5 things to do if your horse's back hurts

ARTICLE written by Pax Animalis - Read the full article here!

5 things to do if your horse's back hurts

To identify back pain, you can look out for a number of "red flags" that your horse may be displaying: he holds his front legs under him, he grumbles when grooming/saddling, he often puts a hind leg to rest, he can't move forward or he gets stuck, he often stumbles, he shifts when mounting, etc. To check whether your horse has a sore back, nothing could be simpler: take a brush or your hand, and run it over the line of the back, where your saddle rests. First with gentle pressure (as if touching the skin under the hair), then with firmer pressure (as if touching the muscle under the skin). If your horse reacts, trembles, pulls away, puts his ears down -> that's not good. You'll need to :

1. Call in a masseur: he'll be able to relieve tension directly and check compensations.
2. Check your equipment: the saddle that was suitable 3 months ago may no longer be. An unsuitable bit will cause him to contract and hurt himself. A blanket of the wrong size alters his whole locomotion and can create tension. Without a blanket, a draught or bad weather may cause him to contract.
3. Talk to the professionals who work with you: The groom may have noticed a change in his feet (cause or consequence of back pain). The alignment of the phalanges is very important. The veterinarian may suggest more in-depth examinations. The impact of the teeth on the skeleton is enormous: if the teeth are unbalanced, so will the rest of the body. Your teacher will be able to adapt the work around this issue.
4. There are two main reasons for this: Nerves emerge from the vertebrae, which are linked to muscles and organs. As a result, stomach pain (like an ulcer) can lead to back pain, and vice versa. Secondly, an unsuitable diet (high carbohydrate, low fiber) will create acidosis. The body is less able to deal with metabolic waste, and the state of the muscles pays the consequences.
5. Support your immune system: a drop in immunity can lead to muscle aches and pains, like the flu. In this case, all the horse's muscles will be sore, not just a localized contracture. It's a generalized inflammation of the horse's body. In any case, a drop in immunity is always an aggravating factor in pain.

A horse's back is affected by absolutely everything. Take care of it, because it's a reflection of your health!

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