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| Had the vet out to inject my horses hocks for the first time, while he was looking him over he noticed that he has a slightly tilted pelvis and had built up scar tissue, so it is something he has had for some time. Vet recommended chiro regularly. I’m not exactly sure how often I should have it done..
I had him chiro’ed about 3 weeks ago. Our first run back was a total turn around, and our second run 3 days later this past weekend was even better. I’m going to start with just watching him and when he starts to not perform like usual have him done again.
Does anyone have any experience with a horse with a tilted pelvis, and what did you do to help keep him comfortable?
Thanks much!!
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
 
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | Rustynailfl - 2014-01-06 1:36 PM Had the vet out to inject my horses hocks for the first time, while he was looking him over he noticed that he has a slightly tilted pelvis and had built up scar tissue, so it is something he has had for some time. Vet recommended chiro regularly. I’m not exactly sure how often I should have it done.. I had him chiro’ed about 3 weeks ago. Our first run back was a total turn around, and our second run 3 days later this past weekend was even better. I’m going to start with just watching him and when he starts to not perform like usual have him done again. Does anyone have any experience with a horse with a tilted pelvis, and what did you do to help keep him comfortable? Thanks much!!
if it is tilted and has scar tissue, I'm going to say he has broken it at some point. My 6yr had a lot of issues and all the vets thought hocks were making him sore in his SI. I could chiro him and get one great run and then he'd be sore in the back again. Found out it was from a broken pelvis and his prognosis for continuing barrel racing are poor unless I want to chiro after every run which isn't fair to him. He is getting 2 yrs of turn out to come back as a ranch and or hunter under saddle horse.
Broken pelvis is way more common than people think and not all show extreme lameness. Some are just "off" for a short period of time, some have a dropped hip and some bleed out internally and die immediatly. It can be from a slip, turning wrong or slipping while turning a barrel. Good luck, I hope yours continues to do better than mine did. |
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Location: Oregon | Im Interested in this as well. Will they always have a slight limp? Or with time off / turn out will they eventually heal and not have a limp? |
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Too busy outside!
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| This could be left from a torn SI ligament- here's a good illustration to explain-
eta: the tilt appears because of the scar tissue that was laid down to "fix" the tear. Sometimes it can be a large enough tilt to look like a true hunters bump, and sometimes it can be minimal, resulting in just a slight twist or tilt to the pelvis.
Just my first thought is all- 
Edited by trickster j 2014-01-07 7:13 AM
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| trickster j - 2014-01-07 8:08 AM
This could be left from a torn SI ligament- here's a good illustration to explain-
eta: the tilt appears because of the scar tissue that was laid down to "fix" the tear. Sometimes it can be a large enough tilt to look like a true hunters bump, and sometimes it can be minimal, resulting in just a slight twist or tilt to the pelvis.
Just my first thought is all-
This is very interesting! Im going to mention this with my vet, thank you! |
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Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | BKC2112 - 2014-01-07 2:26 AM Im Interested in this as well. Will they always have a slight limp? Or with time off / turn out will they eventually heal and not have a limp?
If that was directed at my comment, they can heal completely and the lucky ones can still compete. It has to be of the nature where they aren't that lame to begin with (so harder to diagnose) and then they need a long period of stall rest in hopes they don't move it getting up and laying down.
Mine went unknown so he healed in pasture. It didn't heal symmetrical so the new shape makes his muscles sore. He is already healed, but since he is young, the vet had hopes that turn out would allow his back muscles to adjust to the new shape. He didn't feel he would be a barrel horse, or any kind of horse that does fast turns, hard stops. He was never lame that I remember ever, but it either happened when he was at the trainer getting broke at 3 (but doubtful because I rode him hard as a 4yr old with no issues) or when he had the winter off while I was pregnant because as soon as I started to ride him and haul, he started to get sore.
He was only lame when he slipped at the last barrel race I was out and acted like his stifles were sore. He must have pulled something because when he was checked the next month and the pelvis issue was found, it was healed from at least a year, maybe more. |
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| BKC2112 - 2014-01-07 4:26 AM
Im Interested in this as well. Will they always have a slight limp? Or with time off / turn out will they eventually heal and not have a limp?
My guy has never limped. He only started to perform poorly and didn’t want to sit and turn like he used to. This is why we thought hocks, then the vet noticed his pelvis tilt. I had his hocks injected anyway just to start ruling things out. After that and having him chiro'ed he has made a good turn around. Before he would buck/crow hop during warm up and while running the pattern he would do it right before/going into a turn. Im just waiting to see how often he is going to need chiro'ed.
I believe he has had this issue for a while and it was over looked, and in the meantime he built up the scar tissue to heal whatever injury or sprain he had. (That’s just my guess).
This is a good article I found you may be interested in...
http://www.equestrianlife.com.au/horsecare/Understanding-the-sacroi...
My guy looks like the horse in Diagram 3, with the one side dipped more than the other and less muscle built up.
Edited to say: I should actually say he has never limped since I have owned him. I have had him for about 4 years, he was off for a number of years before I got him as the girl didnt have interest anymore.
Edited by Rustynailfl 2014-01-07 9:54 AM
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 I Am Always Right
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Location: stray dump capital of the world | I was here when my horse fractured his goofing off in the pasture. It was horrific. Nonetheless, we followed the vets advice to the T and some very knowledgeable people on this site. I never expected mine to go back to barrel racing. I had just gotten him home from the trainers as a 3 year old. You can't tell he is tilted looking from behind. If you look at his flanks, one is pushed in more than the other. Somedays he has no limp and others a very slight gimp. He is now a trail horse as I don't want to risk further damage. I can tell you, that sucker runs, bucks, slides on his hiney and roll backs freely in the pasture. I'm not going to ask him to do some of those maneuvers while in the saddle. He is a healthy, beautiful, horse that I still get to enjoy even if it isn't barrel racing.
Best of luck to you. |
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Too busy outside!
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| Rustynailfl - 2014-01-07 7:56 AM trickster j - 2014-01-07 8:08 AM This could be left from a torn SI ligament- here's a good illustration to explain-
eta: the tilt appears because of the scar tissue that was laid down to "fix" the tear. Sometimes it can be a large enough tilt to look like a true hunters bump, and sometimes it can be minimal, resulting in just a slight twist or tilt to the pelvis.
Just my first thought is all-
This is very interesting! Im going to mention this with my vet, thank you!
You are very welcome! Let me know how it all goes! :) |
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Veteran
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| Was wondering if you could update us all on how your horse is doing. Currently dealing with a "dropped" hip after getting cast. :( |
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Too busy outside!
Posts: 5417
| turnedout - 2014-11-25 6:55 PM Was wondering if you could update us all on how your horse is doing. Currently dealing with a "dropped" hip after getting cast. :(
What did you get cast? |
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Neat Freak
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Location: Wonderful Wyoming | guessing cast in his stall as in stuck up against the wall and struggled |
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Veteran
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| Yep! Got stuck in the panels. Called vet out immediately to check for injury, she did a full lameness exam and said he was fine. Called chiro next and he said his hip dropped. :-/ So trying to find as much info as possible. |
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Too busy outside!
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| A dropped hip would mean that the ligament connecting the sacrum to the hip was damaged. Rest and anti-inflammatories would be the best emergency care- if you can decrease inflammation and swelling there is a better chance that it will go back to the way it was pre-injury. |
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Neat Freak
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Location: Wonderful Wyoming | it could also mean cracked ilium. Hopefully not though. |
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 The BHW Book Worm
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| I'm bumping this up. I recently purchased a horse that passed a pre-purchase exam flexed and moved fine but a few days after I notes a little asymmetry in her hips. I had a chiro come out who is also a vet adjust her. She seemed pretty optimistic that we could get her comfortable. We are first treating her 28 days ulcer guard because she strongly felt the ulcers were effecting her back causing the previous hip condition to exacerbate. She moves equally on both sides and has a wide range of motion, picks up both leads equally well the only thing that tips me off is she is a little hollow through that back and a little stiff through the neck and back at a canter.
I really am keeping my fingers crossed that most of the problems with this mares hip and lower back are related to the fact when I purchased her.
She is a little over 3 on body condition.
Had never had her teeth done and it was BAD
Extremely under run heels that are crushed
Bad ulcers not yet in the hind gut though.
all these problems can put stress on the lower back X pelvis....I will add this mare is 5 and halter broke only lol...she really did pass a pre purchase exam even though I will admit I chose to go with a cheaper equine vet than I normally use because the horse wasn't expensive.
Edited by Thistle2011 2014-11-25 11:10 PM
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| Thank you both!
When the vet was examining him, she focused more on the lower limbs, but I did ask about pelvic fractures. She simply went and yanked his tail up and said he wouldn't allow her to do that if anything was broken. Has anyone heard of that?
I've been taking weekly hind end photos to keep track of changes, it seems like primarily muscle atrophy, nothing drastic like I have seen in some of the other photos floating around.
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Neat Freak
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Location: Wonderful Wyoming | turnedout - 2014-11-25 9:16 PM Thank you both! When the vet was examining him, she focused more on the lower limbs, but I did ask about pelvic fractures. She simply went and yanked his tail up and said he wouldn't allow her to do that if anything was broken. Has anyone heard of that? I've been taking weekly hind end photos to keep track of changes, it seems like primarily muscle atrophy, nothing drastic like I have seen in some of the other photos floating around.
eh no. Mine would let me do just about anything with him. I was barrel racing him, did some jumping. He had been massaged several times as that is what kept him feeling good. He was a bit resistant when one hind leg was up for the farrier. A pelvic exam by a GOOD vet is a cheap way to find out. Then if they are unsure, go ahead and have one ultrasound the area. They can see spacing differences if a fracture is suspected because rarely do they heal symmetrical unless given stall rest and a lot of luck. I could play with my horse's tail all day long. |
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I Am Always Right
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Location: stray dump capital of the world | wyoming barrel racer - 2014-11-25 10:33 PM turnedout - 2014-11-25 9:16 PM Thank you both! When the vet was examining him, she focused more on the lower limbs, but I did ask about pelvic fractures. She simply went and yanked his tail up and said he wouldn't allow her to do that if anything was broken. Has anyone heard of that? I've been taking weekly hind end photos to keep track of changes, it seems like primarily muscle atrophy, nothing drastic like I have seen in some of the other photos floating around. eh no. Mine would let me do just about anything with him. I was barrel racing him, did some jumping. He had been massaged several times as that is what kept him feeling good. He was a bit resistant when one hind leg was up for the farrier. A pelvic exam by a GOOD vet is a cheap way to find out. Then if they are unsure, go ahead and have one ultrasound the area. They can see spacing differences if a fracture is suspected because rarely do they heal symmetrical unless given stall rest and a lot of luck. I could play with my horse's tail all day long.
I agree. When mine fractured his pelvis, I could move his tail all over and he was fine with that...even as a fresh fracture. I'd look for a 2nd opinion. Even if nothing shows, peace of mind is worth it. |
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Too busy outside!
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| sophiebelle - 2014-11-26 7:10 AM wyoming barrel racer - 2014-11-25 10:33 PM turnedout - 2014-11-25 9:16 PM Thank you both! When the vet was examining him, she focused more on the lower limbs, but I did ask about pelvic fractures. She simply went and yanked his tail up and said he wouldn't allow her to do that if anything was broken. Has anyone heard of that? I've been taking weekly hind end photos to keep track of changes, it seems like primarily muscle atrophy, nothing drastic like I have seen in some of the other photos floating around. eh no. Mine would let me do just about anything with him. I was barrel racing him, did some jumping. He had been massaged several times as that is what kept him feeling good. He was a bit resistant when one hind leg was up for the farrier. A pelvic exam by a GOOD vet is a cheap way to find out. Then if they are unsure, go ahead and have one ultrasound the area. They can see spacing differences if a fracture is suspected because rarely do they heal symmetrical unless given stall rest and a lot of luck. I could play with my horse's tail all day long.
I agree with the other girls- the tail yank would show nothing, except that you need a more educated vet.  |
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