Back-Soreness?

Hey all,

My mare, Savannah, has been showing signs of back-soreness? I think my saddle doesn't quite fit her, (therefore I stopped ridding), but she still continues to show signs of discomfort. She doesn't have much muscle mass, but should I lunge her? Make her do her stretches? Bending? Etc? I don't want to "damage" her further.

Thanks!

Get a chiropractor/massage person out to see her. Damage caused by an ill-fitting saddle doesn't just go away when you take the saddle off - She will probablty need some help to heal.

That's exactly what I want done, but unfortunately my funds are currently limited. Until I have the cash for a chiropractor, what can I do to help my mare?

Do lots of stretches - that wont fix joints out of alignment though - nothing will but a Chiro.

Right now, I would massage her with liniment and cold hose her back for now, until you can get the funds to get her taken care of.

I would also look into getting a Proffessional Saddle Maker/Fitter out to examine your saddle and your saddle on your horses back - to help you find the right shape and size that your horse needs so ensure that this issue doesn't come about again.

You can do all the lunging you want, but that isn't going to adjust her joints that are already out. You can do carrot stretches, but all that'll do is work on muscles, not joints that are out.

When I had Nelson recently done, his lower vertibra were out, but so was his pelvis, his jaw, his poll and his neck. Luckily my Chiro costs me $50 :)

I would be wary of cold hosing the back - It can be detrimental to muscles - Being too cold over the back and loins can even create soreness.

There really isn't too much you can do, apart from as MIE suggested, massaging with liniment. You could try something like Sore-no-more that will only froth where she is sore and will froth more the more pain to pinpoint where she is sore and how severely.

Sore-no-more? I'll look into that!

My Chiro/acupuncturist/massage/laser guy used it on Bundy and it was amazing - It pinpoints exactly how sore they are and were.

I have "Sore No More" and it never frothed for me - huh. I'm going to have to try it again and see if it does it. That's cool.

^ It might mean he isn't sore!

As far as I know it works on the heat generated by sore muscles, which causes the reaction which equals frothing. You have to rub it a lot too, like in a circular motion, with firm pressure. As if you were washing your hair and trying to suds it up.

I meant to reply last night, but my Internet's been screwy. I apologize..

Which product should I buy? I'm looking here, and I'm probably going to buy the one for thrush, the shampoo, and one of the supliments. I'll also get what you all recommend. Thanks!