I feel silly asking this question, but can horses pull muscles?
If so, how do they usually progress and how are they treated?
My horse had a massage last Monday (July 27) and during the stretching at the end he wrenched back on his right front. We didn’t think much of it, but by Tuesday he was head-bob lame at the trot on that leg and did not want to bend at all to the right.
No heat, no increased digital pulse, no weird lumps or bumps.
I tried him on different footing (hard packed, soft, gravel) with no difference, which made me think not abscess and (fingers crossed) not soft tissue.
Gave him some days off but still going outside, and 10 mins marching walk under saddle. Was progressing well, Friday was still stiff bending right but happy and forward and zero size of head bob or short stepping walk and trot, happy to hold a right lead canter.
To me, it seemed like he pulled a muscle in his neck/shoulder/forearm or somewhere similar, and it was healing just as a muscle pull will.
Then Saturday he went back to obvious head bob at trot. Still no heat, no stocking up, no digital pulse, no obvious injuries.
He’s been inside since then and I’m going to try a ‘bute test’ to hopefully rule out abscess. He is now stiff at trot but better than Saturday. I’m worried if I bute him and he feels good he’ll tear down the stall. He’s not great with being inside.
Vet, massage therapist and farrier have been given heads up.
Is there any way to discern muscle pulls?
What is the typical treatment (in/out? Handwalk/time off/working?)?
Generally I think of ‘hoof stuff’ (the technical term, I know!), ‘soft tissue’ and ‘joint/bones’. I guess muscles would be considered soft tissue but without an obvious lump or heat I’m surprised.
Any suggestions or insight would be appreciated.
