Tail bags, kissing spine, and SI disease

[SterlsPearls]

Just wanting to consult the hive here on a possibly very stupid question, but one that’s been plaguing me nonetheless.

To begin, I have a problem horse; body-wise that is. If you’ve heard of an issue prevalent in ottbs, he’s got it. Our biggest struggles right now are his kissing spine and SI issues. Nothing confirmed by radiograph or ultrasound on the SI, but 100% major issues there.

Now, you’re probably wondering, “What does this have to do with tail bags?” Allow me to explain: I’ve been developing a very loose theory in my head that tail bags hinder horses with KS and/or SI issues.

I’m not sure if it’s because of the extra weight/uneven distribution of said weight (For reference, I use a very light Biomane tail bag, however I reckon with the hair braided it makes movement weird) But without aubt, when my horse has his tail free he moves noticeably better. This is not a mental issue with tail bags, he’s been wearing one consistently for a year now and hasn’t ever shown any behaviors that indicate it causes him irritation (As far as the sounds it makes and the tail bag itself goes, the better movement is a seperate matter).

Now, my question is: Do any of you possibly think that a tail bag could hinder a horse with KS & SI issues to move correctly and make improvements in rehab? This might be a totally stupid question and I may just have an extra sensitive horse, but I’m going to go crazy if I don’t get answers. I’m very seriously considering ditching tail bags all together (sobbing at the thought) now that I’ve had this (very possibly wrong) revelation.

Im not sure if something as trivial as a braided tail and a tail bag could affect the movement and flexibility of an entire spine, but I suppose that’s why I’m asking!

For clarification since this post is a bit convoluted, wanting to know if tail bags can negatively affect horses with kissing spine and SI issues. Especially when pertaining to moving correctly through their back, SI, and hind.

[barnesthenoble]

It’s plausible to me that a sensitive horse could be sufficiently bothered by a tail bag that they hold themselves differently in movement. I don’t think it’s necessarily the tail bag itself causing the issue as it is the horse being uncomfortable with the tail bag or maybe the tail braided.

If this were my horse, I’d just ditch the tail bag.

[SterlsPearls]

I’ve decided to ditch it for now!

That being said, He’s VERY good at communicating when he’s bothered by something and he’s never had an issue with the tailbag. Not with the sound, not with the tailbag itself, not with any part really.

Although, I am inclined to think that with a tail bag he’s unwilling to relax his tail and therefore limiting spinal movement?

I have another horse who absolutely hates tail bags and is also very good at communicating when something bothers him. He’s also a bucket of problems (including back issues) and his movement was unchanged. I suppose each horse has different reactions to everything though, I just thought it might be worth noting!

[cph1957]

agree

[fivestrideline]

If a tail bag sends the horse over the edge, the horse is already in a LOT of discomfort. This isn’t to say that some perfectly normal horses can’t hate tail bags, they certainly can. If a braid/tail bag is enough to show a marked difference in pain levels, there is a lot more going on than the horse is showing.

I have a horse that sounds like this (KS, SI, neck, suspensory, etc), and it’s true that the tiniest things can send him into ouch mode. It’s because his baseline pain levels are higher than I’d like, so he takes really specific management.

[beowulf]

I don’t see why not; the tail is incredibly sensitive, packed with fatty tissue and nerve endings, it is part of the horse’s spine. I could see a horse who has spinal problems – of whatever origin – being impacted by a tail bag. If the tail bag is causing a noticeable difference in gait, you may be dealing with something with a neurological component. I have seen neurological horses become disoriented with tail lifts and even tail wraps (for shipping to hospitals).

I saw a good web-comic about chronic pain that made me think of your situation. It was a drawn figure carrying a brick. Over the course of the day they accumulated more bricks involuntarily - then they came to a large step and it toppled all of their bricks. The point of the comic was that the step was not the symptom, the bricks were - and one small, seemingly trivial thing could upend that person’s entire day because of the load they’re carrying. It may be that your gelding has a lot more going on than he is showing. I hope you can get some answers.

I’d ditch the tailbag, personally. They need their tails to whisk at flies and I would rather them be comfortable than have a full tail.

[SterlsPearls]

When I say noticeable better movement it’s noticeable to ME. I honestly doubt others would see a change. I however see a slightly bigger step, a slight more of a willingness to go forward, etc.

But yes, he has a lot of issues :,)

[TWH_Girl]

Agree with @beowulf.

[RedHorses]

I braid up my horses’ tails in the winter. Braiding concentrates the weight of the tail hair and alters the pull on the spinal column. My Wobbler used to swing his braided tail forward and back when I was tacking up, and some other times. It seemed to happen more often when he was having trouble (before diagnosis, so I noted the behavior but had no why). He never swung his tail like that when it waas loose. No other horse I’ve had swung a braided tail. The Wobbler had a very thick and full tail.

It’s probably not the tail bag specifically, but the added pull from the braided tail.

[Laurierace]

I had a race horse years ago that I was getting ready for a race in the slop. I tied his tail up in a mud knot and started to take him to the track and he was dead lame behind. Turned around and took him back to the barn and untied the tail and all of a sudden he was absolutely sound again. Put the bridle back on quickly and took him over to the paddock and he ran great. All of this to say it could be pain related but in this case it definitely just felt weird

[IPEsq]

My vet was just telling me a story of one of their patients who would not move with his tail tied up. They found this out when doing an exam with blocks of the hind end, because they tied the tail to keep the blocking procedure sterile. They had to untie the tail and then retie for subsequent blocks because they couldn’t get him to go forward with the tail tied up to evaluate his movement.

So I guess anything is possible?

We do know that horses with back pain will often carry their tail in some sort of stiffer or abnormal posture (e.g., lacks swing, or is carried a little bit off to one side). So it would make sense that changing the way the tail naturally hangs and moves might bother them.