Putting this in h/j due to common issues. Have you found chiropractor, injections, rehab to work best? 6 yr. warmblood has tiny bit of kissing spines. Very sore across sacroiliacs and behind the saddle.
Slow building up of the correct muscles is the best fix, but it’s not quick. Trying to fix anything quickly will shorten the horse’s useful life in the end.
1 Like
Started with injections, followed by 6 weeks of physical therapy (aka active rehab), then acupuncture. Vet did not recommend chiropractic because his skeleton is already in a delicate place, and it’s his muscles that need the relief.
My growing large hunter benefited from hill work. Estrone helps some with back trouble, unless they are too loose to begin with (eg stifles). One of mine who is very fit needs Robaxin to keep him comfortable. I practice lots of (proper) collection followed by lots of long and low before jumping them.
Just came back to reiterate the acupuncture option… my horse had been out of work for over a week due to poor air quality from the wildfire smoke. All that time standing around, even with night turnout, made him pretty stiff and sore, so I had the vet come out to do another round of acupuncture. I just had my first ride on him since the treatment 4 days ago, and he’s like a new horse. No head-tossing, no stiffness or tension or anxiety, no rushing at fences, no issues with collection, nothing. I never seriously considered acupuncture as an effective treatment for anything before, but it makes an obvious and substantial difference for my guy.
