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EQU INE BACK PA IN
3
EQUINE MATTERS
Understanding equine
Julian Rishworth BVetMed MRCVS,
Minster Equine Veterinary Clinic
The horse's back is a large and
complex structure with a multitude
of physical functions to perform.
It is centred around a long bony column
made up of individual vertebrae which house
and protect the important nervous tissue of the
spinal cord and act as the scaffold onto which
the muscles and ligaments attach. The spine
can be divided into five main sections, the
neck, the thoracic (chest) spine, the lumbar
spine, the sacrum and the tail. Here we will
concentrate on the neck, the thoraco-lumbar
region together and a little in the sacral region.
Pain can originate in any of the structures of
the back; therefore we can see bone pain,
muscular pain, ligament pain, nerve tissue pain
or any combination of all four.
The neck is a very mobile part of the spine,
acting to hold up the very heavy head of the
horse and move it to all the positions
necessary. This involves a lot of muscular
activity therefore muscular pain problems in
the neck are common and show up pretty
easily. Also because of the degree of
movement required, any abnormality in the
joints between the vertebrae in the neck, (there
are seven in the neck), will also show as pain.
The thoraco-lumbar spine is much less mobile
than the neck, its main function is to store
and transfer the energy produced by the
powerhouse of the hind-quarters to the front
limbs as well as providing the solid bridge on
which a rider can sit and to support the heavy
contents of the horse's abdomen. The sacrum
is a group of fused vertebrae which is the
bit of the spine the pelvis is joined to by the
sacroiliac joint. This is a very strong joint that
doesn't move but the energy that it transmits
from the hind limbs to the spine means any
damage can cause significant pain.
Veterinary Surgeon
Julian Rishworth
XLVets Equine Practice
Minster Equine
Veterinary Clinic
back
pain