[shaiarabs]

Originally Posted by Horsed

Thanks everyone. I will keep doing what I'm doing then.

I hate hate hate draw reins SO much.

And shaiarabs, what do you mean by that?

mate arabs dont forgive pain easily they have to be retaught that the process wont hurt, you cant fight on with the symptoms of the damage done you have to go back to before that part of the process and that part is re-mouthing the horse.... I also would advise xrays as well to make sure there is no damage to the spine from the draw reins.

[Horsed]

Originally Posted by shaiarabs

mate arabs dont forgive pain easily they have to be retaught that the process wont hurt, you cant fight on with the symptoms of the damage done you have to go back to before that part of the process and that part is re-mouthing the horse.... I also would advise xrays as well to make sure there is no damage to the spine from the draw reins.

SPINAL DAMAGE?! I'm going to be stressing out for the rest of my life now... Are you sure draw reins can cause spinal damage? I can't afford x rays and if there was anything wrong I don't have the means to fix that either. Would there be any outward signs? Like wouldn't her back be sore, or would she look off or anything?

Yeah I know arabs are quite sensitive. My mare is very forgiving though (hey she puts up with me). I just hope she isn't permanately damaged. She is supposed to be my show horse for the next...like 10 years. And it wasn't cheap to get her either, at least not for my family.

[Huntseat]

Originally Posted by Horsed

SPINAL DAMAGE?! I'm going to be stressing out for the rest of my life now... Are you sure draw reins can cause spinal damage? I can't afford x rays and if there was anything wrong I don't have the means to fix that either. Would there be any outward signs? Like wouldn't her back be sore, or would she look off or anything?

Yeah I know arabs are quite sensitive. My mare is very forgiving though (hey she puts up with me). I just hope she isn't permanately damaged. She is supposed to be my show horse for the next...like 10 years. And it wasn't cheap to get her either, at least not for my family.

I personally wouldn't worry about it too much at this point. Keep working her correctly and monitoring her progress, and if she doesn't begin to show improvement in time or she develops signs of pain, THEN worry about xrays. It might be a good idea to get a chiro out, but that can be said for most horses! That's also cheaper than xrays typically are.

[Horsed]

Originally Posted by Huntseat

I personally wouldn't worry about it too much at this point. Keep working her correctly and monitoring her progress, and if she doesn't begin to show improvement in time or she develops signs of pain, THEN worry about xrays. It might be a good idea to get a chiro out, but that can be said for most horses! That's also cheaper than xrays typically are.

Ooooohh good. I was so worried. She got a massage last weekend (yes, only 5 years old and getting massages ) and didn't show any signs of pain even with heavy pressure.

Chiropractor is doable though so hopefully that is all she will need in the future. I really want this mare to work out. Only had her five months and I'm quite attached to her. lol

[Rummymuffin]

As far as spinal damage goes...you would see certain signs beyond inconsistency in the bridle if your horse had any sort of significant back problem. Back soreness, girthiness, tendency to back up/rear, bucking, etc. A simple way to check is to press down on the horse's back just behind the withers and work your way down the back. If there is a significant drop/reaction to the pressure, then you might need to investigate.

Personally, I don't hold much belief in chiropractors for horses. I think they usually cost too much money to make very little difference in horses. Massages are nice, and seem to make horses more comfortable, but a chiro is not going to solve significant issues. I spent hundreds, if not a couple thousand dollars trying the holistic approach to a horse I have with real back problems. Want to know what did work? X rays, cortizone injections, serapin injections, and robaxin...which is really to say another thousand dollars down the drain, but it made him truly comfortable for the first time in the five years that I've owned him.

[Horsed]

Well she is girthy and pins her ears when I brush her belly/girth area. I always thought she was just sensitive. Should I be more worried?

She didn't flinch at any pain in her massage and she doesn't buck or rear.

[SaddleUp158]

Originally Posted by JBandRio

No firmer hold - that's what she's running from. Light contact, always, and just encourage her forward forward forward.

You're finding out the hard way how difficult it is to re-train these incorrectly drawreined horses It can literally take months or a year to get a horse comfortable enough with contact that they can stretch into it.

We had a gelding like this and it literally took about 2yrs before he rode like a "normal" horse. Took forever for him to realize he could go forward and move into contact. Patience is the key here.

[Huntseat]

Originally Posted by Rummymuffin

As far as spinal damage goes...you would see certain signs beyond inconsistency in the bridle if your horse had any sort of significant back problem. Back soreness, girthiness, tendency to back up/rear, bucking, etc. A simple way to check is to press down on the horse's back just behind the withers and work your way down the back. If there is a significant drop/reaction to the pressure, then you might need to investigate.

Personally, I don't hold much belief in chiropractors for horses. I think they usually cost too much money to make very little difference in horses. Massages are nice, and seem to make horses more comfortable, but a chiro is not going to solve significant issues. I spent hundreds, if not a couple thousand dollars trying the holistic approach to a horse I have with real back problems. Want to know what did work? X rays, cortizone injections, serapin injections, and robaxin...which is really to say another thousand dollars down the drain, but it made him truly comfortable for the first time in the five years that I've owned him.

I totally agree with the first part.

Chiros are a very easily argued subject from either point of view, but in my personal experience I've had great luck. My old vet was also a chiro, and for $25 I could have her do an adjustment if she was already at the barn (she was a regular, lots of horses, LOL). After Mel's first adjustment, even though there had been no problems per se and I was just sort of testing out the chiro idea, she was NOTICEABLY moving more freely and she was much more supple through the bridle. You could feel it riding and you could see it from the ground. I am keeping my ear out for a chiro out here (I have since moved across country) because it has been awhile since that adjustment and I'd like to see what another one could do

Originally Posted by Horsed

Well she is girthy and pins her ears when I brush her belly/girth area. I always thought she was just sensitive. Should I be more worried?

She didn't flinch at any pain in her massage and she doesn't buck or rear.

Some horses are just funny about certain spots. Mel hates it when I rub/brush the underside of her neck and her chest. You can't rule out some sort of pain (maybe a skin issue?) but I wouldn't be too concerned about extreme soreness based on that.

[Rummymuffin]

Originally Posted by Huntseat

Chiros are a very easily argued subject from either point of view, but in my personal experience I've had great luck. My old vet was also a chiro, and for $25 I could have her do an adjustment if she was already at the barn (she was a regular, lots of horses, LOL). After Mel's first adjustment, even though there had been no problems per se and I was just sort of testing out the chiro idea, she was NOTICEABLY moving more freely and she was much more supple through the bridle. You could feel it riding and you could see it from the ground. I am keeping my ear out for a chiro out here (I have since moved across country) because it has been awhile since that adjustment and I'd like to see what another one could do

I had one guy that actually made a difference. He was a kinesiologist (I can't figure out how to spell that...) a trainer I worked for down south used him, and I was willing to try anything. The adjustments he did helped my horse with kissing spine; the moment I sat on his back there was a noticeable change in the way he carried himself. However, this guy was from Arizona, cost $200 a pop and never came north of Virginia. So as great as he was, it never really worked out.

If your location is where you are now, you are probably near where I live. I have yet to find a decent chiropractor around here, but I gave up looking a while ago, so there might be someone I've missed. Let me know if you do find anyone, I might be interested for my other horse.

[spinandslide]

Originally Posted by Horsed

SPINAL DAMAGE?! I'm going to be stressing out for the rest of my life now... Are you sure draw reins can cause spinal damage? I can't afford x rays and if there was anything wrong I don't have the means to fix that either. Would there be any outward signs? Like wouldn't her back be sore, or would she look off or anything?

Yeah I know arabs are quite sensitive. My mare is very forgiving though (hey she puts up with me). I just hope she isn't permanately damaged. She is supposed to be my show horse for the next...like 10 years. And it wasn't cheap to get her either, at least not for my family.

I agree with huntseat..I wouldnt worry about that at this point..because of the misuse of the draw reins, she probably looks alittle funny anyway..you are basicaly asking her to relearn how to be ridden..she will let you know if she has anything beyond that..and it wont simply be inconsistentcy in the bridle.

Something you MIGHT consider in the future, is a visit from the chiropractor. my one mare is also abit cinchy when shes due for a chiro appointment..granted, some horses are cinchy no matter what you do, but knowing her history, I would bet money shes got something "out of line" that wouldnt hurt to be worked on.