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Veteran
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| My mare was unsound all last year.. which at the time I couldn't find the reason for. The vet didn't know, we had xrays and flexion tests done. I had a massage therapist out who told me she was quite stiff in her hind end, and gave me massages to do on my own with her.
I then got a chiropractor out for her as well. It made a world of a difference!
Her issues were not being able to hold a gait, stumbling, refusing to walk downhill, and stood with her legs tucked way under her belly.
Within a few days after the adjustment she was a totally different horse. I was able to ride her almost everyday after that. Trail riding, and ring work. She was very out of shape due to having over a year off. Then, a couple weeks ago I pushed her too hard in the arena. I have been trail riding her a lot to build her hindquarter muscles, for about a month before this.
I trotted/loped around the barrel pattern a bunch, and practiced rollbacks, lope-halt transitions.
The day after, she was back to the way she was last year. Stumbling, tucking legs under, stiff movement, and was all over the place when going faster than a walk. Now, I must wait for the chiro to come out again in a couple of weeks.
Has anyone had a horse like this? That would go out in their hip after harder work than their used to?
Anyone use a chiropractor on a regular basis with their horses?
I'm wondering if this is something that will be fixable with regular chiro visits.. or if she will need it for life. Maybe she won't even be suitable for barrels if it goes out everytime she works hard.. or possibly needs more muscling to hold herself in place?
Any advice would be much appreciated :) |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
 
| It sounds like your horse may be tying up. Or sticky stifles |
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Veteran
Posts: 116
| cheryl makofka - 2014-03-01 8:14 PM
It sounds like your horse may be tying up. Or sticky stifles
I always thought tying up was temporary after a workout? What Mysti has is ongoing. It's been a couple weeks since the ride, and she's still the same. But, it does seem a lot like tying up, as she will be reluctant to move and very stiff.
What is sticky stifles exactly? Thanks :) |
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 Crazy Doggy Mommy
Posts: 1419
Location: Where Governor's make the liscense plates | when my horse stumbled in a trot or canter I had his hocks xrayed and only one had some arthritis so we injected him with a steriod and he's been great ever since he gets worked atleast 2 times a week in the arena. He usually is sore in his neck and back but has been getting massages about every 2 weeks and seems to be feeling extra good |
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Veteran
Posts: 116
| FirstFirewater - 2014-03-01 8:24 PM
when my horse stumbled in a trot or canter I had his hocks xrayed and only one had some arthritis so we injected him with a steriod and he's been great ever since he gets worked atleast 2 times a week in the arena. He usually is sore in his neck and back but has been getting massages about every 2 weeks and seems to be feeling extra good
I'm glad you got him figured out! :) I had xrays done on her hocks, and nothing came up. I've been massaging her every second day as well, which I'm sure feels good.. but doesn't help with her hind end really.
Another thing is.. when she is out.. she will shake her head around all over the place when moving. I wonder if her hip being out causes everything else to go out of line.. even up to her neck/head? |
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Crazy Doggy Mommy
Posts: 1419
Location: Where Governor's make the liscense plates | mystiboo - 2014-03-01 10:27 PM
FirstFirewater - 2014-03-01 8:24 PM
when my horse stumbled in a trot or canter I had his hocks xrayed and only one had some arthritis so we injected him with a steriod and he's been great ever since he gets worked atleast 2 times a week in the arena. He usually is sore in his neck and back but has been getting massages about every 2 weeks and seems to be feeling extra good
I'm glad you got him figured out! : ) I had xrays done on her hocks, and nothing came up. I've been massaging her every second day as well, which I'm sure feels good.. but doesn't help with her hind end really.
Another thing is.. when she is out.. she will shake her head around all over the place when moving. I wonder if her hip being out causes everything else to go out of line.. even up to her neck/head?
hmm well gosh I'm stumped and yes I've been lucky to find my guys cure but I got the tips from bhw so atleast you're in the right place :) best of luck and try not to get discouraged its very easy |
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Veteran
Posts: 116
| FirstFirewater - 2014-03-01 8:33 PM
mystiboo - 2014-03-01 10:27 PM
FirstFirewater - 2014-03-01 8:24 PM
when my horse stumbled in a trot or canter I had his hocks xrayed and only one had some arthritis so we injected him with a steriod and he's been great ever since he gets worked atleast 2 times a week in the arena. He usually is sore in his neck and back but has been getting massages about every 2 weeks and seems to be feeling extra good
I'm glad you got him figured out! : ) I had xrays done on her hocks, and nothing came up. I've been massaging her every second day as well, which I'm sure feels good.. but doesn't help with her hind end really.
Another thing is.. when she is out.. she will shake her head around all over the place when moving. I wonder if her hip being out causes everything else to go out of line.. even up to her neck/head? hmm well gosh I'm stumped and yes I've been lucky to find my guys cure but I got the tips from bhw so atleast you're in the right place : ) best of luck and try not to get discouraged its very easy
Thank you very much! I know how helpful you all are, your all amazing! :)
Oh yes, very easy to get discouraged! Had purchased the perfect mare 5 yrs ago, within a year had to retire her due to chronic arthritis. Then, onto my second horse.. she has issues as well. Trying to stay positive, it's all you can do really!(: |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| mystiboo - 2014-03-01 10:21 PM
cheryl makofka - 2014-03-01 8:14 PM
It sounds like your horse may be tying up. Or sticky stifles
I always thought tying up was temporary after a workout? What Mysti has is ongoing. It's been a couple weeks since the ride, and she's still the same. But, it does seem a lot like tying up, as she will be reluctant to move and very stiff.
What is sticky stifles exactly? Thanks : )
A horse with Pssm and getting the wrong food can always be tied up a little from what I have heard
Sticky stifle is where the patella is catching on the ligament causing the stifle to lock
Edited by cheryl makofka 2014-03-01 11:18 PM
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Veteran
Posts: 116
| cheryl makofka - 2014-03-01 9:16 PM
mystiboo - 2014-03-01 10:21 PM
cheryl makofka - 2014-03-01 8:14 PM
It sounds like your horse may be tying up. Or sticky stifles
I always thought tying up was temporary after a workout? What Mysti has is ongoing. It's been a couple weeks since the ride, and she's still the same. But, it does seem a lot like tying up, as she will be reluctant to move and very stiff.
What is sticky stifles exactly? Thanks : )
A horse with Pssm and getting the wrong food can always be tied up a little from what I have heard
Sticky stifle is where the patella is catching on the ligament causing the stifle to lock
Hmm.. I will look into both of them to see if it sounds similar. Thank you!
Right now she is just eating hay (80% grass 20% alfalfa) and a bit of beet pulp with vitamins at night. She is a very easy keeper. :) |
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Veteran
Posts: 264
| I know the pain you are dealing with! My main horse fell on the 2nd barrel, never took a lame step but was off. Hind end kept feeling like it was giving out, constantly tripping, cold backed, rock hard muscles, a list of issues. It was 7 months of guessing with multiple vets and finally someone recommended a different chiro. In the 7 months of diagnostic testing and no results, the chiro figured it out in 30 seconds. Pelvis and SI issues due to the fall.
After the 1st adjustment he was sound for about 2 weeks, then started tripping and was an unhappy boy again. The chiro suggested getting his SI injected to help keep the inflammation down and overall keep his adjustment. I did that the following week and after that his adjustments held. He does have to keep a regular schedule with the chiro, sadly it is something that will probably always be a maintenance issue.
Keeping the lumbar and SI area strong and properly conditioned is so important when dealing with pelvic injuries. Please feel free to message me if you want more info and.or exercises. :) |
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  More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | It does sound a little like he's tying up. What are you feeding? You could switch to a very low starch feed and see if that helps. You should be able to see a difference within a couple weeks. |
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 Keeper of the King Snake
Posts: 7622
Location: Dubach, LA | Regular chiro sounds like the way to go. It WILL be ongoing unless you retrain the muscles to hold the joint in its proper position. This can take several visits, but it sounds fixable. IMHO rollbacks are not necessary and they are extremely hard on a horse. |
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 Hog Tie My Mojo
Posts: 4847
Location: Opelousas, LA | Have you considered EPM? I think it is about $50 to send a blood sample to Pathogenes and they will e-mail results in a couple of days.
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Veteran
Posts: 116
| Turnedout.. Pm'd you. Thanks so much! :)
I will look into all the suggestions as well.. I have thought about EPPSM.. But after watching videos and symptoms it didn't seem like her at all.
No more rollbacks for now. Obviously her hind end isn't strong enough to hold her adjustment.. Let alone with rollbacks. I do them to try to get her to use her hind end more. But now I know to take it easier :) |
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Regular chiro visits.. Pelvis out?