As an equine massage therapist, I often hear clients saying that their horse often appears to have a "sore back". They sometimes say their horse has been seen several times for the same issue.

Whilst massage therapy, stretching & mobilisation are excellent modalities to treat a sore back, it's important to consider why this has become a reoccurring issue. Getting to the bottom of the soreness is important to help prevent the issue arising again.

Whilst a sore back can be from general muscle tension, as a massage therapist I would go through a comprehensive checklist to investigate as to why your horse's sore back keeps reoccurring.

Below is a checklist that I use, please feel free to use this list to consider other possible causes before assuming it's related to general muscle tension. If in any doubt at all your first port of call should always be your veterinarian.

  • Saddle Fit.
  • Hoof Balance.
  • Lameness (see vet).
  • Rider’s Balance/Position.
  • Overall Health.
  • Training Issues.
  • Behavioural Issues.
  • Tack – Other Than Saddle.
  • Veterinarian Check.
  • Muscular Assessment.


Saddle Fit 

Saddle fit is possibly one of the biggest issues when your horse has a sore back. Over time your horse may lose weight, increase weight, build or lose topline, develop asymmetry due to other issues such as pain or hoof balance. All of these can present as a major cause of a sore back. I would always recommend using a qualified saddle Society of Master Saddlers when it comes to saddles & saddle adjustments.

  • Is there any “bridging” along the horse’s back?
  • Is the saddle pinching, too tight, too low over the withers?
  • Does it sit too far back, past the last rib of the horse?
  • Check that the flocking is even and not showing any signs of unevenness, lumps or hollow places.
  • Does the saddle appear balanced when you stand back and look both from a lateral view and when viewed from a caudal aspect.
  • Is the gullet of sufficient width to clear the vertebrae and the nerves that run along it. A gullet that is too narrow will not allow the Longissimus & Multifidus muscles that the saddle sits upon to expand and function correctly. If it’s too wide then that also causes issues as it encroaches onto the shelf of the rib. The saddle needs to sit on the horse’s muscles.
  • I cannot express the importance of correct saddle fit. It can cause so many issues with the horse’s way of going as well as soreness & behavioural issues.

Hoof Balance

A correctly balanced foot is absolutely vital to ensure compensatory patterns do not develop. If your horse's foot is not balanced correctly, undue stress will be placed on other areas of the horse's body & limbs. This if left can lead to compensatory patterns arising to alleviate the imbalance caused by an unbalanced foot/feet. Things you as an owner can check are:

  • Clenches to ensure they are still holding securely.
  • Uneven wear.
  • Lose shoe/s.
  • Appropriate shoes for your horse's chosen discipline.
  • Are there any flairs developing?
  • Check the hoof wall is free from cracks.
  • As a general guide the hoof should slope at approximately a 45 degree angle when the foot is on a flat even surface, this angle should match the angle of the pastern.
  • Make sure that you don't go past the recommended time period advised by your farrier. 4 to 6 weeks for a horse who is shod, barefoot may be able to go a little longer, but speak to your farrier.
  • Check for thrush as this can severely impact your horse and the way it loads the foot.

Always consult your farrier if you have any worries. It's also worth talking to your farrier to get them to explain each time they are trimmed or shod. Any reputable farrier will be only to happy to explain the processes they are using to ensure the foot is balanced.

To find a registered farrier in your areas - Farriers Registration Council

Lameness - (Veterinarian advice should be sought)

  • Check for any heat, lumps or bumps within the limbs, using an opposite limb can act as a comparison in regards to heat. Learning how to check for a digital pulse in the foot, which may be an indicator to an issue.
  • Unevenness in gait could suggest your horse is experiencing pain and compensating to alleviate that pain. This could be in a limb/s, or back.
  • As an equine massage therapist we are not allowed to treat a horse who is lame unless a veterinarian has recommended to do so.

Rider's Balance

  • Are you sitting balanced as a rider, weight distribution?
  • Do you lean forward, backwards or possibly to one side?
  • Are your stirrups balanced?
  • Do you put undue stress on your horse's back when mounting. It's preferable to use a mounting block.
  • Seek guidance from a tutor if in doubt.

Overall Health

  • Has your horse suffered any recent injuries. A fall, slip, been kicked?
  • Any swellings, signs of pain, heat?
  • What nutritional diet is your horse currently on. Nutrition imbalances can contribute towards poor muscle health or weakness through the horse's back.

Training Issues

  • Incorrect training methods can result in muscle fatigue, asymmetry & other compensatory patterns resulting in back soreness.

Behavioural Issues 

  • Does your horse exhibit behavioural issues when being ridden, moving away from the saddle, biting at the stirrup, refusal to be mounted, bucking, rearing?

Tack Fitment - Other than saddle

  • Does the rest of your horse's tack fit correctly. Correct bit, size, thickness & positioning. Bridle - cheek pieces, brow band Etc. An incorrectly fitting bridle or bit can have a huge impact on the horse's posture, back & movement patterns.

Veterinarian 

  • Could there be any underlying health issues that require veterinary intervention. Kissing spine? hind gut acidosis? arthritis, joint pain? neurological issues? All which would require a vet visit.

Muscular Assessment

If you are cannot identify any other issues then your horse's muscle would need to be assessed for signs of tension or soreness.