Lumps on spine when ridden

[Karenpd]

After riding (20 mins) my horse has hard lumps on his vertebrae. They don't seem to cause him discomfort (when I press down hard on them) and are gone after an hour or so. I've just bought a saddle for him - the saddler saw the bumps but didn't know what they were. The saddle definitely sits well off his spine. They only thing which seems to help is a proper sheepskin numnah (have a NuMed half and half on order).

Has anybody else ever come across this? Any ideas what it might be?

[Tina&Dale]

OMG! :eek: I thought my horse was the only one! lol

My horse has a distinct lump that appears after I ride with the saddle. To me it is like a fluid lump and it's up near his wither but slightly to one side.

I have had this looked at by a saddle fitter and a chiropractor - though I'm not so convinced at their competence - and they both said it's causing no trouble so don't worry about it...

Well, I disagree and I think it is preventing him from moving as freely and comfortably as he would like to and besides... It's not meant to be there so I don't want it there! If I can fix it, than I want to fix it!

So, I had the vet out and he looked at it and also did an ultra sound on the area but he found nothing though he admits that there may be an issue there.

I find it only happens when I ride in the saddle and I really think this issue stems back to propblems I had with my horses saddle and so I'm now in the process of saving up for a third saddle and hopefully this one will be what he needs.

So, in other words.. I have no idea what it is, but if you find out anything, can you let me know because I really want this problem solved!

[Karenpd]

I certainly will!! Somebody else referred to this in an old post, but no explanation or mention of cause or treatment. I suppose my next step is to go to an equine vet, but am holding off due to cost. As I mentioned I have just bought a saddle, fitted by a very competent master saddler (can't get better than that).

Have you tried using a sheepskin numnah?

[Bebe]

Bebe had some bruising on her spine caused by the padding I used under my saddle putting pressure on the spinous processes (or at least this was our best guess). There was a small hard lump where the bruising was present.

I've sold the saddle, the spine is too precious to be mucking about with it.

If a sheepskin numnah helps I would guess that you're either looking at a pressure or heat problem as sheepskin is very good at 1) helping to disperse pressure and 2) wicking away sweat thereby keeping the back cooler.

[Tina&Dale]

I have tried a sheepskin numnah and many many saddle blankets. I did notice that changing saddle blankets seemed to make it better initially, but then the following day after initial use it was as usual. I didn't really give a great deal of attention to the length of the rides when I changed the blankets though, and as I found the swelling was worse in accordance with the amount of time I spent riding, I can't rule out that this was only because I rode for a short time.

I did at one point think that it appeared only if I cantered... but then I didn't really test this theory.

My boy was an ex-racehorse so I don't know if it is damage caused by pressure from a racing pad - as it's just below the wither. Out of interest, are your horses ex-racers?

I sometimes think it may be caused my pressure from the stirrup bars because it is certainly in that area.

I have thought that it may be some kind of physical skin irritation, like a pinching or something that causes the swelling (because like yours it goes away after an hour or so or more quickly if I apply an ice pack. I guess I won't really know until I try the new saddle.

[Karenpd]

My horse is an ex showjumper.

It's interesting that you think it may be related to the stirrups and not the whole saddle. This is something I'll check out next time I ride. As I said I have just bought a good (used) saddle, and it is clearly well off his spine. I have been using a fairly thin numnah which is also off his spine.

It really is a mystery.

[Tina&Dale]

Well, I say the stirrups because it appears to be in line with where the bars are. If the saddle wasn't balanced properly, so that the stirrups placed like a band of great pressure over this area, I figure this could be the cause.

I don't know, I find it interesting that the hair in these areas doesn't go grey, as usually results from a poorly fitting saddle.

[Karenpd]

It's funny, but one thing to come out of buying a new saddle is the fact that I've discovered I have been riding with one leg longer than the other for AGES........

[fjp]

I have just had an (excellent) physio out to check my horse, and when he heard that a bone scan earlier in the year had suggested kissing spines he suggested looking out for precisly this. He said that the lumps would appear only after riding and in association with the vertebrae (ie on top of them, not a few cm to the side). Apparently they should disappear within about half an hour of removing the tack. My horse hasn't had any noticeable problems with his back, and the physio didn't seem overly concerned that he would develop any.

I hadn't heard of this before, but wonder if it could be what you are noticing?

Hope this helps, Fiona.

[Karenpd]

So is your horse ok and sound?

Thanks for that - I'm off to do some research on kissing spines.

[fjp]

Yep he is fine! I was surprised when I heard the results of the scan as he has never had any back problems. The reason for the scans was very mild forelimb lameness (only visible on turning in tight circles on hard ground - noticed when assessing recovery from a foot abscess). He was diagnosed with early navicular changes on Xray and bone scan, but (touch wood) has been fine for a year now with natural balance shoes and cortaflex.

Think the kissing spines on scan were purely incidental. The physio said that inflammation forms around the spinous processes, and this eventually fibroses in most horses and may give no trouble at all. There have been articles in the horsey mags about other horses, some of which have needed surgery, but I think (from casual reading rather than research) that this is unusual.

May be worth a phone call to your vet for advice - I'm certainly no expert (!) and this is just from a brief chat with the physio.

Good luck! Fiona.

[Karenpd]

Very many thanks. I knew I should have married a vet!!

I think you're right - a trip to the equine specialist is looming, if only for peace of mind. More money....

I had a look at stuff on kissing spines on various websites - I hope it's not, but I'd rather know.

Many thanks!

[Karenpd]

Forgot to ask - what specifically is the cortaflex for?

[Tina&Dale]

Sorry.. dense person here! So, what if it doesn't happen without a saddle? There is still contact with the vertebra but no lumps after riding.

I guess I'll get the vet out too and suggest this to him. I'm a bit peeved that he didn't suggest something like this, because it seems pretty obvious to me! I guess there's no use in getting upset though, at least it might be an answer!

Thanks :D

[Tina&Dale]

I was researching kissing spines and I came across a good article.
If you're interested - Click Here (http://www.higherpowered.com/horse_articles/back_problems.htm)

The part that interested me was this:

Electro-stimulation, massage and ultrasound are also effective treatments for relieving mild stiffness and soreness. The latter is especially helpful in relieving soreness and subcutaneous swelling caused by saddle bruising.

which seems to be what my horse is experiencing.

I might give the vet a call anyway, but just interested. Have you guys tried riding bareback? Does it still happen?

[fjp]

Karenpd - the cortaflex is more for the early navicular changes. Apparently there are all sorts of causes of pain in the navicular area, from inflammation in the tendon to degeneration of the navicular bone. His Xrays showed some early degeneration of the navicular so as it is thought to benefit people with arthritis (a similar condition), I have been trying it with him, and it seems to help.

Tina&Dale - thanks for the article. Interesting reading! He doesn't get the lumps himself, just something the physio thought I should look out for in view of the scan results.