Won't lunge on right rein..hip seems to click vet or Chiropractor?

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kvr23

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Hi, I wonder if anyone has any advice..
My 9 year old New Forest has been off work for a while and last summer I started lunging him again and he started off fine, as it got nearer Christmas, he started to refuse to lunge on the right rein at all, and he's not a naughty pony, he was obviously in pain. I had the dentist out to check his teeth and they were fine and the saddler to check his saddle, that was fine. I then got the Chiropractor out. She didn't see him lunge but reckoned she knew the problem and gave him two courses of the electro pulse therapy around his right hip area. About a month later she said I can start him lunging again. He is worse than before and seems to have sensitive areas on his withers now. She said she will come back to look at him again but I am reluctant as I feel she didn't really investigate the problem. A lot of people warn me me against getting the vet to look at him so I was wondering whether anyone had any advice? He is not lame, when he lunges on the right rein his hips appears to click at the back, he is perfect on the left rein however! Thanks
 
Vet, vet, vet. Chiro/physio people should NEVER treat an animal without a vet's permission. This could be anything, sacro-iliac strain, hock or stifle problem, anything. The vet should make an assessment and then decide whether the horse needs chiro or physio care. If he is in pain, for god's sake just get the vet.
 
Vet and then chiro. Vet recently did not pick up on any of the things which chiro did - chiro fixed the problem, vet would have given bute which would have masked the pain (so alerting us that pain was the problem) then done a lameness work up - all that was required was one session of chiro.

Not knocking the vet at all, but people have different specialisms for a reason - so get the vet to make sure it is nothing major they can spot, but schedule a chiro visit too IMO.
 
Hi, Thanks for your advice, I will get the vet to check him over. I did not realise the chiro had to be referred by the vet and she certainly never said anything about that! Thanks.
 
as said above it could be caused by a multitude of problems, quite right vet needs to refer first. Its important to make sure your horse is well stretched before any work, if hes been off work for a whilre hes bound to be a bit stiffer than usual, there are lots of stretching techniques available if you google them, i am assuming he is not lame? it sounds like he has some tethering on the right if the tenderness is moving to his withers, a good equine massage therapist would be able to help with this. (or osteo if you can find one :P ) i would be inclined to steer away form lunging on a circle as he obv can;t cope with that, better to long rein if hes ok with it and stay on more straight lines and gradual turns until he starts to become more supple.
these are only suggestions and obv a diagnosis can;t be done without a thorough exam. vet to check nothing sinister then decide on a manual therpist to help make a dignosis and treatment plan for you.
 
I would imagine the clicking would be coming from the stifle area, which is relatively common, and is just air popping of the ligament. Can you ride your horse on the right rein? Many horses can actually be difficult to lunge on one rein.
 
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