I've not kept you all totally up to date on Ri -- he is probably more or less okay, but after a long stretch of almost daily riding we're having an issue. He has been very resistant, though not exactly lame, going one direction. It feels like tightness/resistance/sucking back, but it had been worsening as time passed. People watching us didn't really detect "lameness" but agreed he seemed a whole lot unhappier going one direction. He has been awful about saddling, and it FEELS like his back, and a massage therapist found soreness where the stirrup bars rest - hence the saddle search. I gave Ri a week off, and here is my little informal "wellness check" in the pasture -- basically just looking to see if he looks hitchy or resistant to moving forward. No, the footage isn't great, and he's wearing a blanket, but there are one or two stretches of trot here. We're treated to a Harv check too -- he looks pretty good, no?
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Ri and Harv: How're they doin?
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Stacy, if your saddle doesn't fit, it makes sense that he is sore wearing it. Whether he moves out apparently sound in a muddy field under a blanket is not a good judge of whether you should go back to work in any event, and even if it were it isn't even relevant here whether he trots sound... because you will at best simply recreate the problem once you start riding again and at worst you will cause permanent damage to him. Plus, you're causing pain when you ride in a saddle you know doesn't fit. You can't even plead ignorance on this one.
ReplyDeleteEither find a saddle you can borrow that he can be happy in temporarily until you find the right one, or ride bareback or in a cashel soft saddle or whatever for a while. You really should not put him in a saddle that is too narrow again at all, for any period of time.
unknown, i have no intention of riding with the original saddle--which BTW is sold--or necessarily riding. Just doin' a check...
ReplyDeleteI'd say that he's looking good. I assume you're moving him onto a bit of lunge work as well to keep him fresh and thoughtful now that it's clear it isn't an issue in his feet or legs that's active?
ReplyDeleteHarvey looks awesome, by the way. You can hear his little mental "Come on, change directions! Show your full range, kid!" Such an old hand, isn't he?
That "hoppiness" in the trot, when he almost canters and then doesn't? That's exactly how foot soreness showed up in my horse. He was also cranky about being saddled (even after I'd had two saddle fitters out who BOTH told me that the saddle was fine) and was very resistant to going forward, especially in the trot.
ReplyDeleteIn my horse's case it was caused by winter grass with a very high sugar content - he's quite sensitive to it. Does Ri have a digital pulse? Has his pasture or turnout time changed recently? And could this in any way be related to the mystery lameness he had a few months ago?
It's definitely hard to diagnose anything in that situation, plus with the whole not being a vet thing... But I think we all see what has happened to us in a similar kind of situation. What I noticed (besides being a tiny bit uneven a couple times, in a can't-tell-anything way) was the first trot from behind his left hind swung out more instead of going straight forward. My horse was like that with his right hind, including some head bobbing and NQR moments. In his case it was a strength thing. His left hind is his stronger leg, and the head bob allowed him to evade and not have to use that side of his body as much. It turned out the key was actually him starting to use his obliques - which extend up under the saddle - more on the right side as well as build strength on his right side overall. I had a VERY hard time pushing through it because my first instinct is ALWAYS to give them time off to feel better. However, he needed to push through it to build more muscle to keep up with the naturally stronger side. Since my horse bobbed and resisted to the left, in seeing my own horse's symptoms in Riley I would guess he's more resistant to the right.
ReplyDeleteI noted the little bobbles and "almost canter" also. Riley seems less sound than Harvey, who is lookin' good. I'd like to see his hoof landings on more consistent footing. FWIW.
ReplyDeleteI think Ri looks as if he's moving slightly off behind. Its subtle and not consistent. Its the sort of thing that could be caused by "high up" stuff, like the back. These are the hardest lamenesses to diagnose--but it fits with your saddle fitting issues. He certainly isn't very lame, though.
ReplyDeleteHard to say that I see anything worth noting in the video. The proof to me is always in the riding, mostly because that's when I have the best feel.
ReplyDeleteEither way, Harv looks super. I absolutely love seeing older horses--especially ones that have had long working careers--looking so good!
They both look pretty good to me! A lungeing video would be more informative, but Riley certainly seems willing to move out, even if he does prefer one direction, which is to be expected.
ReplyDeleteHarv is such a playful guy! I love how he is harassing his younger brother. He looks so cute when he trots!
Agree with all - Harv looks fabulous!!
ReplyDeleteRiley seems to be off - I see what I call a slight "hitch" in the trot that is off/on. You've gotten rid of the too-narrow saddle. Is everything else checking out? Massage therapist found soreness in an area that corresponds to the saddle issue. I'd also look at chiro/dental/hoof stuff as all those can contribute to lameness issues.
I'd love to see Riley w/t/c on the longe line in an arena with no blanket on. I'd also do what one commenter suggested and check the footfalls - via the hoof prints - to see what is landing where and how.
I'm sorry to hear your troubles in this regard. Well, my mare has two pressure points as well and started "quitting" under saddle more often (stopping randomly despite strong leg). She does not ever complain unless there is an actual problem. She's 100% honest. So, my saddle fitter is coming out and I am having him look into a lightly used Stubben. We're on the same track as you ... and I will be giving myself the same " try not to obsess" lectures. My gelding, thank goodness, still fits well in his saddle. I say we all just ride buffalo. How much could you damage the back of a big, wooly buffalo??
ReplyDeleteI just had a lightbulb go on.
ReplyDeleteIn regards to Riley, he had foot problems before, if I recall correctly. Hear me out. When I worked with a vet for a year, I recall lots of lameness exams during which the vet always started foot first. When a horse has a foot or leg issue, he moves differently to compensate for the pain. If the foot issue goes on for long enough, it can cause residual, "phantom" lameness elsewhere. If Riley had muscle changes or atrophy due to the way he moved when his foot was off, it could affect his back too. If the saddle change does not help him any, just keep this tucked in the back of your mind. Remember to bring it up in a conversation with your vet ... as a casual "what if."
I bring it up because the issues I have with my gelding all connect in some way. When he was neurologic and moving poorly/stumbling, of course he affected his stifles ... a lot. So, now we still have to treat his stifles despite the neurologic weirdness being gone 100%.
I am not the best at seeing lameness but have you had his jaw checked? A friend's horse had off and on front lameness undersaddle that could never be diganosed for years. They moved their horse to the barn I board at and started using the vet who come out there. The vet diagnosed the horse as having TMJ and then my friend chose to do injections. Cleared up any signs of lameness and he's been sound going on 2 years from 1 injection.
ReplyDeleteMy horse has also be diagnosed with TMJ (no other horses in the barn have so this isn't something the vet always says a horse has) and I choose to have injections done. The difference in how he moves is amazing. Taking contact firmly, relaxed through the topline and hits the ground like a cat now. Not all TJM cases need injections, some just need a few adjustments but it can really help with pain. I have TMJ myself and I know first hand how the pain can travel down into your shoulders and arms. May not be your issue but good to keep in mind.
Saddle fit is definatley a good place to start. Also, nutrition plays a large part in overall soundness. If you haven't already I would speak with an equine nutritionist to be sure his diet is balanced and is not high in starch. I would totally recommend Dr. Juliet Getty. My horse had similar issues. Now after a new saddle, chiropractic visists, nutritional advice, time off, and daily stretches he is much more willing and able to move forward.
ReplyDeleteThis might sound strange, but have you thought about hard play? We have a couple of horses that are BFF but when they play, they play REALLY hard. We've had everything from a minor injury to an extended tendon injury that took an Arabian out of endurance racing.
ReplyDeleteThey pull on each other's blankets so hard that they tear, go FLYING off, then graze next to each other 10 minutes later!
He looks off to me behind. Not every step, but enough that it's noticeable.
ReplyDeleteI'm not so sure it's caused by riding in an ill fitting saddle. I don't think your saddle fit was SO off that it would cause him to move like that at liberty. Certainly it could make him more resistant under saddle, but I've seen lots of people riding in pretty poorly fitting saddles and haven't seen it affect a horse in quite that way.
Certainly you should find a better fitting saddle but I'd be looking at something else for the lameness. Have you had a massage therapist work on him? Sometimes they are the best at finding muscle issues. Last winter I saw Freedom slip on the ice and he was slightly off on the LH for quite a while - a pulled glute. What really helped him was massage and acupuncture.
Oye, how you read this all! I most agree with "Net" as I see the resistance behind. I was just dealing with similar weakness issues on Coz and find mistakes in my position are enabling/creating this condition. However I am fortunate to share Coz with a talented half boarder, and now have a straighter/ more balanced horse.
ReplyDeleteHe looks sound to me. Have you had his teeth checked? My mare would not go well to the right but good to the left. After a floating she was perfect again.
ReplyDelete