Bump on back?

[dacasodivine]

That's probably not the best way to describe it. It is toward the back of her back and goes across the back. It's a slightly raised area of about 4 inches in lenght and maybe an inch wide. She shows no discomfort when I press on it. She moves out well when ridden or loose in the field.

I have owned her two years. It was there then. She has a prominent backbone. I've always kind of chaulked it up to her build but have never seen another horse with that bump.

So, I'm wondering about it and if others have seen it or have any idea what it might be.

She's a 19 year old Arabian if that helps any.

[BornToRide]

In the lumbar area or on top of the croup?

[dacasodivine]

Lumbar area. All though, the croup area is pretty prominent as well.

[BornToRide]

Perhaps she rolled and hit a rock? If she's OK, I would just watch it, perhaps put some poultice on it and massage it a bit.

[LOVE*MY*NAGS]

A "hunters bump"?
Do you have a picture of your horse?

[LOVE*MY*NAGS]

http://www.jwequine.com/pdf/hunters-bump.pdf

Does this look like your horse?

[BornToRide]

A "hunters bump"?
Do you have a picture of your horse?
Not in the lumbar area - that's usually on the croup. However, she might be developing a roached back - could that be it?

[dacasodivine]

I went and took pictures but I'm on dial up so taking forever to ad them to photoshop.

This is something she had when I got her two years ago. Oh, and I have to take back that it doesn't bother her. I have had the feeling that something has been bothering her but it's something I can't pin point. No one else sees it. She doesn't mind having that area touched, she's not ouchy on her feet. She rides fine but doesn't like the saddle (or anything else going over her back such as a blanket) but once it's on, she's fine.

The only thing I've noticed lately is that sometimes she will park out. Not like a foundered stance but literally parked out with her rear feet back and her front slightly in front.

All in all though she seems happy and pain free. She could be just stoic. Either way, I don't ride her any more. She mostly a pet.

*I wanted to clarify some things. I don't know she is in pain. The parking out thing is a few minutes and then she'll straighten up.

Background: The young woman I got her from had had her for 10 years. She told me Diva would load fine when she bought her but wasn't sure if I would be able to get her in a trailer as she had gotten bad about loading. Another thing I found right away is that she is frightened when something is put over her back. Saddle, winter blanket, bareback pad. She cringes. So, I have chaulked some things up to mishandling. The young woman did seem to love her so I don't think it was intentional. I've even posted on here before about some things.

In some ways I've come to the conclusion that a lot of her problems are mental. That's why she's mostly a pasture pet.

She was at the vet less than two months ago for yearly stuff. The vet didn't see anything on visual to worry about. So the back thing is really not very noticeable at all.

[dacasodivine]

Here's one from today close up and the other is front at least 1 1/2 years ago. You can barely see it on the second pic, but it's there.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l42/dobegirl2222/horses002.jpg

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l42/dobegirl2222/Picture005.jpg

[cyberbay]

In the second photo [...horses002], I can see what you're referring to. Like a fin of bone, protruding from the top of the vertebra...??

You probably know this already, but IME, a fin comes from overtight muscles. So, just start massaging the area, on both sides. You might, if you palpate with fingertips, discover sore muscles just below the fin, and all the way down to the flank whorl. With each session, first massage gently with the heel of your hand to warm and acclimate and then use small circles with finger tips in the area, slowly and with pressure that she seems to tolerate. Also massage up and down the sides of the whorl in the flank area, and if she allows, continue straight downward and gently massage down around her barrel and onto her stomach muscles, using the heels of your hands and circling fingertips. You can try other strokes if she's calm and for sure expanding onto other muscles groups always helps...

Do this as often as you can, preferably pre-ride. You can then re-do post-ride, about 40 min. after ride. (As an aside, horses fuss about blankets, IMO, b/c they're a little body sore, and the pressure of the blanket isn't so welcome...)

Now, this isn't to say that tight muscles are the issue. There very well could be an underlying issue and muscles are tightening in response --- they're just a symptom. But, the massage should help her comfort level quite a bit and it may prevent secondary issues from cropping up. Is she worse on her right side than left?

[goeslikestink]

shes needs her top line building up as lacks condition
which can be done via long reining good diet and proper exercise programme

[dacasodivine]

Thanks for the help. I suddenly got worried it was something horrible. I'm a worrier.

Yeah, she's out of condition. I'm going to start working on that.