donk - 2019-01-29 10:42 AM

It could be. We have a mare that had si issues. We only injected that area once. My vet at the time didn't do chiro. She rec chiro first, and yes it was out, then she injected it. I think we rested her 2-3 weeks. We never injected it again but my daughter ran poles on her in us rodeo so all we had did was have chiro check and adjust si about every 4 months. She's done great and now it hasn't come out in about a year. It may not be your horses si but it is very painful and you'll need a good lameness vet to determine if it's si, stifles or hocks. She had had her hocks injected before with no change. Just a thought - good luck :)

Gator Bug - 2019-01-29 10:49 AM

It could be. We have had 2 horses that had to have it done. One was showing and the other was in heavy training. On the first one, we did hocks and stifles first and then SI. The second one we did just hocks and then did the SI.

But, they were both still 'off' or not quite right after those first injections. Once we did their SI, they were fine. We did take a little more time off/easy works after with the SI injection than we do with other injections.  

LIVE2RUN - 2019-01-29 1:03 PM How were they acting when you did the injections?? Not performing?? I have't ruled out stifles either, but I had a mare that had stifle issues and she usually wouldn't make a turn at all, which is not the case with this mare, she's turning just on the wrong lead. So frustrating. Did you change saddles or anything else after you had the SI's done?

Gator Bug - 2019-01-29 12:24 PM


The second horse we had that was in heavy training showed more symptoms, like the lead changes/not doing them and kind of being 'cranky', The first one, his times were off a little and really not wanting to move out during daily exercise. I never did have to switch saddles. These were both younger horses at different stages and I try to keep up with saddle fit as they grow/progress with training.

Now, the second one was diagnosed with PSSM. That will also cause issues in the back end. We caught it early, but after the SI injection. He has not had to have his SI done again.   

LIVE2RUN - 2019-01-29 1:31 PM Thanks so much for the info! Since this just started happening (i have owned her for 3yrs) with the lead changes, I'm going to guess SI's. I am going to do a thermal imagine scan and see what that shows first.

Gator Bug - 2019-01-29 12:53 PM



You're welcome.

Also, if you haven't had SI injection done before, don't be shocked at the needle like I was the first time. LOL

I was like... You're going to put that needle in the top of my baby's butt?!?!? Are you nuts? LOL

and, yes...I did question a very good lameness vet. LOL

WetSaddleBlankets - 2019-01-29 6:32 PM

  From my experience my mare lacked impulsion behind at a lope, very noticeable on the lunge line. She also flopped leads and bunny hoped. There is very rarely lameness with SI pain... Unfortunately my mare was the very rare. She had a potty gate at the trot that looked like she was dog tracking and seemed off. The other biggest factor was the lack of quality of her canter. She struggled driving from behind.

donk - 2019-01-29 12:46 PM

She was kinda like your horse- not wanting to stay in her leads. It was like she wanted to just get her workout over with. It affected her right turns. Run up the fence on the first barrel, on poles timer end she would over run it and she did not want to go into the arena at all. After we figured out it was the si, she relaxed ALOT, no problem going in and turns to the right great. When she ran poles with it hurting she would over run it and turn back stiff. Hope that helps.

LIVE2RUN - 2019-01-30 9:00 AM


Ya we have no right turns at all....I'm guessing this is what it is, sore SI's. How do they get sore? Is it an ill fitting saddle, improper gates, etc?? We haven't even begun to run barrels. Last time I entered a race was over a month ago....

WetSaddleBlankets - 2019-01-30 12:47 PM


  Sometimes soreness happens from compensation, a slip of some sort or forcing improper frame and conditioning. They can get arthritis in the joint. It's a very interesting joint compared to the other parts of the body. It's basically large ligaments that attach the pelvis to the spine. Sometimes the ligaments can get strained, tore and unstable. Bone spurs can form too. My mare developed si dysfunction from an injury. A long road of exercises to strengthening her back with injections she has finally showed improvement!