That’s why mine went on regumate. Very tender through the loin and unwilling to swing through the back under saddle
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Good to know! Really hoping thats what it is. Her issues do always seem to crop up each spring and are a roller coaster in the summer. I haven’t been able to track it precisely to cycling but that doesn’t mean it’s not related. I also have sent her to my trainer who is a few hours away every winter so I haven’t seen her in full work when it’s not breeding season.
She was better today. I didn’t ride but longed with surcingle only so I could see her back. Much looser than earlier in the week. No teeth grinding at all. Only a little touchy on the crossties but not grabbing the lead rope and wiggling around nearly as bad.
Thanks! I went down the CotH and google wormhole trying to find some anecdotes that other people had back sore mares related to their heat cycle and found very little actually even though it would make sense to me… going to try to stop spiraling.
Thank you for your update on this thread. I’ve got a mare with similar back soreness right now and now I’m wondering if it’s hormonal (we’ve discussed that possibility with the vet).
FWIW, this one responded very well to shockwave on her back last week and also last summer when we had a similar issue with recurring back soreness.
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Maybe silly to ask but did it help?
I will try to remember to continue to update. I haven’t tried any “alternative therapies” yet. I always go back and forth on their efficacy so I’d rather use it and pay for it once I know what the actual issue is and l can use it to aid healing.
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Did you end up trying her on a PSSM2 / MFM diet with high Vit E, Mag, and protein supplementation? I find my mare is the worst in transition seasons or periods with big swings in weather – this spring has been a NIGHTMARE for her here in the Northeast.
It also doesn’t help that she’s been getting 4-5 days off in a row as work has been crazy busy for me, so she’s not “turning over” her muscles with light but consistent movement. I’ve returned to just light and loose walk / trot work until her body tells me she’s feeling up for more, avoiding circles and anything that asks her to work to balance her body until her muscle tightness dissipates.
Fingers crossed spring gets here and soon because I’d love to have my sane work-aholic mare back…
Diet, yes mostly. She gets a small amount of soy-free ration balancer, fat/protein supplement, and vitamin E. Essentially free choice grass hay and about 1 flake long stem alfalfa per day. I don’t do magnesium or the ALACAR recommended. This is pretty much what’s she’s been eating for a year.
As a fellow northeasterner, this spring has sucked!! I hear you!! The timing is what’s making me explore the hormonal issues further and might explain why she gets better and worse and better again all summer with (to me at least) very little rhyme or reason to it. For my girl it hasn’t made a difference how much she does or doesn’t work as far as the stickiness goes. Again all I can say is I don’t think it has— it’s been hard to see a pattern and I don’t hang a young horse for the crime of being weak or crooked, which is why this is all still a mystery!
