Snickers and the mysterious hind end saga

Did you ask about acupuncture? I would consider it after the EPSM/PSSM Tests if they come up negative.

Hey Desert...still have it in the back of my mind. I am still trying to find one. The only one I have so far is supposed to be EXTREMELY rediculously expensive. I've been told to be careful with choosing someone, and I've heard bad things about two others. So, I'm still on the search.

Chiro didn't even adjust her today saying that she felt it was a waste of my money while she may have a few little things to adjust, her hind end issue is much bigger and she wants me to put my money towards that. I asked her why, if it was a neurological thing, would she pass the physical tests that I've tried with her. She said it is probably because it is nothing new to her and she has adapted already since she has most likely already been like this since birth...this was just her observation and opinion, since she is not a vet. I appreciated it because the two vets I've had out to look at her haven't even been able to dx what it is with certainty.

I've been in touch with Dr. Beth Valentine, and she suggested starting with the EPSM/PSSM testing and go from there because if the test is positive, I can immediately try the diet change adding the fat etc....same as you suggested in the past. If it is negative, then I have the choice of taking her to a specialist to try and figure out if it is another neurological thing that they have come out with medication for or not that could possibly help. If not, then that's it.....just live with it. I can live with it at any time really and not do the other things, but since there is that glimmer of hope, I will try.

Have you done X rays to check for arthritis? She could have multiple joints with arthritis which would make it even harder to pinpoint the problem.

She moves very stiffly in her back legs and doesn't want to bring them under her at all. I would guess some combination of hock/stifle problem or arthritis?

No, I haven't. Vets and other professionals have sent me in so many different directions. I was hoping to at least kind of get two people saying the same type of thing instead of shaking their heads and guessing, at my expense. I wish I could just could take her somewhere and afford every test imagineable to be done on her, trust me, I would. I've gone from, "Oh it's her growing into her legs and being crossed with draft" to "It's stringhalt, here is the number for the surgeon" from vets. If I took everything I've been told to do, I'd be spending endless amounts of $$ already. So, I'm trying to start small with least invasive, least costly and work my way up. Granted, I am trying not to nickle and dime myself to death either. If I end up taking her to the specialist, that is likely where the xrays will come in amoungst who knows what else.

I'm supposed to take a video of her just being lead around and include going up and down a little hill. I will post it when I do. Thanks for the interest....I appreciate all the eyes I can get.

Can't really say much on this.

Along with the accupuncture suggestion, if you go that route I'd also suggest possibly looking into practitioners of animal EFT (emotional freedom technique aka tapping). It's essentially accupuncture without needles. It completely cured my mother of her 50+ year strong bridge phobia and turned my severe social anxiety disorder very mild in one session (I'm still working on that, it can take time because believe it or not, tapping can really wear you out).

I hope you find out what's going on with Snickers (my favorite candy bar by the way). She's a gorgeous mare.

If a saddle causes pain the path of the nerves extends all the way down the back legs to both sides of the each hoof. Give her a few days off, give her a good massage with the curry and try her bareback. It won't cost you anything and may provide a clue.

Thanks...we have a girl at our ranch who does holistic stuff. She does accupuncture stuff, but only to humans. She did mention doing something to Snickers using rods???? Do you know what that would be? She was curious to see what chiro did first...she even highly recommended this particular chiro too.

I was thinking of asking specifically this chiro since she comes so highly recommended if she could refer you to an acupuncturist.
The girl who does it...there are graphics with all horse acupuncture points online, I ran into some searching for you.
Another possibility is finding a holistic forum or website specifically for horses. Google this. As you said, the more folks hear about it the greater the chance for constructive advice.

Thanks saddlebag....I had her saddle checked by chiro who is also a saddle fitter. She said it fit quite well. She didn't do any adjustments today, since she felt it would be a waste at this point. She did check her muscles and she was in good shape. I have ridden her before, multiple times, after not riding her under saddle and it was no different. It is even noticable without being under saddle, just on her own. I notice it most in the trot and definitely the canter, not really the walk. But I am always in front of her or on her. Today chiro said it was there at the walk too....she would be walking fine and then like a step or two would be wider...she said her rhythm and cadence was off....but it is not consistent. I've noticed the inconsistency too in her gaits....it's almost like she can sometimes hold a rhythm like she is fine, and then it just falls apart and she has to start over.

She does not do the circling with her legs when turning, she backs up just fine, she doesn't walk drunk when she is blindfolded, she has great tail tone, she has great lateral flexion...the one think I question is when she takes her rear leg to scratch her face, like a dog, she sometimes needs to reposition to keep from falling over. Today chiro did a test where she would have a front leg forward, with the opposite rear leg forward...she would then try to pick up that diagonal front leg, and Snickers wouldn't reposition the hind leg appropriately. I tried to understand the best I could, but am not the best at seeing the way those things should work...lol.

desert....I asked chiro about acupuncture, which she is and highly recommends it for horses....but, that I need to have an actual diagnosis made first.:<