Damage to the epaxial (muscle) tissue above and surrounding the vertebral column is the most common cause for backpain in the horse. (Jeffcott 1993) To make the this study complete, we also need to involve the muscle tissues in the thoracic and lumbar area. Jeffcott and Dalin (1980) divide the main muscles in the horse’s back into three groups: - Superficial muscles: trapezius, and cutaneus - Deep muscles : serratus dorsalis cranialis, serratus dorsalis caudalis, longssimus dorsi, multitidi dorsi, iliocostalis dorsalis, and intertransversais lumborum - Sublumbal and gluteal muscles : psoas minor, psoas major, iliacus, quadratus lumborum, and glutealis medialis
The most important muscle is the longissimus, which is divided into several parts (the longissimus lumborum, thoracis, cervicis, and atlantis). Together, the longissimus muscle group stabilizes the vertebral column and helps bear the load of the body. For example, byflexing the forehand, it bends the back and lifts the croup so the horse is able to kick. By flexing the hind quarters it helps with lifting of the thorax and enables the horse to rear (stand on the hind legs).
The iliocostalis muscle stabilizes the thoracic and lumbar area and participates in lateral flexion.
The iliopsoas muscle participates in the bending of the vertebral column up and down when standing.
The vertebral column of the horse is constantly under pressure. The force of the body weight at the center of gravity bends the vertebral column ventrally. To withstand this, other forces must work as a counter balance. Through caudal strain of the longissimus and multifidus muscles, and cranial strain of the spinalis dorsi (thoracis et cervicis) – the vertebrae are held pressed against eachother . This helps to stabilize the vertebral coloumn and works to counter balance the dorsoventral forces. (Rooney, 1979)
Distorsion or overexpansion from overstress and/or overstrain, causes great damage to ligaments and muscles. The cranial part of the lumbar vertebrae is often the area where much of the distortion is localized. Many factors take part in the occurrence of distorsion, for example, long periods of working the horse (*riding). (Snow and Valberg 1994; Turner 1992). These factors contribute to the depletion and destruction of muscle tissue, reduction of elasticity in the tendons and ligaments and loss of coordination, which whereby leads to the distortion of other structures of the body. Because of painful tension in the back, horses try to avoid certain movements which again leads to more tension and distorsion.
Academia Liberti defines riding as no longer than 15 minutes and only in natural and free collection to avoid the possibility of harming the horse.
Meyer wrote 1996:
“Through the wrong effect of rider hand and seat which takes direst influence at the poll, neck and back of the horse, there happen disfunctional tensions, insufficient relaxations, orthop malposition and disfunction of the movement tact.“
Academia Liberti has a well-defined and scientific position supporting the fact that every seat and manipulation to the horse’s body(through forced and mechanical means), causes these detrimental effects, especially if the horse is not taught or allowed free and natural collection and is not kept in optimal natural conditions.
Insertion desmopathy is defined as pathological changes of the tendons, ligaments and joint capsules where tendons and ligaments attach to bone. Bones and periosteum are mostly involved. By overstress at one of these such points, trauma of the soft tissue and bone tissue occurs, whereby partial avulsion (forcable detatchment of tendon or ligament from bone) is possible, and in severe cases bone tissue can fracture and tear out completely, which is called an avulsion fracture.
1988 Huskamp and Nowak investigated insertion desmopathy and their localization in the horse’s body. The following histological changes were proven:
- loosening of the collagen fibre bundle
- fatty degeneration and swelling of the ligament tissue
- cell necrosis in the ligaments and bones
- parts of hyalinie collagen connective tissue was damaged with multiple lessions and tumors
At the beginning stages of this desease, there are no changes to be seen on x-rays.
Changes are only seen after afracture happens.
Desmopathy at the supra spinal ligament generally appear in the area of thoracic vertebrae15- lumbar vertabrae 3, and are noticable through swelling and a pain reaction by the horse during palpation.
Dr Gabriele Hüntemann made an investigation in 2007, together with Prof. Dr. L. Brunnenberg, Prof. Dr. K. Hartung and Prof. Dr. H. Keller, about insertion desmopathy of the nuchal ligament in a group of 180 horses.
Symptoms: horses did not “give back freely” while ridden, difficulties bending at the head and neck or through the body , headshaking, horse bends and holds midsection out to one side or the other, jumps into a gallop.
All the horses with these and simialr symptoms were medically proven to have mid to severe damage to the spinous processes. The appearance of symptoms typical for horses with back pain clearly correlate with damage such as insertion despompahy of the occipital nauchal ligament.
Soft tissue injuries are one of the main causes of back pain in horses. Jeffcott (1980) did a study on 443 horses, 38.8 % had soft tissue injuries, and 22.37 % had distorsion or deformation of the muscles and ligaments.
Analises of the findings on the 443 horses:
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Ligament distorsion - 117 horses - 22.37%
Stress myopathy (muscular disease) - 7 horses - 1.34%
Soft tissure injuries - 203 horses - 38.8%
Sakroiliitis (inflammation of the lower spine) - 69 horses – 13.19%
Lumbar vertebrae luxation - 1 horse - 0.19%
Cauda equina neuritis (lesions and inflammation of the nerves) - 3 horses - 0.57%
Spinal cord abscess - 2 horses - 0.38%
Chir. complications - 4 horses - 0.76%
Scoliosis - 1 horse - 0.19%
Lordosis (swayback) - 7horses - 1.34%
Other forms of changes - 7 horses - 1.34%
Vertebrae body fractures - 5 horses - 0.96%
Spinous process fractures - 8 horses - 1.53%
Spondylopathy (disease of the vertebrae) - 14 horses - 2.68%
Other degenerative changes - 2 horses - 0.38%
Vertebrae injuries - 202 horses - 38.6%
Joint lameness - 20 horses - 3.82%
Distal limb lameness - 11 horses - 2.10%
Abnormal temperament - 24 horses - 4.59%
Teeth problems - 11 horses - 2.10%
Number of total diagnoses 523
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Undiagnosed – only 37 horses - 7.0%
Rhabdomyolysis is defined as the rapid breakdown of muscle tissue due to injury resulting in the release of muscle fiber contents (myoglobin) into the bloodstream, which are harmful to the kidneys . Horses with rhabdomyolysis show very clearly one or more of the following clinical symptoms: sweating, fear, tremor, stiffness, myoglobinuria (red urine as result of muscle breakdown). Also tachycardia (excellerated or rapid heart beat), tachypnea (rapid breathing) and a slight increase of body temperature. The horse may move unwillinglyand in some cases of exhaustion, diaphragma (cellular diaphrams) can begin to flutter and the horse can die. (Andrews 1994, Snow and Valberg 1994).
Rhabdomyolysis can appear at the beginning or the end of a horses workout. If a horse does not like or want to move, it can often happen that rhabdomyolysis is confused with or misdiagnosed as tetanus, hypocalcemia (low calcium) or laminitis. Some horses show such strong pain symptoms that rhabdomyolysis is confused with colic. Hodgson (1993), Snow and Valberg (1994) allege that acute rhabdomyolyse mainly appears after hard working (riding). It happens through disturbance important diaphragm pump like sodium-protassium pump, calcium-magnesium pump and calcium-ATPases pump. The high calcium concentration disturbs oxidation of the mitochondria, damage the cell diaphragm, disrupts the myofibrils and distroys cytoskeleton.
Hodgson (1993), Snow and Valberg (1994) allege that acute rhabdomyolysis mainly appears after hard working (riding). It happens through the disturbance of important diaphragm pumps like the sodium-protassium pump, calcium-magnesium pump and calcium-ATPases pump (transfers calcium after the muscle has contracted). The high calcium concentration disturbs oxidation of the mitochondria, damages the cell diaphragm, disrupts the myofibrils and distroys the cytoskeleton.
Lewis (1989) sees the Tying-up-syndrom as a disease of the muscles which happens after long periods of working a horse.
It is our duty to show the pain the horse suffers through human manipulation and control.
To be continued.
Preface The horse is not made to be ridden. The horse should not be ridden at the cost of his health. This is a daily practice preformed by people who even claim to love their horses. Love which causes damage and pain to another creature is a sick love. Throughout the whole of human history, people have done horrible things to animals and to each other out of lack of education and lack of development. Now, in a time of abundant knowledge and developemental growth, it is time to show that this damage and pain is still happening with horses… through the people who ride and use them for their own pleasure or profit. I state that there is no one, single horse who likes to be ridden. We would like to believe they like it, but that does not make it true. It is time to rethink tradition and to face the facts.
Back pain is a common problem in riding horses. (Jeffcott 1979). While it has been known for centuries that horses have back pain, the technology to accurately diagnose the cause of primary or secondary back pain has only come about in recent years, and even this insufficient. The main problem in the traditional treatment of horses is the LACK OF EDUCATION of horse owners and riders. Here in Academia Liberti, we are trying to build the bridge between equine science and the average horseman who sees horses for use and riding. I am convinced that as soon as the avarage horsemen GET TO KNOW about the anatomy and the biomechanics of his/her animal, and HARM which he/she causes through riding, that riding a horse will be seen by all respect, as a barbaric act of the illiterate and simpleminded horseman.
Thorakales Interspinales Syndrom (TIS)/Kissing Spine Syndrom (KSS)
Natural Asymmetry by definition, is a slanted propulsion of the hind legs of the horse, by which cause a lateral shift or offset in the front legs. There is assumption that the reason for this is the location of the foal in the womb.
