Conference noted::equitation

    Lou,
    
    While my situation is not as severe as Sultan's, from the sound of it,
    Ebony is in a similar boat. Last year I had his stifle injected because
    he was very lame/loose in it and I was limited to trail riding. This
    year we started off with ring work and he is the best he has been in
    the 7 years I've had him -  and then it happened. His stifle locked
    during the trot under saddle and he nearly went down with me on him.
    Now he's lame - again. Back to trail work to build up that stifle. I
    had hopes of really showing him hunter and now I have to face the idea
    that maybe he's going to be a trail horse for the rest of his life
    [he's 18]. 
    
    Anyway, beyond the commiseration and understanding your disappointment,
    I think the innjection Mike mentioned is probably an accupuncture type
    of thing and not a big deal - often it's only saline [and cheap]. It is
    injected at the accupoints to relieve discomfort. So don't panic - can
    you ask him more about it? 
    
    Also, and I know every note I enter lately ends up with this subject
    but it's something I believe strongly in - has your saddle settled into
    and uncomfortable fit over his withers? You say he has bulked up, maybe
    your saddle is now pinching him? I had to sell my english side saddle
    last year because Eb had bulked up so much it didn't fit him anymore...
    
    Good luck and keep us posted...
    
    Sherry
      

    
    I had both my saddles checked in the fall, but since then sultan has
    put on a TON of muscle and I mean a ton!  He could of very easily
    changed his body so much that the saddles don't fit anymore.  I have a
    call into Gary Severson (but do you know of another saddle fitter)??
    
    I have had the horse and the saddles for 6yrs, and I've had them
    checked a few times.
    
    I'm alittle upset w/Gary.  I called to make an appot 3 months ago and I
    could not get one until 7/16!  In the mean time Gary has been to
    Maplewood 4 times - (I live 1mi from Maplwood)
    
    Lou

    Hi Louisa,
    
    Sorry to hear that Sultan's got troubles...
    
    If it's not just something like he needs a chiropractor, then you have
    to look for the cause. The inflammation and soreness will heal pretty
    quickly but you have to prevent it happening again!
    
    I almost hate to say this because you won't like it but... I think Sherry 
    hit the  nail on the head asking about your saddle fitting poorly. 90% of 
    back problems are caused by poorly fitting saddles, improperly positioned 
    saddles or bad riding. I figure you're experienced enough not to be so
    sloppy as to be causing back problems with your riding so that leaves
    2 possibile causes for the problem.
    
    The saddle should be positioned so that the shoulder blade can rotate
    without coming under the edge of the saddle when the horse extends his 
    stride. Typically, this is about 4" behind the shoulder blade when he's
    standing for saddling. You can check it by picking up his front leg
    under his knee and lifting it until it's parallel to the ground. If the
    saddle is *NOT* positioned so the shoulder blade doesn't come under the
    saddle, even a good rider's weight will cause *exactly* the problem you
    described: sore muscles around the withers.
    
    Arabs in general need a wide tree. If he's bulked up now, it's very 
    likely that he may need a wider tree or a different stuffing
    arrangement than he did before. Does the saddle stay in place 
    *without* a crupper, breast plate, overgirth, pommel pads or cantle 
    pads? If not, it doesn't fit. You can get a saddle fitter to check it
    out on Sultan and recommend a stuffing pattern that will suit him.
    Unfotrunately, getting a saddle restuffed can be expenseive. We paid
    $50 just for the evaluation plus a couple hundred for the work we
    wanted done. But, it's cheaper than a new saddle or vet bills!
    
    John

    
    	Lou,
    
    	I don't know the man's name but we have used someone who was
    recommended by Triple Crown. Since that is the last place I saw you
    :), I suspect it's the same guy...
    
    	A trick I was taught by the side saddle club is to take a wire coat
    hanger and bend it over his withers to make a template of his back,
    then compare it with the saddle. It's only a simple test but the
    results can surprise you. 
    
    	Not to frighten you but a friend of mine [a trainer] was approached
    to show a client's horse sidesaddle, and she refused because thier
    saddle was very poorly fitted to the horse, she even warned them that
    it didn't fit him and was going to cause him damage. They showed him in
    it anyway - he ended up with a severed nerve in his back and crippled for
    life because of the saddle. Obviously Sultan doesn't have this kind of
    injury but this is why I feel so preachy about saddle fit...
    
    	Let me know if you want me to try to dig up a saddle stuffer
    through the side saddle club.
    
    Sherry
    

    
    I got ahold of Tony (a saddle fitter) and he will be out on Weds.
    
    Like I said, I had the saddle fit in the fall and I've had it done
    every yr since I've owned the horse - I have never changed saddles, but
    Sultan could of changed his body shape w/all the new muscle he has.
    
    I called Gary's office and I took out a *little* steam on them.  It
    made me feel better anyway (for a short time)  
    
    Lou

    Hi Louise. Where are you/your horse located? Is Tony a saddle maker
    from Royalston? If so, he made a really nice saddle for my friend
    Charles (quite a few years ago).
    
    Good luck! It's really tough when you just don't know what's causing
    the problem.
    	Cindy
    
    P.S. How is your friend doing - the one who bought Midnight?

    
    Update:
    
    Sultan is still hurting.  He has had 2 weeks off and he was one bute
    for 1 week.  We were hoping by this time he'd be in less pain in the
    wither area, but he's not.
    
    I will have the vet come again, and the saddle guy wont be out unitl
    the 16th - but so far Sultan is in too much pain to even have a saddle
    put on his back.
    
    Lou

Severe soft tissue injuries easily take 6 or more weeks to heal. I've even had
muscle bruises take 2 months to heal (back when Algiers was in his total
rebellion stage, he kicked me at point blank range in the thigh -- I could see
the bruise for a year and a dent for 2 YEARS after that kick!). 

Bone bruises take 8 weeks to heal and can be more painful than fractures. 

If something is pressing on a nerve then he may need time to heal even after the
pressure is relieved.

Just be prepared to give him a long time off. Then if it turns out to be a
shorter time, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

    >Severe soft tissue injuries easily take 6 or more weeks to heal. I've
    >even had muscle bruises take 2 months to heal...
    
    Unfortunately, I know that's right from personal experience. I hurt
    some muscles last January  and I'm still not healed up completely! I
    fully expect complete recovery to take several *more* months.

    
    Update:
    
    The saddle guy came out and there is NO problem at all w/ my saddles,
    they fit perfect.  
    
    At 1st I didn't think it was a saddle problem, but then I wanted it to
    be the saddle so I'd know what was wrong and have an easy fix.
    
    now that it's not my saddles, we'll never know what it is.
    
    The pain is gone from the withers, but it has moved down the back
    (right behind the withers).
    
    but what myself and my vet think is he allways had the pain behind the
    withers but the pain in the withers was so over whelming that it
    masked the pain in the back.
    
    He is still resting and he'll have another 2 weeks off.
    
    Lou

    
    	Lou,
    
    	Would you post the name and number for the saddle guy?
    
    	Thanks,
    	Sherry

Louisa, I know of a horse with chronic back pain that was helped by flex-free.

Mary

    
    Saddle Doctor.  I don't have his card w/me but he name is Gary
    Severnson, he is in Simsbury, Ct 203-555-1212 and ask for the
    "Saddle Doctor"
    
    - chronic back pain --- this is not the issue (we hope) just a strain
    or pull
    
    lou

    
    Update:
    
    After a little over 1 month off, Sultan seems fine now.  I have started
    to ride him (but not hard).  I am increasing his work slowly.  We will
    never know what happend.
    
    Lou