ridecamp@endurance.net: [endurance] back soreness

[endurance] back soreness

AEisele243@aol.com
Thu, 11 Jul 1996 01:45:18 -0400

I have a tough question that I can't seem to get an answer to. At ride vet
checks the horses back is sometimes checked for soreness and I have seen
everything done from just laying the hands on the back to deep probing and
have seen my horse react differently to different vet exams. One time when my
horse dipped his back a vet said that is a natural response or reflex...he's
stretching his back; it isn't sore. Len Brown from orthoflex saddles when
checking fit of a brown saddle on my horse said the same thing... that was a
reflex. The last ride I went to another vet said that my horse WAS mildly
sore. He demonstrated the same method of checking the back as the other vet
that said it was a reflex. Then I had a chiropracter and just recently a
acupuncturist DVM examine my mhorse's back and said he was sore. I then asked
another vet and the persons answer was that some chiro and acu Dr.s can probe
in a way to make it look like your horse is sore when it really isn't. I
asked chiropracters and Dr.s in other fields and some said most vets do not
know how to properly check or feel for soreness. I now don't know what or
whom to believe I can probe the same area the same way and not get the same
response that another person does. Do vets know how to tell the difference
between reflex and actual soreness ? How can I learn to properly check my own
horse's back? Any Dr.s out there I'd appreciate your advice. Thanks, Linda
and El Sareei .