Very sore back... what could it be?

[HollyP]

What happened in the end? have you had the vet out?

 

[Baked Bean]

Hi I was just reading this post and responses out of interest since my pony recently displayed a sore back and it turned out now it's a hock problem. What is PSD?

Good luck with your horse

 

[catembi]

Well, the vet said to keep him on his iron tonic & rest him, so that's what I've been doing. Went to feed this evening & interrupted a very mad game of let's gallop round the field so my paddocks are now covered in skid marks. My old girl really should know better....

Anyway, he was charging about bucking & going bananas & was generally the complete opposite of sick & sorry. Might phone in the morning & see what I should do next. His back's had a rest so maybe the vet will say to have a sit-on using Jenny's saddle & see what happens. Judging by this evening's performance, I might end up in orbit...

 

[HollyP]

Maybe you could do some lunge work first....then put saddle on and do more lunge work (over a few days) and then sit on...see how he reacts to the saddle before you get on!

 

[sally2008]

You may find this article / site interesting - I would be worth running through the problem diagnosis to see if it pinpoints a problem area that hasn't already been considered:

http://www.equinefootprotection.com/equine-problem-diagnosis.html

 

[BeckyD]

Ronnie was displaying similar symptoms and was diagnosed with sacroiliac problems and PSD. I hope that is not the case for your boy!

 

[catembi]

Well, following last night's charging round the field, I thought I'd have a sit-on using Jenny's saddle. Bit cross to groom & saddle but better rather than worse. Fine to mount, but OMG he was *awful* under saddle. Really didn't want to move, kept wanting to stop & ground to a halt when I asked for trot. I was only out for 5 mins to 'test the waters', so did a few big circles in walk on each rein & tried the trot a couple of times on each rein.

RonaldoToo, I've got a feeling that we're going to end up the same as you. Should have phoned the vet today really, but I couldn't quite face it. I'm pretty certain that once we start the full-on diagnosis procedures, it's not going to be good news. Will phone in the morning. It's not as if he's dying - still eating etc & capable of belting round the field with Jenny.

Oh well, that's £8.5k down the toilet as we haven't got LOU.

 

[BeckyD]

Ditto re LOU (though thankfully only £4,250 down the drain for me).

However, don't give up hope - it might not be PSD and even if it is, in most cases it is fixable and he should be able to cope with his former level of competition. Fingers crossed for a speedy answer and that the answer is not too bad. Keep us posted.