#158 - poked and prodded

Yesterday I gave Teddy a good look over, he was poked and prodded with pressure all down and around his back and he didn't flinch at all. He's also walking fine. He does however appear to have three small bumps on one side of his back that would be under where the saddle is. I pressed on them and he looked around but that was it. They aren't open sores or anything. They may well be from dirt as he hasn't been washed in ages, or they may be insect bites or something else and this may be getting aggravated when the saddle goes on. Particularly when he's sweating. He also spooked yesterday and turned on his heels and ran without a problem and that evening I was up the top of the hill (small hill incline) taking apples to the cows when Teddy decided he wanted to see what was going on. He could have walked around to the flat to get to me but he just trotted up the hill. He didn't seem to be in pain at all. That doesn't necessarily mean he isn't in pain but the degree probably isn't as bad as first thought.

I did the same pressing thing again today but with a lot more pressure and still no reaction. I cleared and treated where the bumps are just in case its that and I'll continue to do so until they go away.

I wish we had taking his tack off on Saturday after the ride to see where the soreness was coming from. When I was watching him playing with the horse in the next corral I was thinking that he wasn't showing any soreness at all and wouldn't he still present after an hour long lesson where he was in pain with every fall of the trot? In the past my regular instructor has said to me in that he has a weak back and that would be improved with work. Yesterday the rally instructor said he was working fine when I followed the instructions she gave and that when I looked between his ears he carried himself well and lowered his head well. I'd have thought they would have said something if they thought something was wrong, after all they are watching the horse the whole time.It was put to me on Saturday like it was a major problem, maybe the woman telling me was unintentionally over stressing the point.

I'm also confused about this "muscle wastage". I have looked at photos of him when I bought him and he looks exactly the same. Seriously exactly the same. I've looked a pic online and at horses in my area that are thoroughbred types (Teddy is a stock horse but they are derived from TB and he looks like a TB to me) and their backs look like his too. Maybe I don't know what I'm looking for, but to me he looks absolutely the same as he always has!

I think its important to note that I tend to over think things so this is why I stress out. But in my defense I just want to be sure that Teddy is as happy and healthy as he can be. Anyway if Teddy doesn't improve, and I'll only be able to determine that with someone else watching me ride, they I will call a vet to check him.