My mare is a thoroughbred, she's 10 y/o and we did the junior jumpers now we do the amatures, but I was just wondering what to do about a sore back. My vet just told me to ride her on bute...but that to me seems like a bad idea, I would rather fix the problem than mask it...She is sceduled for acupunture and I think she might need an ajustment but I'm not sure. I just don't know enought about sports medicine to do too much. She is my first horse I've ridden ponies forever! I just moved up from the pony jumper circuit. Her back has always been sensitive, not sore, but, she would bite the wall when you girthed her, and she didn't like to be curried too hard on her back, (or anywhere actually...) But she really was doing well in her training, If she's not going to be able to be comfortable at 4'3, then I may have to get a new horse, but I really would raher not! Any suggestions welcome, Oh yes, the pain is in her sacrial(sp) vertebre, about the fourth vertebre back. Her saddle fits well, so that's not the problem.
If your not doing it already, try doing stretches with her. My guy had a sore back when we got him, and we thought I may have to get a new saddle to help the problem, but I started doing stretches on him and he's 100% better. Not saying it'll work with your mare, but its worth a try.
Try to do them twice a day, once before you ride and once after. There are various stretches you can do, but some are hard to explain, so I've provided links: http://www.horsefixer.com/stretches.html http://www.todayshorse.com/Articles/HorseCarrotPractics.htm That's just a start. However, like with anything, it would be best to talk with your vet before you start anything, just to be on the safe side.
My horse had the exact problem-- I got her a "gel pad" its like a lolly pop pad but is thinner, filled with gel and is a little long by the pommel, it has really helped with her problem . Also it absorbs the saddle digging in her hard if you get like a bad stride or something, sitting to soon, etc. etc., also acupuncture is really good, we had that done as well, chiropactics is also pretty good, but I'd advise acpu. first --its magic like! . Good Luck!
The TB I used to show had back problems too. He had periodic chiropractic & accupuncture sessions, plus I did lots of stretches with him. He had a saccral vertabrae that occasionally bulged too, about the fifth up from the tail, so I did tail pull stretches with him before and after each ride to help it stay in alignment. When we first started, he hated having his tail messed with because he was sore, but it didn't take long to help. I would grab his tail (below the end of the bone) and slowly and gently lean my weight back evenly. His hindquarters would initially tense, and then visibly relax as he leaned into the stretch. Basically, I would be pulling the tail and he would be leaning forward a bit, so we would be stretching his whole spine out. The chiropractor told me about that one and it made it much more comfortable for Darren to round out below me.
Definitely have your horse evaluated by a vet though. Stretches will help a lot, but rule out anything skeletal first.
I agree on the vet exam. X-rays will tell you if there's something big that might need to be fixed. Otherwise, there are tons of pads you can try besides the gel one. I have my TB in a wither-relief. It has a cutout at the wither areas to relieve pressure and totally eliminated any soreness. Also check your saddle. If you changed saddles recently, this one might not be fitting right. Otherwise, if the horse has changed shape, even slightly, the saddle could be pinching or just not sitting where it should be. If you're not sure on how to fit a saddle, have someone with more experience help you. Also make sure you rule out arthritis. I've seen horses younger then 10 laid up with arthritis. Again, a vet exam and radiographs should rule out any illness like that.
Hey-Well I know just where you are coming from with the sore back issue. My horse all of a sudden decided he wasn't going to jump even a two foot fence-which was not like him at all! We had a vet look at him and they said he was fine and it was his attitude. . .not happy with that answer we had a chiropractor come and do his back, he discovered that his front feet were sore (although he was not lame at all) Sometimes the sore back issue isn't just in the back my horse's actaully started in his hocks went up to his back and then back down to his front feet. We had acupunture done a few times, we had a saddle fitter come (that made the biggest difference) You can try a mattess pad that works like magic because you can put insert in it! Good Luck-i don't know were you are located but there is an excellent saddle fitter out of Ohio who travels to NY and PA
CHECK YOUR SADDLE!!! thats why i got my horse his back was so screwed up by a saddle w/ broken tree he was dead lame and he was fine after he had a good saddle on him. Or your horse just may not be able to take jumping that high...
Try seeing how your saddle fits but another reason he may have a sore back is because it might be out of alignment. Check around and see if their is a chiropractor near you for your horse. I used to do barrels and now I do pleasure and if my horses back is out then he can't carry himself right and he ends up sore. Good luck hope you find something that helps!
Get a good theraputic saddle pad, have your chiroprator check your saddle fit, and FOLLOW their directions! Do NOT just ride on bute... Yup, bad idea!
The best shock absorbing pads I have used are made by Skito, http://www.skito.net. They will custom make you a full pad, or interpad (goes over your normal pad). Prices are generally $75-90 depending on pad material. They work GREAT! Most horses appreciate a little extra padding, especially TB's...
That said, saddle fit is of the utmost importance!
maybe you could try (in addition to everything else, you sound like a great horse mommy!) - tighten the girth very slowly like in between puttin on leg protection, or while walking - lunge before you get on - stay in 2 point for awhile afer you get on i dunno you may have tried these but i didnt see em listed by anyone else so i thought i might suggest these few simple things to try out good luck with everything- keep us posted!
First of all the fact that you said your mare doesn't like to be curried anywhere points out the fact that she is a mare and is naturally very sensitive. But is sounds like she does have a sore back. If you can't get your saddle to fit perfectly, use theraputic pads like; Thinline, WhinnyWidgets or sheepskin. I used these pads before and they are all great. Definately get her looked at be an approved chiropractor, be careful about the one you pick because bad chiropractors are dangerous. When my horse's back is out, he gets sensitive too. When you work your mare you could work on building up her back muscles, which will decrease their chance of injury (possible soreness). Everyone has to deal with sensitive backs, and I hope you find a solution that makes your horse happy.
. Good Luck!
