his back specifically in his SI. Video showed he was stepping across with one back leg inside and therfore walking completely wonky. New saddle fitter pointed out that neither saddle fit (had them 11 and 7 years) and trimmer recommended work in hand to straighten his action.

3 months on after in hand lessons with a classical style instructor and a new saddle, bought and fitted today, I finally ride him again! At first he was lame in trot. But we kept working him to work his legs and back properly and he became sound.

So I would video his action from in front and behind and watch it in slow motion. And get a second opinion, regardless of how good you think your physio or saddke fitter is. I find every year with horses I learn new things, this year its straightness and in hand work.

 

[sasquatch]

My horse has had lots of leg injuries, but most recently had ddft damage in both fronts and even when his feet were better he wasn't sound. He had muscle wastage and just looked a bit ropey. He's obviously seen lots of vets, a chiro/physio a day had saddles checked. However, when I had a trimmer out for the first time (he's now bf) he said the lameNess issue wasn't in his feet but one his back specifically in his SI. Video showed he was stepping across with one back leg inside and therfore walking completely wonky. New saddle fitter pointed out that neither saddle fit (had them 11 and 7 years) and trimmer recommended work in hand to straighten his action.

3 months on after in hand lessons with a classical style instructor and a new saddle, bought and fitted today, I finally ride him again! At first he was lame in trot. But we kept working him to work his legs and back properly and he became sound.

So I would video his action from in front and behind and watch it in slow motion. And get a second opinion, regardless of how good you think your physio or saddke fitter is. I find every year with horses I learn new things, this year its straightness and in hand work.

I can see when I watch other people riding he's not always 100% on the leg chiro said he's a bit stiff on, however it really seems to vary and sometimes he looks to be 100% and rider will say he feels fine, whilst other times he looks fine and rider says he feels off on one rein or he doesn't look okay and rider can show but it's never to the point of limping/lameness in walk and there's never any noticeable heat in his legs or his feet. Farrier has said he has really good, healthy feet.

I'll try and find a recent photo of him, he normally has a nice round bum from behind even when muscled, and is very flat behind for a cob. It nearly looks as though he is becoming bony behind, rather than a hunters bump, which is odd as he isn't bony elsewhere and is actually right where he should be weight wise. I do think it's the lack of work and possible soreness that has led to the loss in weight.

I may have to get a different physio out than last time depending on who is available so will try and get a second opinion from them! Saddler I'm not as sure on as I did use a master saddler, and would want to get him out again first before someone else as it's my own fault for not getting them checked by anyone in about 2 years!

I will try videoing him though, I know he dishes slightly in front anyway but I'm not sure how he is behind. As his stiff leg is his only leg with any white it also makes it harder to tell as it always looks different too!

 

[stencilface]

Our local master saddler I wouldn't let near my horse with a barge Pole.

The intermittent lameness does sound as if it might be a back/action problem.