wonky tail, saddle fitter/physio?

[abi]

Just had a really fab lesson, but im really worried now because instructor noticed Sox carries her tail to the right all the time!

i was planning on trading in my leather saddle and wintec for a fitted, GP leather saddle in summer when my birthday money arrives!

but now this teacher has suggested physio, didnt know if the person would fit a saddle, or if a saddle fitter would look at the muscle build on her back ect?

i obviously want whats best for pony, but this doesnt come cheap and im only a student! im sure Mum will help, but i dont really like asking 'cause she doesnt get much back from it if you get me? and another friend said id know about it by now if there was an underlying problem, and that im being paranoid?

advice please! x

[kateflashy]

has she got any dutch in her breeding?
might sound a daft question but my ali carries his tail to the right and its apparently a breed line trait he has been cheaked by everyone and they found no problems , but when ive spoken to his breeder it turns out that his mum was the same and about 2/3 in his line also do it

[brigadier]

Hi Abi- Kate is right- there's a line of continental horses that unfortunately have this trait, some of the hanovarians have it- they usually have genetic back and hock problems which are in bred and a given Im afraid- not mentioning any stallions as I would probably be sued!
If your horse is thoroughbred and has this then it could be back problems.
If she has always carried her tail to the side then you can do a bit of a check list to see if there may be a problem.
Walk her in a straight line and check she takes the same length of stride on both sides.
Turn her in tight circles around you and check she carries her weight around you evenly on both sides.
Listen to the hoofbeats as you walk and trot her on a hard surface, close your eyes and do they all sound the same- is she putting the same weight on each hoof.
Get someone to watch you as you ride- ignore the tail- are you sitting in the centre of the saddle and is your saddle sitting in the centre of her back. ?
Do this on the straight and on each rein. When riding on a curve, sit slightly to the inside, then relax and go around a couple of times. Are you still sat slightly to the inside?

Then have a good look at her from behind. Do all the muscles on her rump and down her hind legs look the same, even if she isnt particularly muscled they should be even. Stand on a box and view her from a height- do all the muscles look even from this angle?

Finally run your hands along her body- back and rump. Make your touch firm but smooth- pushing the muscle before your fingers like you were giving her a relaxing massage- also check the area immediately behind the shoulder where the saddle fits. The muscle should feel firm but yielding and smooth. If you feel any tension then you have soreness- if you feel any lumps in the muscle then you have some form of trauma- muscle tension or scarring etc.


All of these points can help you decide if you need to take your investigations further. You are looking mostly for an inbalance- both sides should be the same or an injury or muscle wastage. If you find any of these- theres still no need to panic but at least you know you need to investigate further.

Also the pace exercises can also indicate leg or hock problems so are a bit inconclusive but its a start. If nothing else she will enjoy the massage. Also be aware that the older the horse is the more likely it has developed a stiffness in answer to previous bad riding. If the horse is young it may be one sided naturally.

A very astute horsewoman I knew always said a wonky tail was a sign of wind problems- this has never been explored to my knowledge but she was usually right so it may not be a back thing at all.

brig

[abi]

hi- shes not dutch that i know of, is a bit of a heinz 57, and is only eight so shouldnt have any major back problems due to age *TOUCH WOOD*

thanks a lot brig, theres loads there and i will try as many as i can remember tonight (up goes your Karma )
when hacking she has regular footfalls, but will look at others and let you know xx

[brigadier]

HI Abi- no ned for the karma but thanks anyhow- let us know how it goes!
brig

[midori]

I remember a part-bred Arab who did this too.

Cheers, Midori

[rainbow]

even if she is 8 she can have a bad back. mine is 6 and when i first got (or rather loaned her) she was croaked from poll to tall. everything was out of line. so i still would get her back checked. it be good for her too.

[zoon]

A horse at my old yard was a Dutch stallion with a wonky tail. They always said it was bred into his line. One day my back lady came out to check my boy and his owner asked is she could do the stallion too as he'd never been done. Turned out he had a bad back and everyone had always said it was just his breeding. His tail stayed wonky when he was better but his movement became much more flashy