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At 10:21:24 on 05.08.09, farasi wrote:
I am sure there are a lot of you out there whose horses have had back and muscle problems. I though I would put a bit on here as it may help you perhaps help you, it would also be interesting to hear of any other things that I could perhaps do. I would also like to hear of other peoples experiences.
The back ground on Hovis. Arrived with me as an unraced racing reject in January of last year. Hovis is a very sensitive horse and was fairly well developed in the front end, he also had a bit of an issue getting on, and was very tense when ridden. He was sound. Work started and although saddling him up and getting on him was a slow and gentle process, once on board he did not misbehave he was just tense. This horse in the stable is the friendliest gentlest sweet natured horse I have come across in a long time, so being bad was not in his make up! Work started and the tight sore back and tight shoulders started, and got quite bad, so it was stop work, lay him off and start again when more relaxed. This went on for a while, and then everyone said big horse turn him away, so I did for 6 months, removed his hind shoes as he had a tendency to pull shoes (any of them) all the time. Work started again and same thing, by this time you had the usual Kissing Spine, and it’s just a wrong one. I knew the horse in the stable and just did not believe it, although I was considering if I can’t get to the root of the problem soon, I’d get him shot! A very good friend came down to visit me in April (she is also a vet) and said she would look at him for me. He had seen ET practitioners, chiropractors, other vets and various other people, all with slight relief but nothing long term, could not pin point the problem. Well my friend came down, I brought him in from the field and she said without even touching him, the problem is his feet, take the shoes off and you will see a different horse, his back will not be an issue. Well we all would probably think, she is a bit nuts, but I trust her and know she is good and she has worked wonders with my other horse on fixing problems, also she knows with me if I commit to doing something, it will be researched and done to the full with total commitment. So off came the front shoes. He was more comfortable and within 3 days there was a difference in his back. Six weeks later he was still not sound, so I thought X-rays were in order as there was something not right with his feet. X-rays done by my own vets, and the suggestion was shorten the toe and take the underun heels right back to encourage them to grow down, and surgical shoes. At this point I spoke with my farrier and (he may have humoured me) I said no to surgical shoes, we would do it natures way. My vet humoured me too, so no shoes, major trim very sore horse. One month one, more comfortable horse, six weeks one sound horse, no tension at all in the back, and lunge work commenced. 3 weeks on for that, I got back on him (with his new made to measure saddle). Things are moving on well and in six months time my horse will be completely relaxed with no muscle tension and be able to move through from behind and be more confident in his work, this is a horse on the up, who will never have shoes put back on him, who’s whole life style has had to be changed including diet. I just wanted to share that there may be something else causing a problem else where, it’s not always the obvious! Had I listen to some very knowledgeable people this horse may have ended up being operated on for kissing spine or some expensive other back treatment. Experience and knowing the horse told me that it wasn’t that. I was saved a lot of money and the horse was saved from a lot of unnecessary poking and prodding and vets treatments. I am lucky I have a good farrier, friend (vet), and ET practitioner who all supported me and helped me. We have also learned a lot on this journey and are still learning!
There is an album of his feet progress for those that are interested. |
