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  Discussion on Rib Out? (Is there such a thing)
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Member:
martyr

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 19, 2007 - 9:43 pm:

Can a horse's rib be out of place, or is that just something we hear from Chiropractors? If a rib can be out, what are the symptoms? Could it go back into place by itself?

Over the years, I've thought that my horse was experiencing some pain in the rib cage or girth area that set off a chain reaction of pain in other areas that resulted in some significant resistance. Up until June of this year, it was happening very infrequently, but now I am having some significant problems. My horse is is reluctant to move forward and the aid of my leg results in great resistance such as backing up, fishtailing, mini-rearing, etc. Once he does get going, he will abruptly 'jolt' to a stop and start the fussing all over again. It's clear to me ( an experienced horsewoman that has owned this horse for 6 years)that this is not a behavior problem but pain related. The interesting thing is that I am able to eventually work through it, although it takes a long time. It's as though something is 'locked' in his body and as though my aids hit a nerve that drives him crazy. When he resists, he will raise his head up as though his jaw is involved in this pain as well. My vet is coming again next week, but he has seen this behavior on video, and he is scratching his head. I wouldn't think kissing spine or ribs out would allow me to eventually end my ride on a good note with a supple horse.

This is a 4th level dressage horse. I have given chiro, acupuncture, and massage a try. No success. I have had a recent saddle fitting and an electrical teeth floating. I'm sure this isn't a limb problem. It's either, ribs, withers, back, neck, or jaw, in my humble opinion.
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Wednesday, Sep 19, 2007 - 10:08 pm:

Have been told of "ribs out" on horses, with them being put back in place. I've been told I had a "rib out" by my human chiropractor (could not breath well, very bad pain -- painful putting back in, but that fixed it).
Member:
sunny66

Posted on Thursday, Sep 20, 2007 - 10:59 am:

Hi Marion, I too have heard of ribs being out but since your chiro didn't help I have no guesses. My boy does this when ridden at times but he has a myriad of issues, so I would be most grateful if you could post when you find out the answer.

Good luck!!!
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Friday, Sep 21, 2007 - 8:27 am:

Hello Marion,
I am uncertain what chiropractors mean when they use this term. When you say "a rib out" you suggest to me that the rib is partially or fully out of its joint's socket (luxated) where it articulates with the thoracic vertebrae. In general ribs tend to crack or fracture before becoming luxated so this is not a reported injury in horses that I can find. If it occured it would most often be associated with trauma to the barrel (thorax).

Unless the animal fat, such a (sub)luxated rib would be visually abnormal since it would not lie like the others. I would also expect it to move more freely than the other ribs and be painful with pressure.

To move forward with your problem I recommend trying a trainer with a record for working through problem horses and if the problems persist, a thorough workup including the procedures listed in Diseases of Horses » Performance Problems » Exercise Intolerance and Poor Performance.
DrO
Member:
teddyj1

Posted on Friday, Sep 21, 2007 - 7:49 pm:

Hi Marion, I had a horse in work that had those symptoms, turned out to be severe gastric ulcers. Might want to see if your Vet thinks a scoping might be in order. Ulcer's are just so common, easy to treat, expensive as heck though if you don't have insurance(LOL).
Good Luck.
Member:
paul303

Posted on Sunday, Sep 23, 2007 - 2:10 am:

I actually know someone who's ribs were "out". He was walking downhill in the winter, on thick ice and snow while carrying a heavy metal pail. His feet flew up in the air and he came down on the pail rim with his back. I saw the x-rays - his ribs ( 3 )were not lined up with the vertebrae. He could not breathe or move, or speak. As an ex-bullrider, he was no stranger to broken ribs...an he said he would have given anything to have broken them instead of dislocating them. It was the only injury ( of many extreme injuries )I ever saw lay him up completely for nearly 3 months. He was wrapped and taped to the Nth degree, we were doing his barn work, and he was supplied with painkillers that hardly helped.

When a diagnosis is given as "the neck is out" or "the back is out" I have to wonder. My knees have gone "out", and it is the worst pain in the world. A broken bone is not as painful. I would be shocked if I ever encountered a human or animal who could function on any minimal level while a bone is "out of joint". Remember, it's not just the bone, it is the tendons, ligaments and muscles that are stretched and twisted into tortuous and unnatural positions.

I really think that TOD has a good point. I've had a horse with ulcers, and they can get very disagreeable and touchy - especially around the girth. I would be shocked if your horse had a rib that was out - and you rode him that way and lived to tell about it.
Member:
vickiann

Posted on Sunday, Sep 23, 2007 - 11:25 am:

When the massagers and chiropractors and trigger point manipulators say that a "rib is out" I think that they mean a different degree of being out than you are describing Lee, and that perhaps there can be some minor amount of dislocation or tension. I certainly can tell you that it was very painful when mine were put back in, but within a few hours I could breath again without excruciating pain. And when the ribs have been put back in on my horses, I've been able to feel the movement and the change with the manipulation. on the opposite side of the horse's back. I don't understand it, but still believe there is SOMETHING to it, though I really don't know how much or what!
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