Mac123
Dec. 31, 2009, 04:18 PM
I have a horse that has something wrong with it and we cannot figure out what it is. ANY thoughts are appreciated!!!
Original presentation: Horse has had two days off (due to a muscle spasm in my back). He had been going fabulously. First ride back was argumentative and quick. I originally thought he was fresh but began to realize he wasn't right and must be sore somewhere.
He was tight through the back, a bit quick, and snarky when using the right rein. Over fences, did not push off the ground and was weak on takeoff. Toward the end of the ride he began bucking or kicking out when I used the right rein or during the left canter transition.
Day two: Very backsore, felt NQR at all under tack. "Offness" was moving around - felt it up front and behind. Pulled the saddle and he was very backsore.
Day three: Realized the left front frog had considerable thrush and was very sore through the frog and heel.
I gave him about a week off and while he looked better on the longe line, he was still presenting under saddle. Below is a total list of symptoms, listed in order of thought as they spring to mind.
Symptoms:
Backsore - more towards the back of where the saddle lies (last thoracic, first lumbar) but is sore all through the saddle area.
Funny on the right hind
Hot stifle and hock points
Flexes positive on each hock ONLY on the outside of a turn - he is sound on the straightaways immediately after the flexion and only positive through the turn on the outside hind
Thrush in left front frog - considerably sore in the frog and heal bulbs
Funny on left front
Bucking through transitions and after landing after low fences
Worse when weightbearing - the heavier the rider, the worse it is
Will not connect over the back - there is no continuation of energy. He is quick tempoed, doesn't use his back, and does not stretch out and down. No elasticity.
Snarky
Generally bodysore
Cannot do a right-left leadchange under saddle or at liberty. He will swap up front but not behind. He has difficulty with undersaddle changes, but has always been able to do them at liberty with ease.
With time off, the backsoreness IMPROVES, the hock and stifle points stay mostly the same.
The saddle fits very well, and while switching to a saddle that has a greater weight-bearing surface did make him more comfortable, he was still bucking through the transitions and jumping. Every saddle pad known to mankind has been tried with no results.
My inclination is that the backsoreness is secondary because it is the first thing to improve with time off but comes back whenever he is ridden. If the backsoreness was primary, it wouldn't improve at all. And no saddle or pad combination make him comfortable.
No heat, no swelling, no identifiable gimp.
I had a vet look at him on Monday who does chiro/acupuncture. She was not able to find anything other than the hot hock/stifle points, the strange flexion result, and that his pelvis and lumbosacral were out of place. She adjusted him and injected the hock points with B12 and gave me a chinese herb (Body Sore) for his body soreness.
He looked great afterwards, but immediately began presenting under saddle.
I am wondering if the sore thrushy left front could cause all of this....if he's holding himself funky to protect that it could cause soreness through the right hind (compensatory) and through the back.
This all happened all of the sudden. He was going great, had two days off, and all the sudden is like this. The vet agreed with my original assessment that he may have gotten cast or fallen in the paddock triggering something....but this doesn't make sense as it is clearly related to being ridden.
I am going crazy and want to keep my hair...any thoughts???
ETA - horse is a 7 year old TB schooling 3'9-4' in grids and 3' to 3'3 courses. Normally relaxed, quiet, excellent flatwork, lovely, powerful jump. Daily turnout in small paddock (not ideal, I know, but it is what it is). Safe choice and lots of hay. No prior lamenesses or issues other than a bad case of thrush behind a couple months ago that left him sore as well.
Original presentation: Horse has had two days off (due to a muscle spasm in my back). He had been going fabulously. First ride back was argumentative and quick. I originally thought he was fresh but began to realize he wasn't right and must be sore somewhere.
He was tight through the back, a bit quick, and snarky when using the right rein. Over fences, did not push off the ground and was weak on takeoff. Toward the end of the ride he began bucking or kicking out when I used the right rein or during the left canter transition.
Day two: Very backsore, felt NQR at all under tack. "Offness" was moving around - felt it up front and behind. Pulled the saddle and he was very backsore.
Day three: Realized the left front frog had considerable thrush and was very sore through the frog and heel.
I gave him about a week off and while he looked better on the longe line, he was still presenting under saddle. Below is a total list of symptoms, listed in order of thought as they spring to mind.
Symptoms:
Backsore - more towards the back of where the saddle lies (last thoracic, first lumbar) but is sore all through the saddle area.
Funny on the right hind
Hot stifle and hock points
Flexes positive on each hock ONLY on the outside of a turn - he is sound on the straightaways immediately after the flexion and only positive through the turn on the outside hind
Thrush in left front frog - considerably sore in the frog and heal bulbs
Funny on left front
Bucking through transitions and after landing after low fences
Worse when weightbearing - the heavier the rider, the worse it is
Will not connect over the back - there is no continuation of energy. He is quick tempoed, doesn't use his back, and does not stretch out and down. No elasticity.
Snarky
Generally bodysore
Cannot do a right-left leadchange under saddle or at liberty. He will swap up front but not behind. He has difficulty with undersaddle changes, but has always been able to do them at liberty with ease.
With time off, the backsoreness IMPROVES, the hock and stifle points stay mostly the same.
The saddle fits very well, and while switching to a saddle that has a greater weight-bearing surface did make him more comfortable, he was still bucking through the transitions and jumping. Every saddle pad known to mankind has been tried with no results.
My inclination is that the backsoreness is secondary because it is the first thing to improve with time off but comes back whenever he is ridden. If the backsoreness was primary, it wouldn't improve at all. And no saddle or pad combination make him comfortable.
No heat, no swelling, no identifiable gimp.
I had a vet look at him on Monday who does chiro/acupuncture. She was not able to find anything other than the hot hock/stifle points, the strange flexion result, and that his pelvis and lumbosacral were out of place. She adjusted him and injected the hock points with B12 and gave me a chinese herb (Body Sore) for his body soreness.
He looked great afterwards, but immediately began presenting under saddle.
I am wondering if the sore thrushy left front could cause all of this....if he's holding himself funky to protect that it could cause soreness through the right hind (compensatory) and through the back.
This all happened all of the sudden. He was going great, had two days off, and all the sudden is like this. The vet agreed with my original assessment that he may have gotten cast or fallen in the paddock triggering something....but this doesn't make sense as it is clearly related to being ridden.
I am going crazy and want to keep my hair...any thoughts???
ETA - horse is a 7 year old TB schooling 3'9-4' in grids and 3' to 3'3 courses. Normally relaxed, quiet, excellent flatwork, lovely, powerful jump. Daily turnout in small paddock (not ideal, I know, but it is what it is). Safe choice and lots of hay. No prior lamenesses or issues other than a bad case of thrush behind a couple months ago that left him sore as well.