What a great week it's been! One of the highlights was giving a clinic on Equine Massage to a group of Pony Club kids at Western New England Pony Club Days at GMHA in Woodstock. The topic? Your horse's back.
And this has really hit home for me lately. Thankfully, this increase in empathy has nothing to do with my horses or my client's horses suddenly suffering from sore backs. Rather, it is due to something that I have never before had to deal with--debilitating back pain. For several reasons (two "involuntary dismounts" from my horse, lots of lifting, a very strenuous lesson, and laziness on my part in keeping up with my exercise regimen), last week I had a bout of severe lower back pain, requiring a visit to my chiropractor and acupuncturist. I am grateful that, after two chiropractic sessions, my back felt back to normal. But then yesterday, the pain flared up again, probably due to too much time riding in the car, with the seat not adjusted properly. Some stretching, some pain meds, a decent night's sleep, and I felt much improved today. I will be might cautious about the kind of work I do today, and have renewed my commitment to getting my exercises done before my day gets too busy to fit it in.
But the kicker is this: I KNOW how much my back hurts, or when it hurts, or if it feels just fine. If it doesn't feel great, I can pick up the phone and make a couple of calls to get back on track. What about your horse?
Your horse relies on you to pay attention to his back. Oh sure, he knows if or when his back hurts, and will no doubt try to tell you. Reluctance to pick up a lead, pinning his ears when he is being saddled, a suddenly sour attitude from your previously sweet pony, an unwillingness to go forward or do any of the tasks that he normally performs with aplomb; all these can be signs of discomfort in your horse's back.
Next week: How to detect a sore back, and some things you can do to prevent it.
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