My horse's back is sore from a saddle. What's the best way to treat it?

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.

I'm sorry that Tommy has been injured! Treatment should be customized to the individual horse. One course of treatment is to reduce inflammation. This can be achieve through the use of non-steroidal medications, and I would discuss with your vet getting a prescription for bute or another NSAID. If there is arthritis or ligament damage, local injections of corticosteroids may be used to reduce pain and inflammation. I would also reduce exercise, and I would discuss with your vet how much exercise they feel is safe for Tommy, as too much exercise will aggravate the injury. Allow turnout, as stall rest isn't recommended for SI injuries. Make sure that the paddock where Tommy is turned out is small with good footing. Discuss a gradually increasing exercise program with your vet to strengthen his hindquarters, and avoid any exercise that puts excess stress on the SI (i.e. jumping, galloping, tight turns). Finally, you may consider some alternative treatments, such as acupuncture, massage, and therapeutic exercises.

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.

Ebony may need to have a full exam and lameness workup done by your equine veterinarian to make sure she doesn't have a lameness issue. If there is no soft tissue or bone issue going on causing lameness, she may have muscle pain, and in my experience acupuncture works great for treating musculoskeletal issues in horses. Gentle massage and acupressure techniques and stretching exercises are things you can learn to do as a horse owner and they may help as well. She is at an age where she is likely dealing with arthritis pain also, and could benefit from products like Cosequin for horses. Hope that is helpful!

Hi there. First it’s important to make sure that your saddle fits properly-you aren’t pinching when you tighten your girth or tightening too quickly-both of which can cause discomfort in your mare. It really is best to have her scoped by a vet to check for ulcers, as well as an oral exam to make sure there is no pain in the mouth-sometimes they just associate pain with riding and it doesn’t matter the source of the pain (saddle, bit, etc) they just know it hurts them. Gastrogard is usually what I try first for ulcers. It is commercially available in many stores as well as online. If you suspect ulcers, you may also want to reevaluate how much grain you are feeding. If you have further questions, please feel free to ask. Hope this helps.

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.

Oh on, poor Bug! I would keep her in a stall until the vet comes out today so she is quiet and rested. If you don't have a stall, keep her in a small paddock so she doesn't move around as much. Remove anything in the stall or paddock that she could hit her nose on and cause her more pain. Unfortunately, it'll illegal for me to recommend giving her any pain medications because I can't see her in person, but you can give your vet a call back to see if there are any pain medications they can recommend you give her.