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Re: palpating for soreness



Beverly540@aol.com wrote:

> Hi guys,
>          Exactly how does one palpate the back to see if the horse is sore?

Lightly feel the back with your finger tips.  Feel for thickened spots, bumps,
scaly skin, etc.  Then, lightly press your fingers down the horse's back on
either side of their spine (about as hard as it takes to type on a keyboard.),
NOT on the bone.  Look if the horse "drops away" from your pressure.

Then, I use the palms of my hands to press more firmly, especially near the
loins.  Again, I watch for pulling away, dancing away from the handler, facial
& ear expressions.

If the horse is ticklish & always moves away from your light touch, you may
need to ask them to bring their back up between checks. (Press fingers upwards
under midline of their belly.)  You will have to learn to gauge their reaction
if they're ticklish.  I have one horse who would die before he admits that
something hurts.  We've gotten to know what he acts like if something bothers
him, and it is usually VERY subtle.  Get to know your own horses!

Linda Flemmer



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