Why is my horse acting painful when saddled? Could it be ulcers?

Hello. This is a possibility, especially if Rain has always stood quietly to be saddled before. First, I would try gently snugging up the cinch & walk her for a minute or two. Then cinch up another notch. Do this until your saddle is tight enough. If she tolerates this, & shows no further bad or uncomfortable behavior, then Rain may just be showing her displeasure at being cinched. Make sure there is no skin being pinched by picking up each front leg, & stretching it out in front of her. It would not hurt to try some omeprazole, but do make sure your cinch is not causing any issues. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Sounds like his back is sore. The saddle may not be fitting properly. I suggest you get your vet out to check his back. If it is sore, you may have to adjust your tack. Always rule out a medical issue before assuming it is a behavior issue.

Soreness in a horse's back is definitely not uncommon, particularly as they get a little older and if they are using inappropriate tack. There are several things that can be done in order to address pain. I would not attempt to "crack" her back without having some measure of expertise in equine chiropractics. Chiropractics and acupuncture are both valuable tools for helping horses but only in the hands of a skilled practitioner. Other options would include anti-inflammatory medication like banamine, phenylbutazone, or previcox. These are all prescription drugs that would require the approval from a veterinarian. Lastly, one thing you should do regardless of your choice is to stall rest delilah for the next few days. Give her back some time to settle down in case there is any spasming. Hope this helps!

How do you know he is sore? Does he react when you push on his back? How long ago was the custom saddle made? Was it made by a professional saddle fitter? I would say about 95% of the time a horse's sore back is due to an improperly fitted saddle. The other times it could be a variety of things from sore hocks to unbalanced hooves to arthritis to trauma. Too hard to say just based on your description. I recommend you have your vet out to do a full lameness exam - sometimes the hocks are sore but it is not noticeable until you do flexion tests. I would also revisit the saddle issue and have a professional saddle fitter out to check the saddle. In the meantime you could employ a massage therapist and /or equine chiropractor or acupuncturist to see if they can alleviate some of his symptoms. They will not usually be able to fix the underlying cause but they can help him feel better until you can figure it out.

Your horse could have a mild colic or some other medical issue going on. I would watch him carefully to make sure he starts to eat normally, is drinking water, and passing stool. If he is rolling, looking at his sides, acting uncomfortable, and not passing stool he is likely feeling colicky and needs to see a veterinarian. Hope that helps!

Hello. If working your horse will not irritate or make the ulcers bleed, then light work would be appropriate. If your horse shows any pain or discomfort, & is reluctant to move comfortably, then stop & just allow the lesions to heal completely before continuing to use him. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

There are many things that could cause a sore fetlock - a joint infection, a bruise, a pulled muscle or strained tendon, or even a fracture of one of the bones in this area. If she isn't finishing her food, this likely means that she's quite painful. If she were acting normal otherwise, I would suggest stall rest for the next few days to see if the lameness improves; however, since she's painful enough that it's affecting her appetite, I would really recommend having an equine vet come out to see her today if at all possible. He/she can take x-rays if needed to help determine the problem and get her started on appropriate treatment.