Sore back and lame QH

Question
My 12 year old quarter horse mare has been off for a while now. It looks like she has a hitch in her step in her right hind and her front left shoulder looks a little stiff. I have had her chiropracted for about 4 years and it seems to help up until now. She recently got hock injections so I know for sure it is her back. Especially between the croup and dock she seems the worst. She is built a little downhill and has trouble getting underneath herself when I am riding her. I have read that sometimes it is good to just give sore horses 2 months off, but I don't know if that is a good idea. If her back is out of whack, I don't want her muscles to get used to being in the wrong place. Earlier this week, my vet looked at  her (of course she was not off that day, I promised that she would be as soon as he left) earlier this week, and told me to give her 2 grams of bute and muscle relaxers. I live in Ohio where it is cold and I am sure that does not help. I can't seem to get this horse sound and the three vets that have looked at her have not seemed to help. Should I just give her time off until it gets warmer? Ride her lightly?

Answer
Jessica:

having had hock injections in no way rules out all the other structures in all the legs. If your horse is lame, it needs a good lameness exam by a good equine vet. The back may well be sore, but in my experience 90% or more sore backs are from compensation due to a lameness in a leg or multiple lamenesses. I strongly recommend another opinion but a vet with a good reputation for lameness diagnosis and therapy. If your horse has not recieved flexion tests, been watched on a lunge line and under saddle, and been blocked- the lameness evaluations in my opinion are incomplete- and thus will provide incomplete information. If she has a primry sore back, i have had success with acupuncture, not with chiropractic BUT this can only be expected to be successful IF the hors is known not to be lame in any limb and based on my experience and what you describe, Ill bet she's lame in at least one limb. She could even have a pelvic lameness, which many vets who dont do performance horse lameness may not pick up on. Those are my thought. I dont knwo where you are in Ohio, but Id recommend Ohio State Vet school or Dr Genovese in Cleveland. Im just in Lexington, so if you really get stuck, I might be able to come look at your horse too. Please dont give up yet and take her out for several months UNTIL you get another opinion. I would not ride as yet. Leave her off until you get her looked at again. Please feel free to contact me if I can help you in any other way.