Page 535 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse

VetBooks.ir

Figure 12.6 This horse has back pain and is unhappy when approached with the saddle

Other possible symptoms of back pain include:

• loss of performance
• reluctance to stay on the bit

• shortness of stride in front

• ‘hopping’ on the transition from walk to trot

• poor hind limb impulsion and failure to track up
• working with a high head carriage and hollow back with little engagement of the

hindquarters

• moving uncharacteristically wide or close behind
• intermittent unilateral or bilateral hind limb lameness

• dragging the toes of the hind limbs and abnormal wear on the shoes

• increased stiffness especially when turning or working on a circle

• changing legs at canter or going disunited