Davidson recommended veterinarians examine horses with neck pain on the longe and, if indicated, while ridden, implementing different things that might affect different parts of the neck such as a bridle, side reins, a rider, etc. | Photo: Mallory Haigh/The Horse

While we often think of limb lameness as the most common cause of poor performance in horses, neck pain can be just as debilitating. Affected horses might be unwilling to work, stiff, resistant to certain head positions, and show signs of forelimb lameness or hind-limb ataxia (incoordination).

Elizabeth Davidson, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, ACVSMR, associate professor of sports medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s New Bolton Center, in Kennett Square, described how to diagnose and treat this performance-limiting condition during the 2018 British Equine Veterinary Association Congress, held Sept. 12-15, in Birmingham, U.K.

The Physical Exam

When examining