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Member
Posts: 38
| I've owned this mare since May. When I bought her she was in poor shape. I've had her worked on by a chiropractor twice since I bought her. She's totally healthy now, and I've been taking it easy bringing her back into riding. My saddle seems to fit her pretty well but I have no idea how to judge saddle fit.
It's been less than 2 months since her last chiro visit, and now it seems like she is out in her ribs again, specifically on her left side. She's been ridden inconsistently for the last month and hasn't done anything strenious.
My question is what could cause this to keep happening? Could a saddle fitting poorly be why? Or is it something more medical? I have my vet (who also does chiro work) coming out Wednesday to look at her-is there anything specific I could ask him to look at that could suggest why it keeps happening?
UPDATE: Well we took her to the vet...determined her back soreness was a bad saddle fit. Unfortunately we found a new problem-she has a "mystery" lamness on her right front fetlock. We blocked the nerves and found it was in the fetlock and xrayed it but her xrays are clean. She's on rest for a week and then we go back in 2 weeks to see if anything has changed. They seem to think it's in the joint, but we aren't sure what it is exactly. She also didn't show to be lame until he performed a flex test-she traveled sound before, he did the flex test on her leg, and then she would limp. Her fetlock has been swollen since Wednesday now, wasn't swollen before.
Edited by charmncharisma 2015-09-04 11:00 AM
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 Saint Stacey
  
| Are her feet balanced? That's where I'd start. If the feet aren't right, the body isn't right. |
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Member
Posts: 38
| SKM - 2015-08-28 6:45 AM
Are her feet balanced? That's where I'd start. If the feet aren't right, the body isn't right.
They were uneven when I first got her, but they're fine now. That was the first thing I checked. |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | Stand behind the horse, you may need a stool. Look down over the withers/shoulders and if they are uneven then the shoeing has not completed its job of balancing the horse. You may need to wedge especially if the horse is remaining sore. I've worked on a nice horse all summer and the shoer thought he had the feet balanced and took the wedge off. The horse went from placing in the top 3 to running 2D times at rodeos. So the wedge went back on last night and the horse is coming back to me tomorrow for body work as the young lady has a race and a rodeo this weekend. So I'm with SKM FEET!!! Have to be balanced and the body can be adjusted after. |
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Member
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| uno-dos-tres! - 2015-08-28 7:43 AM
Stand behind the horse, you may need a stool. Look down over the withers/shoulders and if they are uneven then the shoeing has not completed its job of balancing the horse. You may need to wedge especially if the horse is remaining sore. I've worked on a nice horse all summer and the shoer thought he had the feet balanced and took the wedge off. The horse went from placing in the top 3 to running 2D times at rodeos. So the wedge went back on last night and the horse is coming back to me tomorrow for body work as the young lady has a race and a rodeo this weekend. So I'm with SKM FEET!!! Have to be balanced and the body can be adjusted after.
I'll try that! Thank you! |
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 Living within my means
Posts: 5128
Location: Randolph, Utah | My theory is if they keep needing adjustment something else is wrong. Start with the feet and then do a vet check.
I had a horse that kept needing shoulder adjustments, he finally showed an injury in the knee. After I treated that issue he went back to holding his adjustments. |
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 Expert
Posts: 4121
Location: SE Louisiana | Does your horse have a place to lay down and roll? There is a reason they do this. |
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Member
Posts: 38
| JcNhEmI - 2015-08-28 8:32 AM
My theory is if they keep needing adjustment something else is wrong. Start with the feet and then do a vet check.
I had a horse that kept needing shoulder adjustments, he finally showed an injury in the knee. After I treated that issue he went back to holding his adjustments.
To the eye her feet look okay, but when I can get some free time I'm going to do what the person above suggested, as well as have the vet come out Wednesday. Mostly it's been her ribs on her left side that keep going out. |
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Member
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| komet. - 2015-08-28 8:37 AM
Does your horse have a place to lay down and roll? There is a reason they do this.
Yes she's on pasture 24/7, we have stalls that open into the pasture so she wanders in and out as she pleases. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 372
| charmncharisma - 2015-08-28 12:18 PM
JcNhEmI - 2015-08-28 8:32 AM
My theory is if they keep needing adjustment something else is wrong. Start with the feet and then do a vet check.
I had a horse that kept needing shoulder adjustments, he finally showed an injury in the knee. After I treated that issue he went back to holding his adjustments.
To the eye her feet look okay, but when I can get some free time I'm going to do what the person above suggested, as well as have the vet come out Wednesday. Mostly it's been her ribs on her left side that keep going out.
Sort of sounds like that the chiro has figured out that if they keep telling you a rib is out(impossible) that you will keep writing a check.
Something to think about.
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Member
Posts: 38
| arion - 2015-08-28 11:08 AM
charmncharisma - 2015-08-28 12:18 PM
JcNhEmI - 2015-08-28 8:32 AM
My theory is if they keep needing adjustment something else is wrong. Start with the feet and then do a vet check.
I had a horse that kept needing shoulder adjustments, he finally showed an injury in the knee. After I treated that issue he went back to holding his adjustments.
To the eye her feet look okay, but when I can get some free time I'm going to do what the person above suggested, as well as have the vet come out Wednesday. Mostly it's been her ribs on her left side that keep going out.
Sort of sounds like that the chiro has figured out that if they keep telling you a rib is out (impossible ) that you will keep writing a check.
Something to think about.
My chiropractor is a local lady who is extremely reputable and always does a great job. My horse is always fine after she comes but eventually ends up back to needed more chiropractic work. I understand that it could seem that way, but that is not the case. |
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 The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | charmncharisma - 2015-08-28 1:17 PM arion - 2015-08-28 11:08 AM charmncharisma - 2015-08-28 12:18 PM JcNhEmI - 2015-08-28 8:32 AM My theory is if they keep needing adjustment something else is wrong. Start with the feet and then do a vet check. I had a horse that kept needing shoulder adjustments, he finally showed an injury in the knee. After I treated that issue he went back to holding his adjustments. To the eye her feet look okay, but when I can get some free time I'm going to do what the person above suggested, as well as have the vet come out Wednesday. Mostly it's been her ribs on her left side that keep going out. Sort of sounds like that the chiro has figured out that if they keep telling you a rib is out (impossible ) that you will keep writing a check. Something to think about. My chiropractor is a local lady who is extremely reputable and always does a great job. My horse is always fine after she comes but eventually ends up back to needed more chiropractic work. I understand that it could seem that way, but that is not the case.
Is she a human chiropractor that went on to work with horses as well?? If she continues to go out there is reason why she is consistently going out. If her feet are balanced then I'd move to hocks, stifles, etc and check for joint soreness, get some xrays, etc. I know with my horse having those joints feeling good had a major impact on my horse's overall health.
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Member
Posts: 38
| WYOTurn-n-Burn - 2015-08-28 12:18 PM
charmncharisma - 2015-08-28 1:17 PM arion - 2015-08-28 11:08 AM charmncharisma - 2015-08-28 12:18 PM JcNhEmI - 2015-08-28 8:32 AM My theory is if they keep needing adjustment something else is wrong. Start with the feet and then do a vet check. I had a horse that kept needing shoulder adjustments, he finally showed an injury in the knee. After I treated that issue he went back to holding his adjustments. To the eye her feet look okay, but when I can get some free time I'm going to do what the person above suggested, as well as have the vet come out Wednesday. Mostly it's been her ribs on her left side that keep going out. Sort of sounds like that the chiro has figured out that if they keep telling you a rib is out (impossible ) that you will keep writing a check. Something to think about. My chiropractor is a local lady who is extremely reputable and always does a great job. My horse is always fine after she comes but eventually ends up back to needed more chiropractic work. I understand that it could seem that way, but that is not the case.
She hasn't worked on people that I know of. I will have the vet check all those out when he comes Wednesday! |
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Too busy outside!
Posts: 5417
| JcNhEmI - 2015-08-28 8:32 AM My theory is if they keep needing adjustment something else is wrong. Start with the feet and then do a vet check. I had a horse that kept needing shoulder adjustments, he finally showed an injury in the knee. After I treated that issue he went back to holding his adjustments.
I agree- if they can't hold an adjustment it is because they are compensating for something else. |
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  Ms. Marine
Posts: 4642
Location: Texas | trickster j - 2015-08-30 12:41 PM
JcNhEmI - 2015-08-28 8:32 AM My theory is if they keep needing adjustment something else is wrong. Start with the feet and then do a vet check. I had a horse that kept needing shoulder adjustments, he finally showed an injury in the knee. After I treated that issue he went back to holding his adjustments.
I agree- if they can't hold an adjustment it is because they are compensating for something else.
This. I've had a mare that needed a few adjustments and 100% time off before she'd hold it. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| If she was out a long time before chiro adjusted her, the muscle/ligaments can cause the adjustment to go back out due to muscle memory.
I had one who would always go out in the shoulder, if the shoulder was in she was sound, when it went out she was lame. The chiro told me how to adjust her, and there were days I would have to adjust 4-5 days, about a month later she would stay in, just a thought. |
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Member
Posts: 38
| UPDATE: Well we took her to the vet...determined her back soreness was a bad saddle fit. Unfortunately we found a new problem-she has a "mystery" lamness on her right front fetlock. We blocked the nerves and found it was in the fetlock and xrayed it but her xrays are clean. She's on rest for a week and then we go back in 2 weeks to see if anything has changed. They seem to think it's in the joint, but we aren't sure what it is exactly. She also didn't show to be lame until he performed a flex test-she traveled sound before, he did the flex test on her leg, and then she would limp. Her fetlock has been swollen since Wednesday now, wasn't swollen before. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| charmncharisma - 2015-09-04 10:59 AM
UPDATE: Well we took her to the vet...determined her back soreness was a bad saddle fit. Unfortunately we found a new problem-she has a "mystery" lamness on her right front fetlock. We blocked the nerves and found it was in the fetlock and xrayed it but her xrays are clean. She's on rest for a week and then we go back in 2 weeks to see if anything has changed. They seem to think it's in the joint, but we aren't sure what it is exactly. She also didn't show to be lame until he performed a flex test-she traveled sound before, he did the flex test on her leg, and then she would limp. Her fetlock has been swollen since Wednesday now, wasn't swollen before.
You need to ultrasound if xrays were clean |
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Member
Posts: 38
| cheryl makofka - 2015-09-04 9:31 AM
charmncharisma - 2015-09-04 10:59 AM
UPDATE: Well we took her to the vet...determined her back soreness was a bad saddle fit. Unfortunately we found a new problem-she has a "mystery" lamness on her right front fetlock. We blocked the nerves and found it was in the fetlock and xrayed it but her xrays are clean. She's on rest for a week and then we go back in 2 weeks to see if anything has changed. They seem to think it's in the joint, but we aren't sure what it is exactly. She also didn't show to be lame until he performed a flex test-she traveled sound before, he did the flex test on her leg, and then she would limp. Her fetlock has been swollen since Wednesday now, wasn't swollen before.
You need to ultrasound if xrays were clean
That's the next step. I'm thinking of going to a different vet for a second opinion, and because I'm not too thrilled about her leg being swollen now. It's been two days since her visit. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| charmncharisma - 2015-09-04 1:16 PM
cheryl makofka - 2015-09-04 9:31 AM
charmncharisma - 2015-09-04 10:59 AM
UPDATE: Well we took her to the vet...determined her back soreness was a bad saddle fit. Unfortunately we found a new problem-she has a "mystery" lamness on her right front fetlock. We blocked the nerves and found it was in the fetlock and xrayed it but her xrays are clean. She's on rest for a week and then we go back in 2 weeks to see if anything has changed. They seem to think it's in the joint, but we aren't sure what it is exactly. She also didn't show to be lame until he performed a flex test-she traveled sound before, he did the flex test on her leg, and then she would limp. Her fetlock has been swollen since Wednesday now, wasn't swollen before.
You need to ultrasound if xrays were clean
That's the next step. I'm thinking of going to a different vet for a second opinion, and because I'm not too thrilled about her leg being swollen now. It's been two days since her visit.
Also get the swelling out, ice boot, cold hose, game ready, whatever you do get the swelling out |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | As above, very very important for you don't want the cascade of inflammation to overcome the joint and you can't get a good ultrasound with all that fluid. Keep on updating! |
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Horse keeps needing chiro...update