Your horse has neck and/or back pain. The signs are obvious: sensitivity when grooming and saddling, resistance to rider weight, stiffness and pain when manipulating the neck and back, and a notable decrease in performance. But what is causing the pain, and what can you do about it?

"Despite being common and obvious in many cases, identifying the exact source of the neck or back pain can be complex," said Richard Mitchell, DVM, a private practitioner in Newtown, Conn., at the 12th Congress of The World Equine Veterinary Association, held Nov. 2-6, 2011, in Hyderabad, India.

According to Mitchell, "A thorough physical examination coupled with a complete therapeutic approach can frequently identify, then relieve symptoms of neck and back pain."

Lower limb problems that cause the horse to carry himself differently can lead to muscle stiffness and soreness. Thus, identifying and correcting lower limb problems could resolve neck and back issues

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