Page 93 - August 2022

Horses evolved to be fleet of foot to Use of martingales or tie-down devices are
escape predators. Yet, nowhere in that
evolutionary process was there a stimulus for carrying weight on their backs. Our use
of the horse as a riding and draft animal has placed a “burden” on the unique anatomy of the equine spine and surrounding musculature. Through enjoyment of using equine partners
as our mounts, many horses face problems with their backs. The first step in managing this issue is recognition that there is a problem.
CAUSES OF BACK PAIN
An obvious source of back pain develops from poor saddle fit, due to irregular pressure points, pinching, or incorrect width or slope
of the saddle. Abnormalities of saddle fit potentially bruise the epaxial back muscles along the topline as well as create discomfort in the spinous processes of the vertebrae that form the withers. Hair color changes develop in an area of excessive compression from poor saddle fit -- white hairs on colored horses or black on a grey horse. Attempts to correct an improperly fitting saddle with saddle pads often only compounds the problem.
Poor rider equitation, particularly of a rider who leans to one side, places undue strain over a horse’s back. Compression on the muscles affects their blood supply to cause bruising of muscle and skin. The best solution is for the rider to seek help from a professional trainer to correct their seat and posture.
A common source of back pain occurs when a horse experiences chronic hind leg lameness, as for example in the hock or stifle. Gait changes from compensatory movement create secondary soreness in the back muscles.
Somecausesofbackpaincaninclude:
often accompanied by resistance as the horse braces his neck and back, leading to back soreness. Another situation that creates back tension and resistance is due to bitting problems related to the need for regular dental work. Have your vet check your horse’s teeth and perform necessary dental work to rule out or correct dental issues.
The longissimus dorsi muscles located along both sides of the spine flex and extend the spine and are integral to effective locomotion. A horse that takes a misstep, slips or falls, or fails to correctly clear an obstacle or lands awkwardly may injure these muscles. The supraspinous ligament runs the length of a horse’s back and can be injured with galloping or jumping. An injury to this structure may make a horse reluctant to perform lateral flexion of the lumbosacral spine. Techniques to avoid fatigue-related injuries rely on properly conditioning a horse and avoiding over-facing a horse with demands for skills that are not yet well developed.
It is also prudent to avoid turning horses into large pastures when the footing is slippery from mud or ice. Other traumatic injuries may occur from a horse jumping on another horse’s back during play or due to a horse falling and/or flipping onto its back. The equine back is infiltrated with nerve endings – nocioceptive receptors – that are easily stimulated. Trauma or irritation to these nerve endings may elicit primary back pain.
“Kissing” spines is a term that refers to impingement of the dorsal spinous processes (the top portion of the vertebrae) where bone touches bone or one vertebral process overrides another. This syndrome can occur due to a conformational deficiency in the spine and/or due to repetitive motion tasks such as high jumps or advanced
Poor saddle fit
EQUINE
BACK PAIN
VETERINARY VIEWS
by Nancy S. Loving, DVM
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Slippery footing
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SPEEDHORSE August 2022 91
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Martingales or tie-down devices
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