Two Easy Ways to Start Earning Rewards!
Become a member today!
Members-only pricing and offers, personalized care notifications, Vital Care points back on every purchase and more!
Already a member? Sign in
Become a credit card member today!
Earn 2X Pals Rewards points at Petco
when you use Petco Pay!
APPLY NOW
Learn More About Petco Pay Benefits

Why is my horse's back sore, causing bucking, despite a custom saddle?

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Farm Animal | Horse | Male | neutered | 14 years and 11 months old

Macs back gets sore from the withers to point of hip every once in a while. He is prone to bucking when playing with the other horses so I’m wondering if this is the cause. I bought him about a year ago and he had some old scars on his back where he was sore. Recently, the soreness has come back more severe than before and new scarring is appearing but there has been no scratches or open wounds. He has a custom saddle and is stretched and warmed up well before ridden. What could be causing this?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

Answered By Dr. Strydom, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on April 10th, 2019

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.

1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

Smart Picks for Smart Questions

Related Questions

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

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!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Training & Behavior

My horse backs up and lowers head when saddled. Is his back sore?

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Training & Behavior

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

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My horse's shoulder twitches after exercise. What should I do?

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!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why does my horse have a recurring tail sore that vets can't diagnose?

My guess would be either an injury, a parasite or a tumor. It looks like he is rubbing his tail which can indicate pinworm infection. Has he been dewormed recently? Hard to say if he is rubbing it because he has the sore or if he rubbed it first and that caused the sore........ Maybe you should get a second opinion from another vet. This looks pretty serious and needs to be treated. I cannot diagnose over the internet with just a photo. A biopsy of that area may be needed to figure this out.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Why are my dog's back legs suddenly weak, sore, or giving out?

Hello, thank you for your question about Bentley. Based on the weakness and symptoms that you are describing it is possible that Bentley may be experiencing some mild pain from arthritis or could have strained a muscle/tendon. It is also possible that Bentley's back could be sore as this usually leads to signs of weakness in the hind limbs; however, this type of injury is much more common in smaller breed dogs. If Bentley's signs are more mild and he is otherwise acting ok I would recommend continuing to monitor him for the next 24-48 hours. If this weakness or soreness do not go away I would recommend having him seen by your veterinarian so that they can perform an examination and look for any sources of pain. They can then discuss the need for pain/anti-inflammatory medications if warranted. Hope this helps, good luck!

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

My horse's fetlock is sore and she's not eating. Is it serious?

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.

Updated on September 23rd, 2025

Have A Vet Question?

Book an appointment with the pros – our expert vets are here to help.

Share