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    [RC] [Guest] Update: on Arab/Pinto who can't go down hills - Ridecamp Moderator



    louisa pierce Louisa_Pierce@xxxxxxxx

    I took Shadow to see my two vets (1 vet and 1 vet/licensed Chiropractor). We started
    off riding him in the ring to the left (his so called good direction) and to the
    right (his so called bad direction). Both directions he was what I would say was
    normal for him, uncomfortable, wiggley, almost inverted, the right/bad direction
    he is even more uncomfortable.


    Now that no one is looking at him as a late blooming baby, they were able to see
    that their was something very wrong with him, but what was the question, it looked
    like both back and hock.


    So we blocked both hocks and waited the 20ish minuets, then saddled him up
    again.  We went to the left/good direction and he was so unbelievable, he was
    smooth, and straight and just such a pleasure to ride/watch, there was an 100%
    change in his left direction.

    Then we went to the right/bad direction, and was worse!  The worse he has ever
    been, you could see he was in discomfort/pain to the right.  Both vets agreed
    the right side of his body was a back/hip issue.

    So we took him back into the barn, and vet/chiropractor took Xrays of both hocks.
    The right hock is fine/perfect, and the left hock has some "minor" points. There is
    a "nub" on the bone (very-very small) and some spacing issues with a little
    arthritis. Both vets agreed that this finding is very minor, and used the analogy if
    I was buying this horse today, would they tell me to buy him with the minor hock
    issue and the answers was a very collective "YES".


    Then we worked/chiropractor his back. I had asked Liz the Chiro' to please focus
    on his "Inter-transverse process" this is the External Angle of the ileum, along the lumbar
    spine. Note: I want to Thank Fancynight from this board, who wrote to me, I truly believe
    this is most of Shadows problem, every symptom fit this diagnosis.


    Liz did focus on the Inter-transverese process, and she did find it jammed, along with the
    SI #7 joint out of sorts.


    Then we talked about the Chicken and the Egg senior: What came first, the Hock or the
    back/hips? They think we will never know, but I 100% believe it's is hips and the hip
    trouble is causing the hock issue.


    Unfortunately I need to play the insurance game right now. We will inject both hocks on
    Oct 10th, and see what the back does. We will have to wait to see if taking this
    minor hock issue out of the pitcher makes the back better, or no difference. If there is
    no change for the better, then we will send Shadow for a bone scan. If I had about 2K
    sitting around I would send him today for his bone scan. I truly believe that he has
    some kind of hip / lower back problem.


    I will have to start from square one, with my training. Longlining with cones to build
    up the back, long and low work over ground poles etc. We will have to deal with
    Muscle memory and try to teach him that it's okay to use his body and for him not
    to protect the areas he has been protecting for the past 5 years.


    I just wish I could have my bone scan right now, so I can see that what I am about to
    do with his training will have an effect, if he has some kind of degenerative disk, or
    birth defect in his lower back, I don't want to be hurting him, when I am trying to help him.


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