Possible causes of back problems in horses

Back problems in horses are not only unpleasant for your animal, they can also put a big damper on the possibilities for riding, driving or other activities you want to undertake with your horse. What are the causes of back problems and what can you do to support your horse?

Before you can solve something, you need to find out what the cause is. First of all, it is good to know that back problems often do not start in the back. This sometimes makes it quite difficult to find out exactly what the cause of back problems in horses is.

Symptoms of back pain

• Sensitive on the back, for example when brushing
• Protest when saddling up
• Protest when riding: refusing, bucking or rearing
• Swinging the tail or carrying the tail crookedly
• Difficulty with canter, crossing legs, not being able to canter slowly, jumping over, bucking when picking up the canter
• Irregular gait, ‘hitch in the stride’ behind
• Scuffing hooves
• Difficulty with lateral movements and/or bending
• Clearly warmer spots on the back, for example in the back-loin transition

Lameness

Many back problems arise because a horse compensates for lameness in the legs. This can also be a mild lameness, which you barely see. The horse then naturally starts to strain the other legs more, causing crookedness. Therefore, it is good to have a complete motion examination done by your veterinarian first for back problems. This way, any pain and irregularities can be discovered. In addition to the legs, the veterinarian also looks at the flexibility of the back.

Joint conditions

There are various joint conditions that can cause back pain in your horse. Some of these are congenital and emerge over the course of life. Others develop over time, for example due to arthritis, wear and tear, or overloading. Well-known joint problems include ‘kissing spines’ where the spinous processes on the vertebrae touch each other and become painful, especially if the horse does not use its back properly. Your veterinarian can determine if your horse is dealing with this using X-rays and ultrasound.

Poorly fitting tack

Horses are bred by us humans to ride, but that does not mean that their anatomy is perfectly suited for it. In order to distribute the pressure of the rider on the back as evenly as possible and relieve the back as much as possible, you need a well-fitting saddle that is comfortable for both you and your horse. A crooked or poorly fitting saddle can cause pain in the back muscles and cause your horse to not properly release their topline or even move crookedly.

Accidents and trauma

Just like with people, horses can also experience ‘a pain in the back’. For example, slipping in the pasture, awkwardly stepping off a trailer ramp, or other minor accidents. In mixed groups of geldings and mares, a wild mating session can sometimes also cause back pain...

Improper training

In training your horse, it is your job as a trainer to ensure that the horse can perform its work balanced under you. For that, it must learn to walk on all four legs, straight and with proper use of the topline. Seek good instruction and do not skip steps in the training process just to quickly compete, ride certain exercises, or jump a certain height. Take your time and ensure that you are not the limiting factor. Work on your own fitness and education as well.

What to do if your horse has back pain?

Of course, if you have a lame horse or a horse with a sensitive back, contact your veterinarian. They can also refer you to another practitioner such as a physiotherapist or chiropractor. When you want to support your horse with back pain, you have various options. First of all, make sure that the bones, muscles, and tendons receive all the minerals and vitamins they need for recovery and building through nutrition. Especially important are: silicon, magnesium and vitamin E. In addition, for stiff joints, you can also give a course of herbal extract. An extract of, among others, turmeric, boswellia, and bamboo promotes additional production of joint fluid (the lubricant of the joints) and helps with the elimination of waste products such as uric acid.