After noticing that Sam’s attitude, while being tacked up and under saddle, was starting to deteriorate, his owner decided to have a saddle fitter out to check the fit. After numerous saddle adjustments, Sam was still showing signs of discomfort throughout his lower back. His owner also saw that Sam had worn down both toes on his hind feet, so she had a full set of shoes put on him. Sam also received multiple massages and chiropractic adjustments in an effort to alleviate his lower back pain. Unfortunately, even with all these efforts, Sam showed no improvement, so his owner decided it was time to have Danica out to do a hind end lameness assessment and radiographs. Radiographs showed that Sam has Juvenile Arthritis in both lower hock joints which was causing the difficulty in flexing his hind legs and the lower back pain. Sam’s arthritis was treated with hock injections and he received a new saddle. As a result, Sam has been doing incredibly well and he is back to his normal and happy self.
