Under-developed top line resulting in back discomfort

[DEB2701]

I have a 5 year old mare who is quite weak as she is just in from a long break. She can get quite uncomfortable under saddle and will buck and kick out. Vet checked her for lameness and took X-rays for legs and back which were clean. Physio said she is quite tight in her back behind the saddle. Mare is reluctant to move forward. Im wondering if her weak top line is causing her the discomfort as I have had saddler physio and vet look at her and she is in proper fitting tack.

 

[rara007]

Or is the discomfort preventing her developing a topline…?

 

[stangs]

^ is what I’d be thinking too. Pain/discomfort under saddle means horse will hollow, not use their hinds, then get stiffer and exasperate the problem.

Your physio should have given you some suppleness exercises to do with her, and I’m wondering whether you might need a second opinion on the saddle.

 

[ycbm]

It sounds like the mare has an issue but the vet hasn't found it. Was her neck x rayed and SI mobility checked out?

If she is bucking and kicking it also sounds as if she shouldn't be being ridden until she has strengthened her core and improved her top line. I would have expected your physio to have given you in hand exercises to help achieve that.

She also sounds like a horse who would benefit from herd turnout on hills, do you have that available?

What was the long break for and how was she kept during that time?
.

 

[I'm Dun]

test for PSSM and have a look at the symptoms of PSSM2. Theres a couple of things you have said that are huge red flags for it.

 

[LEC]

I have a 5 year old mare who is quite weak as she is just in from a long break. She can get quite uncomfortable under saddle and will buck and kick out. Vet checked her for lameness and took X-rays for legs and back which were clean. Physio said she is quite tight in her back behind the saddle. Mare is reluctant to move forward. Im wondering if her weak top line is causing her the discomfort as I have had saddler physio and vet look at her and she is in proper fitting tack.

I do not expect newly backed horses with no topline to get sore. Tired yes, but the work is always kept appropriate until they develop the correct muscle. I find weak horses don't move forwards that well sometimes with a rider especially in a school but I check this through long reining and lunging to see if they are willing to move without a rider. Then I tend to remove them from the school and do a tonne of hacking on a long rein so they learn to build pro perception and strength with no pressure.

Also just because someone thinks something fits, it doesn't mean the horse agrees.

 

[sbloom]

I think a second opinion from someone with top skills and holistic approach (such as The Osteopathic Vet) and then a groundwork programme.

 

[Coblover63]

She may have ulcers. To lift their back they have to engage their core muscles and if she has ulcers it may be hurting her to engage them. I have a traditional cob who preferred being hollow. I had her back xrayed, which showed no issues. She then scoped positive for ulcers and went on medication for a few weeks. After that she was way more amenable and cooperative when asked to work in a contact.