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 Expert
Posts: 1371
  
| I have a 5 yo mare that I believe is having some issues with tight hamstrings. I've been having some microcurrent therapy done on her and the gal that does this has brought it to my attention. I was told that backing her would help stretch them so I did that a few days ago but it resulted in a muscle spasm in her left hamstring. I've since used the microcurrent on her each day followed by rubbing both sides down with some coconut oil and Panaway (essential oil for pain). I've also been stretching her back legs each day. I ponied her yesterday. Just wondering how I can tell how serious or not this is. I don't want to run her if it could possibly hurt her further. She's had an issue with her 1st barrel (left) and hasn't wanted to follow my hand leaving it. Instead will hang and usually pick her head up. I'm not sure if the hamstrings have been bothering her for a little while. Any input on what I can do, how I can tell if she's ok to run, etc? would be greatly appreciated. .
Edited by hbrandranch 2015-09-19 7:37 AM
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 Saint Stacey
 
| Hamstrings are hard to heal. Vegas lightly strained hers a few years ago. We had to give her 3 months off. If you can afford a set, I'd invest in some MagnaCu stifle wraps. I'd also take him to a vet to get a definite answer as to what the problem is. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| I have a mare with torn hamstrings. She's still ridable but even at her fastest with a technically near flawless pattern she's bottom of 4D. It slows her way down and I worry about her hocks and hips from the change in her stride.
I would definitely spend whatever $$ I could on vets and therapies asap if I had owned her when the injury occurred. The scar tissue around the tear is the biggest problem. She has more try and heart than her body can hold so we've never had a gate issue and she can still slide and spin (former snaffle bitter) and she runs her heart out when I ask. But she's not a barrel horse anymore and I can't show her in working cow horse. She can go to sortings, pony my others, and trail ride but that's it.
Edited by HorseMommyFiveO 2015-09-19 8:37 AM
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| I was taught that sore and tight hamstrings are a sign of sore hocks. |
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Defense Attorney for The Horse
Location: Claremore, OK | ^^^^^^
Could be myopathy like reiners get but I'd be looking at hocks and stifles, mainly hocks. Especially, since the micro current isn't helping that's an indication something is keeping her chronically sore. |
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I Am a Snake Killer
Posts: 1927
Location: Golden Gulf Coast of Texas | One of mine had sore hamstrings and it ended up she bruised the cartilage in her stifle. If she is pulling off backside of barrel it's probably stifle! |
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Expert
Posts: 4766
Location: Bandera, TX | Liana D - 2015-09-19 9:33 AM ^^^^^^ Could be myopathy like reiners get but I'd be looking at hocks and stifles, mainly hocks. Especially, since the micro current isn't helping that's an indication something is keeping her chronically sore.
I agree with Liana. However, I would like to see blood work and poss. a muscle biopsy to make a better dx.
Keep up the backing. Make sure you have a balanced diet and test your hay if your not sure!
Try using Pure magnesium oil from Life-flo or giving the horse a bath in epsom salts and leaving on excess salts at the bottom of your bucket on the hamstrings.
I've also used a small wooden block to stretch the hamstrings, just place enough toe on the block to get the heel to drop and hope that they can stand there for thirty seconds. I stretch my horses daily and find if I skip a stretch on some they get tight. I can stretch some past their front cannon bone, but I usually start out being about 8-10 inches from their leg when we begin. I takes several months to get them flexiable. Increasing magnesium in the diet for a mare has done wonders for me-on a few.
I made a recommendation to a friend and asked him how often they were treating their string of horses headed into the final push for the NFR and he says they use their ESWT weekly. You might want to consider getting a shock wave therapy done and having the vet give you a thumbs up before you start hauling and asking for the winning turns. Because, several of us have had our last turns on horses that we kept pushing. I've had what I thought were just tight hamstrings end up to be High Suspensory Ligament issues. Most of the time they were a result of sore hocks and stifles however. |
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Too busy outside!
Posts: 5417
| I see tight hamstrings on about 98% of all sprinting horses I work on- it is the same as a human with tight calves. The "hamstring" in the horse is actually the gastrocnemius, and the tendon that ties it into the hock is the achilles tendon. Best thing is massage of the gluteal muscles above the hamstrings, the hamstrings themselves and the groin area. Then lots of passive stretching of the hind legs, forward, back and in and out, microcurrent helps too- but don't forget the stretching excercises! It's very common- just good to be aware of and maintain on a regular basis so you don't end up with a tear- A great stretch is lifting the hind leg straight up until the cannon bone is parallel with the ground (if hocks are healthy). Hold it for 10 seconds and slowly lower back to the ground-
Good luck! :) |
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Expert
Posts: 1371
| Thanks everyone for all the info & suggestions. Getting her to vet asap to check hocks & stifles and will continue with the therapies and stretching.
Hoping I'll be back on her soon. ?? |
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