Very confused - thoughts very welcome!

[redredruby]

My pony has a very, very sore back and I'm interested in your thoughts as to what could cause it.

He hasn't been ridden since Dec as we've been transitioning to barefoot. He has very thin soles and still needs to wear boots to and from the field but vet and trimmer are happy with progress.

He is completely sound in the school (without boots) and happily goes forward in walk, trot and canter. Physio noted that in canter he is very stiff behind - to the point where there is hardly any bend / flexion in his hind legs.

However, what is confusing me is that when lunging / long reining in walk and trot he is over tracking, stretching over his back with relaxed swinging tail - which I find hard to marry to how sore he seems through his back when he is examined.

Any thoughts / ideas about what might be causing the soreness? He is being treated by physio and if there isn't improvement with inhand work/stretches/massage etc we will get vet but any ideas for investigation would be appreciated!

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

What has your vet suggested? They are advising your physio?

 

[DiNozzo]

Expecting (more?) sore feet in the canter so holding himself differently leading to muscled tension causing pain? You say he's sound in the school, but if he's active in the field he could quite easily have learned to protect himself.

 

[Goldenstar]

He needs a vet work up.

 

[paddi22]

has he lost muscle over his back? is there a chance he could have mild kissing spine and losing muscle is making him feel it? I have one like that

 

[redredruby]

has he lost muscle over his back? is there a chance he could have mild kissing spine and losing muscle is making him feel it? I have one like that

Not lost muscle at all - in fact looks really well, especially over the back.

 

[redredruby]

He needs a vet work up.

What has your vet suggested? They are advising your physio?

He is under the care of vet and physio - he has had ongoing lameness due to winter laminitis previously which is why we have removed shoes - the current plan is to do work up in next few weeks if there has been no improvement after physio treatment etc.
I guess I'm just wanting to explore ideas because of how well he goes in the school yet something is obviously causing the sore back!

 

[redredruby]

Expecting (more?) sore feet in the canter so holding himself differently leading to muscled tension causing pain? You say he's sound in the school, but if he's active in the field he could quite easily have learned to protect himself.

Yes, that is a real possibility especially over the drier months. May well be worth trying keeping his boots on in the field (it is just he has a tendency to loose them in the field ?‍)

 

[TPO]

Back pain is usually secondary to lameness. If hes had laminitis and sore hooves while transitioning that may be the link so once that's resolved then his compensations can be fully rectified.

The vet is already involved so see what your physio finds and what the vets thoughts are after receiving the finding from the physio visit.

 

[SEL]

I would try boots all round for a bit. BBP has a couple of interesting threads on here and my own mare (barefoot all her life with no obvious external hoof problems) is so much better in her new boots.

 

[Goldenstar]

He is under the care of vet and physio - he has had ongoing lameness due to winter laminitis previously which is why we have removed shoes - the current plan is to do work up in next few weeks if there has been no improvement after physio treatment etc.
I guess I'm just wanting to explore ideas because of how well he goes in the school yet something is obviously causing the sore back!

Then I would either get him into the surgery for a full work up from the vet that’s been seeing him .
Or take him to a problems with performance type specialist for a clean pair of eyes .

 

[Fransurrey]

If he still needs boots to go to and from the field and is OVER tracking in the school, that suggests he's not ready for that work or is in discomfort. Or do you mean tracking? Over tracking to me means the hind is landing IN FRONT of the front hoof print, which indicates a problem either in the back or front feet. Has he been thoroughly treated for thrush, btw? Dec to now is a long time for him to still be feeling his feet. He might need a deep soak and regular frog trims (to remove any dead/diseased bits). Agree with full work up, but a foot soak is easy to do (just messy) and would have an effect in a few days, so could be done whilst waiting for the work up appointment.

 

[ester]

What issues in the front or back feet, where I'm from over tracking is seen as a good thing.

 

[be positive]

What issues in the front or back feet, where I'm from over tracking is seen as a good thing.

Over tracking and tail swinging is usually a sign the back is loose I have never heard it described in a negative way, the only issue could be if they are very short in front and the backend is almost overtaking it but that does not seem to be the case here.

My only comment to the OP that has not been covered is when did the physio get involved as it may be he is still carrying a lot of tension from when he was in pain and that a few treatments could resolve it as he is working well generally, if treatment has been going on for some time then a workup will be required but if recent I would give it a few weeks and see how he responds.

 

[IrishMilo]

Over tracking to me means the hind is landing IN FRONT of the front hoof print, which indicates a problem either in the back or front feet.

That's quite a bold statement which isn't true. Where did you get that from?

Horses SHOULD be able to over track in walk, and track up in trot without a problem. I'd be concerned if a horse couldn't over track by a small margin at walk and would suspect at the very least a tight backend.

 

[SpotsandBays]

That's quite a bold statement which isn't true. Where did you get that from?

Horses SHOULD be able to over track in walk, and track up in trot without a problem. I'd be concerned if a horse couldn't over track by a small margin at walk and would suspect at the very least a tight backend.

I agree!

 

[Goldenstar]

Horses certainly should be overtracking however they ought not be forgeing which can but not always indicate an issue.

 

[ForeverBroke_]

My horse is exactly as described - he was worked up by a vet and medicated in his SI and showed a marked improvement.

 

[Tiddlypom]

My horse is exactly as described - he was worked up by a vet and medicated in his SI and showed a marked improvement.

This. Crack on with the vet workup ASAP, there is something wrong. It could well be SI with or without related issues, and if it is, the sooner the horse is treated the better.

 

[Wheels]

I've recently been experiencing similar issues with one of mine OP, it's very frustrating and worrying.

I have a thread in veterinary and hoof care if you want to have a look called back problems

In summary, he was barefoot since november, intermittent sore back since April, mild laminitis end of june, vet check 3 weeks ago with no reactions to limb flexions but vet felt he had thin, flat, sore and sensitive soles that were probably/ possibly causing low grade but continual pain although no reaction to hoof testers. Vet advised to put shoes and pads on, see if the back issue subsides by itself over a few weeks and if not can work up further (couldn't work up properly without shoes as too tender to trot on hard circle)

Farrier shod with thick shoes to raise his soles off the floor but didnt want to pad as it might soften the soles too much and cause more problems than it fixed. 5 days in and he is striding out more on all surfaces and the back does seem to be less stiff and sore but would describe it as still a little sensitive at certain times.

If after another couple of weeks there is no improvement we will go back for more tests.

Like your horse mine appeared fine in the school although now he has his shoes on I can see that he was toe flicking a little bit in the arena and the farrier did say that his soles were very flat just behind the toe so if hes sensitive there then the toe flicking makes sense.

Good luck x