Back Problems

[moli]

I had the back man out on Thursday to look at my mare's back because I knew that she wasn't being herself when ridden or when getting tacked up. Anyway, he said that her back and neck had been out of line and that one of her vertebraes was slightly out. He did his work on her and said that I should leave her for a couple of days, then walk her for a couple of days and then she should be fine.

I am a bit worried that she still isn't right. I rode her on Monday and when I asked for trot she was still trying to evade my commands - something she didn't do until a few weeks ago. When I tried to tack her up last night she was not happy at all when I put the saddle on so I decided to leave her. She is coming into season just now and is very grumpy but has never objected to me grooming and putting her saddle on until lately.

Should I be giving her longer off or could she just be associated the saddle with pain??

Sorry about the length of the post but I'm really worried about her....

moli

[Showjumper]

She probably still sees the saddle as her source of pain, but to be on the safe side, I would have the back man back out again - better to be safe than sorry. If he can assure you that the problem is fixed, you've got the job of re-teaching you horse that the saddle won't cause her pain. Does the saddle fit her properly? This is also worth checking. Good Luck...Hope I Helped! :D

[floppy]

ok so you have had the back man out...but have you had the saddle properly checked out?
maybe you need a little extra padding between the hroses back and the saddle?

[ros]

Hi Moli

I agree with Showjumper - I'd have her checked over again just in case. Three or four days doesn't sound very long to rest her, unless you had to start her on a specific exercise program to build up the right muscles again, which you don't seem to have been given. But I'm definitely no expert. Do you trust your back man? Is it worth getting a second opinion?