How to Tell if Your Horse’s Back is Sore

How can I tell if my horse has back pain and what can I do to help relieve this kind of soreness?

Well, the most common way someone determines if they think the horse’s back is sore is by running their hand down their horse’s back or topline. If there is a reaction, it is assumed the back is the problem. This should lead to the question of… is the back muscle reactive due to tension of a contraction or tension through elongation (due to excessively tight lower abdominal muscular contraction – the opposing muscle). All too often I see and hear of people treating the back when it is the compensatory issue. Hence rarely correcting the initial consideration of “a sore back.” By understanding the horse’s posture, it is actually easy to determine the reality of the discomfort. As for helping it (sore back) using reflex points (properly) is the most effective way I know, and have been using them for years.

Hope this is helpful.

Best wishes,
Dino

P.S. On my website I offer clinics on postural assessment and balance.