Physio for the Sore backed horse

 October 2020

Frankie's Sore Back and Therapy

Used for vaulting mostly at a walk, with some trotting by students that are supple and have progressed from Ziva and Miss July

Diagnosed with possible kissing spines

To receive Previcoxx once a day for 60 days

Purchased October 2019 halter broke only

Indications of trouble

misstepping at walk on any leg, which gradually became worse over time

cannot cross hindleg in front of over and past the leg in turn on forehand, working

not stretching down at trot or walk.  Poll is lower than at trot or canter

refusing to leave stall to work

no flinching at touch to her back

sore in the back where a rider would sit 

Muscles of back raised on each side

Muscles on croup are developed (not through in the back)

Does not over track at walk

canter hindleg does not come under rider's seat

naturally high headed

back hollow

not moving from behind

difficulty stepping over cavalletti on lowest

Physio Programme

30 minutes minimum of lungeing at walk, trot, some canter (as her canter needs to slow and balance better) per day

walking forward at walk, working from behind:  wearing a neck stretcher to encourage her to lower her heard.  Neck stretcher does not hold her head down but to make it incomfortable to be inverted. 

slow trotting to encourage her to lower her head.  Able to drop to knee level for 2/3 strides after 1 week of work

leaving stall willingly

not standing still to have tack adjusted (feeling better about moving?)

She will have trot over cavalletti on lowest setting to see how steps over (in stride, not hitting the cavalletti with a toe)

To improve canter will lunge over jumps (cavalletti set at highest point). Be sure not to jerk her when she lands or shortly after.  Punishing the horse for doing what you want is counter productive.

Diary

Oct 29 Judy Hyde came out to work on her.  Hips locked, sacrum tight, withers locked which would cause nerve pain/stumbling, 

Frankie December 2019 training to be ridden

Today (Oct 30) cantered disunited which she has done in many months. Did not change on her own so brought back to trot.  would also do canter to halt transitions when asked for canter/trot transition.  Able to do halt trot transition

3 weeks after diagnosis

2 days off.  Walking through the snow (about 8" on the ground"

Snow is an excellent exercise tool.

able to step over the cavalletti at walk and trot without hitting sometimes. Reaching to step over rather than taking a stutter-step (was seen at a walk and trot previous week)

Bent to inside on the circle on both reins.  

working from behind  Hindlegs first to stop and to move off.  

The left hind swings out and landing outside of the front hoof on a circle.

Able to cross in front of the hind leg when doing a turn on the forehand

Standing quietly to be tacked and untacked.

Able to catch easy

 A wool blanket was used for warming her muscles before working.  Kept on during work so her back muscles don't chill.  Wool is used because it is warm even when wet

counter bending on a circle is shown by lunger/person inside the circle able to see the outside jawbone

Photos from fall 2019 showing posture

good stretch: he is able to do this on the lunge for 2/3 strides at walk and trot after 2 weeks

Note lower neck muscling

note muscling on her croup

has soft lumps on left front knee

Update

September 2021

X rays in August showed lots of arthritis in her knee.  In the front and behind in the joint.  Dr. Green speculates she was in a bad wreck.  She had arthritis in an area horses don't get arthritis in the knee (behind the knee joint).  She also has a big scar at the top of her leg.  When we got her she would not let people touch her hindquarters. She kicked.  Did not stand quietly.  

Frankie has been excellent in lessons. Very kind. Attentive to the rider/vaulter.  Sensible.  She is young (11 years old) so we decided to inject her knee.  She will be mostly pain-free for another year or so.  

It is such a shame.  She improves every lesson it seems.  Her mind is so good.  Her body is developing 

very nicely.  

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