Can sway back be corrected?

How is a swayback treated? In the absence of any other health conditions that may be a contributing factor, swayback posture can be treated by lengthening tight muscles, such as your hip muscles and hamstrings, and strengthening weak muscles, such as your abdominals.

Can you ride a horse with sway back?

Broodmares can safely and comfortably carry foals. Lordotic horses can also be ridden. They may not be suitable for high performance but otherwise can work within the limitations of their fitness level.

What causes a sway back in a horse?

Swayback is caused in part from a loss of muscle tone in both the back and abdominal muscles, plus a weakening and stretching of the ligaments. However, it is also common in older horses whose age leads to loss of muscle tone and stretched ligaments.

Can a chiropractor fix a sway back?

Chiropractors, and other manual therapy practitioners, may be able to help with cases of sway back posture. By addressing any underlying structural issues, you may be better able to correct poor posture habits.

What does a sway back horse look like?

A horse that has a hollow or sway back will carry its head up, with its back concave or “hollowed.” The horse will typically have a stiff, stumpy gait, and although the neck and head may look elegantly arched, the bend is not correct. Hollow backs can lead to other problems, such as lameness.

How do you get sway back?

Treatments. Correcting back pains as a result of sway essentially requires us to treat and correct the four contributing factors. Strengthening the abdominal muscles to better support the spine. Release the the tight hamstrings and back muscles muscles either through deep tissue massage or myofascial release.

What is the best saddle for a sway back horse?

We recommend trying a Cordura or flex tree saddle, which are significantly lighter than the traditional leather with a wood tree combination. Your saddle pad is also a crucial part to fitting your swaybacked horse. You want to avoid your saddle leaning against your horse’s withers or against the rear dip of his back.

How do I stop my horse from sway back?

Exercise is important to keep the muscles that support the spine strong and to prevent a dipped back from getting worse. Exercise the horse by riding or working with him on the ground. Encourage your horse to keep a rounded frame and consider using ground poles or side reins to help with this.

Does riding damage a horse’s back?

It was determined that when riding bareback certain areas on the horse’s back showed high levels of pressure. Ultimately, they can cause pain and tissue damage to the muscle fibers because of their intensity. It was especially noticeable when the seat bones came down on the horse’s back.

How long does it take to correct sway back?

Although there are no overnight fixes for sway-back posture – a posture that takes years to develop – UPRIGHT users report seeing positive results in as little as 14 days.

What should I use to fill in my horse’s Swayback?

Use a light piece of sheeting or pad underneath the swayback pad to keep it clean, then check your pad (s) and saddle combination for fit. The goal is to see the horse move as freely and comfortably in the rider-saddle-pad combination as he does on a longe line and with a rider bareback or with a bareback pad.

Why does my horse have a sway back?

Most horses with sway backs weren’t born that way. Most often, they occur because the horse has not been taught how to carry a rider properly. A horse that has a hollow or sway back will carry its head up, with its back concave or “hollowed.”

How big does a horse have to be to have a swayback?

With the back measurements in hand, they found that, statistically, the abnormality started with contours greater than 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 inches (6.5 to seven cm). Four horses with slightly lesser measurements were reclassified in the normal range, leaving 10 males and 10 females in the swayback group.

What should I do if my horse has a hollow back?

For example, trying to fix a hollow back and high headedness by holding the horse’s head down with a martingale or tie-down can lead to all kinds of other problems. Ultimately, some hollow backs can be corrected and some can not. Horses with long backs or sickle hocks will be more likely to be hollow backed.