You’ve had the vet out, and he’s done a lameness exam and blocked joints. You
might have even had your horse’s stifle or hocks (or both) injected. But he’s
still not right. It’s an unspecific type of lameness, and it doesn’t necessarily
put him out of work.
It could be back pain. Horses, like humans, often
suffer from a non-specific back pain that can affect their performance.
Some symptoms of back pain include:
1) Unwillingness to work
2) Tail
swishing
3) Head tossing
4) Tripping or forging
5) Difficulty cantering
or holding one lead or the other
6) Tipping the head or heavy in one rein
If your horse has any of these symptoms, or a combination, then consider having a
full examination of the horse’s back by a professional is necessary. You might
find that, just like humans, massage and/or chiropractic work can help the horse
feel better, if not cure the problem.