Managing Neck and Back Pain in Sport Horses

A thorough physical examination and tailored therapeutic approach can help relieve equine neck and back pain.
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Your horse has neck and/or back pain. The signs are obvious: sensitivity when grooming and saddling, resistance to rider weight, stiffness and pain when manipulating the neck and back, and a notable decrease in performance. But what is causing the pain, and what can you do about it?

"Despite being common and obvious in many cases, identifying the exact source of the neck or back pain can be complex," said Richard Mitchell, DVM, a private practitioner in Newtown, Conn., at the 12th Congress of The World Equine Veterinary Association, held Nov. 2-6, 2011, in Hyderabad, India.

According to Mitchell, "A thorough physical examination coupled with a complete therapeutic approach can frequently identify, then relieve symptoms of neck and back pain."

Lower limb problems that cause the horse to carry himself differently can lead to muscle stiffness and soreness. Thus, identifying and correcting lower limb problems could resolve neck and back issues

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Written by:

Stacey Oke, MSc, DVM, is a practicing veterinarian and freelance medical writer and editor. She is interested in both large and small animals, as well as complementary and alternative medicine. Since 2005, she’s worked as a research consultant for nutritional supplement companies, assisted physicians and veterinarians in publishing research articles and textbooks, and written for a number of educational magazines and websites.

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