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View Full Version : A right old quandry...


Jessey
31st Jan 2006, 11:41 AM
Well Bo has been a bit funny of late, just not him self, his canter departures have been poor and he was not holding the canter, would either drop back to trot or go disunited.

So I figure its time for a chiro again (normally about every 3 months). I have spent forever getting different people out to see his cause I don't see why he gets sore so often, I massage him weekly too. Well a friend who rides at high level endurance was having her chiro out so I tagged onto her appointment, she really rated her chiro :)

I have to say I agree, she was very thorough :p , she watched him trot and did a few adjustments on Bo, asked alot about his history and also had a look at his saddle.

The long and the short of it is, the saddle fits OK but does need reflocking as it has become uneven. His back is fine and there should be no reason for him to get 'sticky' every 3 months or so, he trots very slightly unevenly, the right side hip drops a tiny fraction and he doesn't reach as far under himself as he should, again more on the right, but over all hardly noticeable, Also his muscle is slightly less on the right (rump and gaskin) than the left but again hardly noticeable. She also said given his muscling from the front to his loin you would expect more muscle on his last 1/3 (butt).

He was fairly good, didn't fuss too much when she adjusted bits and generally was patient. He did all of the flexes she asked and only when she pulled his hind legs up really high did he threaten to kick :rolleyes:

Basically the Chiro said she can see something is wrong (all be it VERY minor) and she would suggest that it could be, perhaps, kissing spine but given how well he flexes etc she didn't think that too likely (but he was giving lots of signs to her that something is wrong) or possibily a problem with his stifle, she asked about locking stifle, which it has never locked but sometimes he does seem to forget his back leg and stumble but then its fine again.

She said I could take it up with the vet to investigate more (ultra sound or xrays), but as he isn't at all lame she was not sure how far the vet would progress the matter. She did feel that a stifle problem was the most likely and that this could be a reason for his bucking etc when he really engages his back end.

So, should I speak with the vet/insurance, I can't afford to pay a big vets bill at the moment so would be relying on the insurance covering it, is it going to help to do this (I mean if this would not show anything but would get his cover reduced and then something happens in future, and if it did show something up what is the likely hood of being able to do anything about it) or should I leave it and wait and see how things go? Bo is rising 8 and has never *touches wood* had any lameness issues since I got him as a 2 year old.

What would you all do?

Thanks

J x

cvb
31st Jan 2006, 11:51 AM
Jessey

How much do you know and trust the vet ? It may be worth having exactly the conversation above with the vet !

As you may know, I had intermittent "not rightness" with Fi and had both vet and physio out. Both of whom could see there was "something there" but neither could find what it is/was ! Then along to a Mark Rashid clinic and !boom! Dr Dave picks up issues...

Not entirely surprised as I'd had chiro out to her in Sweden previously - but a little peeved that best endeavours had not picked it up before.

Anyway, back to the topic... vet had said it would be difficult to use, for example, blocking to diagnose as it was so small a reaction that he wouldn't know what or where to block, and how would we see any difference ?

So in our case, he didn't advise taking it forward that way.

BTW - Dr Dave is supposed to be in the UK sometime soon, www.amandabarton.com says March !

Jessey
31st Jan 2006, 01:12 PM
I can contact my old vet in Herts, I wouldn't trust the ones round here as far as I could throw them, not really made a good/solid working relationship with any of them yet :p

I really like this chiro I had out, she seemed very good, was happy to explain and show me what she was finding and also to help in future to form more ongoing maintainence plans but as his back alignment was really fine that was not nec. She is very happy to tell you whats going on, in no uncertain terms :p which is an attribute I most appriciate. She is one of only three people who were able to see what I was talking about, the other two were a massage therapist I used to use and my vet (the one in Herts who I trust)

At the time (about 3 years ago) the vet didn't think it was worth persuing any further, he looked Bo over and said he was more flexible than most top dressage horses he had the opportunity to look at and that he wasn't working badly (tracks up well etc) and wasn't showing any sign of pain (of course thats other than the bucking but we put that down to over excitement but given that is also when he also really engages himself that could also explain it). It was a bit of the 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' theory.

I think you are right, I am going to call the vet and talk to him, see what he thinks about it all. Maybe we will be able to get some answers soon, then if still need some help we could se Dr Dave in March.

Thanks

J x

Jessey
31st Jan 2006, 03:20 PM
Well I spoke with my old vet, and he said that from what I said it sounds a good chance there is something going on in the stifle, at first he suggested buting him for 10 days to see if there was any improvment but I said I thought it was not a new problem and he then said it would definatly be worth looking into it further.

Just the palava now to sort that, he needs to see him straight from the stable in the morning and as the vet isn't from round here I need to get Bo there and find a stable for a night to facilatate this (vet did offer to travel but not sure the insurance will see the point in all this), have emailed a friend, just hope they can help. The vet also said he was confident that I should be able to claim the investgative work on the insurance.

Am still not sure what all this is going to achive, Vet was quite clear that it could easily be an inconclusive outcome or equally be something that is ni-on impossible to treat due to the nature of the joint, hopefully we will know more at the weekend.

J x

Tootsie4U
31st Jan 2006, 03:28 PM
My friend has an arab that needs the chiro every three months or so. Immediately afterwards, he shows improvemetn. She just looks at it like a management approach and I dont think they've discussed other underlying issues. Just that he gets himself all out of wack and just needs a fine tuning four times a year.

I am interested to see what the outcome for Bo is. Thankfully, it doesnt sound like something thats causing him outright lameness - but the poor fellow isnt feeling entirely up to the weather either. :(

Jessey
31st Jan 2006, 04:03 PM
Tootsie, that was just what I have been saying about Bo trying to convince myself, but that coupled with his other, sometimes very uncharacteristic behaviour says there is more to it.

J x

Jessey
1st Feb 2006, 03:20 PM
Well I have it all arranged, I am taking him to a friends yard (in Herts so old vet can take a look) on saturday morning, he will stay there overnight and the vet will be out on sunday morning to check over and scan etc.

Tootsie4U
1st Feb 2006, 04:34 PM
Be sure to update!

Was wondering, does his unpleasant-ness coincide with the weather? That'd be a sign of arthritis...

Jessey
1st Feb 2006, 04:40 PM
Acctually he is much better behaved in the winter :rolleyes: less turn out, some hard feed and restricted work and he's better, summer time, 24/7 turn out, no feed or hay at all, ridden most every day and he is a complete pig!!!!

teabiscuit
1st Feb 2006, 05:00 PM
hope its something and nothing-good luck

knockaroo
1st Feb 2006, 05:13 PM
just a thought and not meaning to be rude, more from personal experience, but I had a similar problem myself. My poor horse seemed to get more worn out than fitter the more I rode him similar to your summer routine. At 16hh and a lively TB
this was fustrating, until one day I joined a slimming club 8 months later, four and a half stone lighter with a bit of exercise thrown in for good mearsure, my handsome lad flies along and it's less effort needed from me now.

Jessey
2nd Feb 2006, 09:40 AM
Knockaroo, I wish that were the answer (although I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I lost a few pounds :) ) Bo acctually gets alot MORE energy in the summer months, he starts bucking and rearing and having major temper tantrums when he is not just allowed to run like a looney but in the winter with less work/turnout and more feed he turns into this giant baby, you can do anything, a kid could happily control him, in the summer most adults have a job!

J x

knockaroo
2nd Feb 2006, 02:45 PM
is maybe that his fittness levels increase and so his energy transforms into exitability, thus making him appear naughty/objectional, i'm just going to start using naf supplement magic to help my jumpy horse, well they make these claims
so we shall see if it works for him any thing for a peaceful life

Jessey
3rd Feb 2006, 11:59 AM
I have looked at that too, but I have tried so many of them now. Thats also what I thought, thats why I have been limiting his work this winter (only 3/4 days a week where normally he is ridden 6 days) to try not to get him quite so fit, crazy I know but its working so far!

J x

Jessey
3rd Feb 2006, 12:52 PM
Just to keep ya'll in the loop, last nights ride has made me second guess myself, I have to keep him working as normal, to keep anything as it is for the vet on Sunday. Well last night I tacked up etc as normal and went to the school, well Bo did not want me on his back :( , it took me over 20 minutes to get on him (OK so this could just be him in a bad mood but could also be him trying to tell me something)

So I finally get on him, and just thought I would give him a reasonable but fairly light workout, his walk was nice, chilled and relaxed :p . Then comes trot, an I have to say that is the bast trot I have had from him in ages :eek: :D it was this huge :D , expressive :D , power trot :D , It was incredible :D :p . I then pushed for a canter (something he has been unable to do in the school for a little while) and the first time the ears went flat back and his head shot up and I really had to push, but when I got it, it was nice. Other rein he was still a little unsure but went nicely, then other rein again and he did a lovely transition just as soon as I asked for it, all of these times he held it fine where last week he would disunite.

So now I am thinking all this effort to get him to the vet could be for nothing, but I can still see the slight difference in the muscle over his bum and he never used to be this bad about me getting on him. Either way he is going to the damn vet, I've arranged it all now.

Will update you again on Monday when I will have the results.