RECOGNIZING BACK PAIN IN HORSES

Back pain is a very common issue in riding horses but unfortunately it often goes unnoticed by the rider. It doesn’t help much that horses are creatures who like to mask their pain and often fool humans into thinking there is nothing wrong with them when in fact they are experiencing pain. This is why it is important for horse owners to be very observant so they can learn to recognise back issues before they become a serious problem.

The horse’s back represents a bridge between the propulsive power of the hindquarters and the supporting role of the front limbs, which is why it is of vital importance to keep it as healthy as possible. Without a healthy back, a horse cannot move in a healthy way. A sore back that is put to work is a sure recipe for lameness in the long run.

Signs of back pain can be fairly non-specific and differ from horse to horse, but if your horse is displaying some of the below symptoms it might be time to enlist the help of an equine health professional to check for any issues.

POSSIBLE SIGNS OF BACK PAIN:

• Poor performance – stiff movement, refusing jumps, reluctance to collect or perform certain movements.
• Behavioural changes, like bucking, rearing, swishing the tail while being ridden.
• Displaying discomfort while tacking up.
• Sensitivity to touch on the back or avoiding being brushed in that area.
• Back muscle atrophy.

GETTING INTO THE HABIT OF DOING SIMPLE BACK CHECKS

As responsible horse owners we always have to be on the lookout for any possible issue that our horse might have. The best way to do this is to gain an idea of what is normal for our horse. Before tacking up, make a habit of running your fingers along the horse’s muscles, especially the muscles of the back. Make a mental note of how they feel. Are they soft to the touch, do they feel springy and elastic? Is the horse accepting our touch? Or does the back feel stiff with no give in the tissue? Is the horse pinning his ears back or trying to evade our touch? The long muscle along the back should feel similar to our thigh muscle – soft and pliable. For some horses a slightly higher muscle tone is normal, which is why we need to gain an idea of normality for our horse. In this way we will be able to tackle minor back issues before they become more serious.

Although back pain is very common in horses, we can take measures to avoid or at least minimize it.