wondering what you would do (TBs Back)

marley and danni

marley and danni

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 September 2011
Messages
699
Location
warrington
Visit site
Hi,

so i have a 7 year old TB that had raced untill 2009 but didnt have the stamina.

i have had him over 1.5 years now and hes been good to me and has never put a foot wrong. but in febuary he started playing up throughing bucks and not listening and running all the time and just felt awful so i put this down to a sore back as he was a little tender near his withers. so i gave him 2 months off and when he no longer reacted to any pressue on his back area then i started him back up again very slowly and hardly ay jumping....

so up till 5 weeks ago he was foot perfect and felt amazing! then he started doing the same things again but even worse and running out on jumps or rishing over them which is unusal... so i got the physio out last week (after giving 2 weeks off) to have a look she said she felt a little bit of tension through his back but not an awful lot and he hadnt really been reacting to any pressure put on his back and he enjoyed the therpy she gave him... so then...

she said to give him 2 days off gave me some streched to do then she said lightly school and hack for a week and lunge twice a week with a pessoa... so this is what i have been doing for a week. then go back to normal.. and not done more than 2 circits of canter on him and certainly no jumping....

but on sunday i gave him a bath and i touched his back and his muscles were pulsating and he dipped his back quote a bit when i put pressure on it... monday was better and tuesday were loads better (didnt ride in this time) so rang physio again and she said that it could be that the weathers not helping and his muscles are not warm enough to be working properly so causing discomfort... so on her advice i kept him warm before and after riding with hot water bottle on wed and he was awsome under saddle didnt put a foot wrong!

but..... i checked him over again with the pressue over his back with my figer not alot of pressure just a little and hi dipped his back again didnt have his ear back or anything but looked at me and dipped did this both side ofhis spine and same reaction....

so im at a loss physio said see how he goes for a while....

i was planning on schooling 20mins and hacking 1 hour in walk and trot a week and the rest lunging or days off for about 2-4 weeks to see if he improves....

what would you do?

thanks

Just concerned and wondering whats upw ith him if anything....
 
A physio is supposed to work on a horse under the vets instruction. The first person to see him should have been your vet.
 
hi thanks for all the replys :)

saddles been checked by 3 different people twice by saddle fitter once by the physio that came out also by the vet oh and few people on the yard all said its a good fit but he needs the cusion of sheepskin or gel pad under it.

also i run my knuckles quite hard down his spine and he doesnt react at all but then i use my finger nail and i do could it just be thats hes sensative as hes been back in light work for a week now and hes not put a foot wrong or shying away from sadlle ect.

thanks :)
 
I was always told that you shouldn't use anything sharp like a fingernail when palpating a horse's back. No wonder he dips his back - you would too if someone did it to you. Just a thought!!
 
i only did it because the vet did it with her car Key and said hes sore ?!?!

maybe he was never really thatt bad eek feel awful now!?

physio said hes fine now though :)
 
Get someone to run a car key along the side of your spine from top to bottom and see if you flinch!! Never heard of using a car key to check a horse's back. I may be totally wrong but do some internet research on how to palpate a back. Am sure you will find it says don't use anything sharp.
 
i just assumed the vet was right that was all who am i to question im not a vet! physio didnt do that she just said he was a little tense and she just massaged and streched him..... hes not sore anywhere :S
 
Considering it is not going away despite the physio's recommendations I would start thinking of other reasons.

It could possibly be cold backed however I would also be starting to wonder about the possibility of kissing spines.

It is common in racehorses due to them having a rider on them from so young when the spine is not fully grown.

It may be worth taking him in to the clinic and getting some spinal xrays to rule it out as this is what my thoughts would be.
 
well its been 2 weeks and hes showing no signs of being sore or tense anymore since 3 days after the physio except then somthing shrap is applied down his spine like others have said we would react the same.... and his ridden work is loads better now :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top