Horses

HORSES

ACUTE CAUSES

Slipping/falling when being ridden or in the field
Becoming cast in the stable
Slipping/falling during travelling
Severe bucking or rearing

CHRONIC CAUSES

Ill-fitting tack
Poor foot balance
Conformational faults
Asymmetric muscle development
Dental problems
Repetitive/ strenuous work
Compensation from an injury/lameness

Asymmetric muscle development and pelvic alignment can cause pain and tension

SIGNS OF BACK PAIN

Changing in sensitivity over the back when grooming/saddling/rugging
Uncharacteristic bucking/rearing/napping
Reduced ability to perform at usual standard
Reluctance to work in an outline/hollowing the back
Stiffness on one rein/reluctance to bend
Head shaking/tilting the head
Inability/reluctance to strike off or maintain a particular canter lead
Going disunited in the canter
Lack of impulsion and forward movement
Beginning to refuse jumps/rushing jumps/knocking down poles/running out
Loss of ability to bascule over a fence
Drifting to one side over a fence
Unlevelness/stiffness, particularly behind
Behavioural changes, lethargy, or grumpiness
Reluctance to stand square
Cold backed/moving when mounted
Uneven stride/lameness, where alternative causes have been eliminated by a vet

Lower limb injuries or weak conformation can cause compensations in the muscles in the upper limb and body

Palpation is a useful tool to check for sensitivity and pain in the muscles and skeleton.

Testimonial - Julia and Mav

It is really important to know what is normal for your dog and when things are not quite right

Lucy came to my yard during her training and looked at a few of my horses at the time. Since she has qualified she has continued to visit my yard and treat my Intermediate event horse Mav. Mav is an older horse with a few issues that need to be kept on top off in order for him to compete at this level.

Lucy has a professional manner when dealing with myself and a very patient manner when dealing with Mav. She always explains clearly what she has found and how she is going to treat him. Mav always enjoys his sessions and is always much straighter after Lucy has been. As Lucy is a rider herself she finds it easy to relate to any schooling issues I may have and always offers sound advice. I really like having a treatment sheet at the end of each session that states any further work and suggests exercises to help keep Mav straighter for longer.

Testimonial - Louise and JimJam

Jimjam started life as a race horse and then retrained as a polo pony – both very demanding careers where I expect he had a few falls. I bought him in 2009 when he was 7yrs old and we have had problems with his back and his hips ever since. We enjoyed playing polo initially but it became clear that he wasn’t sound enough to continue so now we enjoy hacking, trail riding and sponsored rides.

Lucy used Jimjam as a test patient while she was training and I was very impressed with her professionalism and manner. She explained the treatment thoroughly before she began and continued to do so throughout the consultation, explaining what she was doing and why.

Jimjam doesn’t take too well to strangers touching him, but he quickly warmed to Lucy and I think he really enjoyed it! Following Lucy’s visit Jimjam’s movement was much more fluid and he felt so much more relaxed. Lucy has been treating him regularly ever since, this has consequently made him more comfortable and shows in the way that he is now moving, and I see a marked improvement in his performance every time Lucy visits. I happily recommend Lucy to all my friends.

If you are unsure or have any questions regarding your animal please do not hesitate to contact Lucy on:
Telephone - 07849 867987 / 01844 343091
Email - lucy@animalspine.com