Page 533 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

Wobbler syndrome (see page 315)

VetBooks.ir BACK PAIN IN THE HORSE

Back pain may originate from the:

• skin
• associated muscles

• ligaments

• vertebrae (bone)

• nerves – due to trauma or compression.

Predisposing factors

• Certain types of conformation seem to predispose a horse to particular types of back pain.

Animals with long backs may be predisposed to muscle and ligament strains. Horses with

particularly short backs are more likely to develop vertebral lesions.
• The type of work may be a contributory factor. For example, dressage horses are often

sore in the area beneath the back of the saddle owing to the rider sitting deep and asking
for collection and impulsion. Horses performing strenuous exercise and those used in

riding schools with novice unbalanced riders are also vulnerable.

Causes of back pain

These include:

• falls, jumping awkwardly, slipping

• uncomfortable saddles and dirty or unsuitable numnahs (see saddle fitting on pages
359–364)

• inadequate warming up prior to strenuous exercise

• over-use, i.e. repetitive strain injury
• over-exertion of fatigued muscles

• being asked to perform at a level that is beyond the horse’s capability or level of training

and fitness
• failure to give the horse a 10 minute cooling-down period at walk following fast work

• bad riding