Back pain in your horse

What causes back pain?

Back pain in horses is common and can relate to a variety of problems including:

• Joint diseases such as arthritis
• Poor saddle fit
• Poor conformation
• Injury
• Too much exercise for the horse’s condition or performance level
• Rider imbalance
• Training method

Signs of back pain

Signs of back pain may come and go, making it hard to recognize the problem. If you suspect your horse has back pain, consult with your veterinarian to help diagnose the problem and rule out other concerns. Many signs may suggest that your horse is experiencing back pain including:

• Restricted movement
• “Cold-backed” behavior
• Refusing to work
• Stiffness when making tight turns
• Unwilling to change leads
• Loss of hind limb propulsion
• Sourness with saddling or riding
• Head tossing  

Diagnosis

If you think back pain may be an issue in your horse, try to eliminate possible causes. Here are a few ways to help pinpoint causes of back pain:

• Check saddle fit.
• Examine your horse for injuries and lameness.
• Adjust your training program.

Work with your veterinarian to diagnose back problems and to rule out other sources of pain. Veterinarians can diagnose back problems in a number ways using direct palpation, radiographs, ultrasound and local anesthetics.

Often, signs of back pain mimic other problems such as lameness or refusal to work. Having your veterinarian examine your horse can help you determine the problem and address it accordingly.

Treatment

Treatment will vary with the source and severity of back pain. Possible medical treatment may include:

• A combination of a muscle relaxant and an NSAID (phenylbutazone or flunixin meglumine).
• Regional injection of a steroid to decrease swelling.
• Surgery to remove accessible bony eminences to relieve pressure.

Other therapies

• Chiropractic therapy - Consider working with an experienced equine chiropractor. Chiropractic therapy can help relieve back pain and loosen muscles. Talk to your chiropractor about daily stretches you can practice with your horse to engage and strengthen their back. Stretching can also improve your horse’s mobility and help prevent future muscle injuries.
• Shockwave therapy can improve circulation to the sore area and relieve muscle spasms.
• Aqua treadmill therapy could also be an option to consider to help strengthen your horse’s back muscles.
• Adjust your horse’s saddle fit or modify their warm-up prior to exercise to help treat back pain.

Prevention

Fitting equipment

• Prior to exercise, make sure your horse’s equipment fits properly and doesn’t interfere with their movement.
• Pinching or rubbing could cause your horse to move abnormally to relieve the pain.
• Abnormal movement or muscle use may lead to pain and discomfort in their back.

If you are unsure about your equipment, consult with a professional saddle fitter or trainer.

Easing into exercise

Slowly introduce your horse to work. Sudden, intense work can lead to injury or soreness. Horses that have had time off or are young, old or overweight are more prone to soreness when beginning exercise. 

Remember to only ask your horse to complete work that they are in condition for. Start with light work and slowly work towards moderate to heavy work. Gradually building work will help condition your horse, while reducing their risk of soreness. 

Provide an appropriate warm-up at the start of each exercise session. Stretching, bending and loosening up your horse before asking them to perform will lower their risk of injury or soreness during exercise. Lunging and stretching can help warm up your horse before you ride.

Keeping balanced

Rider imbalance is a common cause of back pain in horses. If you struggle to maintain correct posture or position in the saddle, work with a professional trainer. They will be able to recognize imbalance and provide solutions or exercises to help you accomplish balance on your horse.