Why does my horse's back hurt?

In this video I go over some common causes for your horses back pain based on where they are most sensitive. As always this is not all encompassing and does not replace the need for a veterinary exam. This video does not cover the specifics of treatment or diagnostics for these issues, but some things to think about if you are noticing some soreness in your horse.

Section 1: Withers/Cranial Thoracic Spine- sensitivity here is most often related to saddle fit issues. Please remember if a tree is too narrow it WILL NOT FIT.

Section 2: Midback/back edge of the saddle- this area can be frustrating as pain here can be caused by primary/secondary back pain, saddle fit issues or GI ulcers. It is a process of elimination and can take some time to nail down the definitive cause.

Section 3: Lower Lumbar/Lumbosacral Junction- The lower back has a lot of motion and therefore predisposes it to primary and secondary back pain. This can be a common area that gets sore from a horse compensating for a lower hind limb lameness or SI pain.

If you are concerned your horse is painful in any of these areas, please contact your veterinarian to determine if it is simply back pain or something more. If you have any questions I am happy to answer them.