Is this a roach back??

[2 bays & a grey:D]

following on from the KS thread and of course the paranoia that comes with reading things I started to look at roach backs. Is this a straight or roach? What limitations do you think she will have? Can strengthening ground work & core work help? And are they more susceptible to KS? Questions questions . An old massage/muscle/body worker said she had a roach back but, I must admit, it doesn't look as prominent as it once did, does it improve over time & with age and it certainly doesn't look like the images I have seen on the web, even the slightly roach backed images.

Any other comments on confirmation welcome







Ps she is very overweight in these photos, she looks tons better now.

[highlanderpony2002]

nope a roach back curves upwards she has a relatively flat back but i would imagine that is because she is so fat in these pictures

[donnalex]

A slight roach back can be improved or hidden when the horse gains weight.
I wuld say yes very slightly, just behind where the cantle would sit is a little high I think so as you follow the spine forwards you get a bit sharper change of curve than usual.
Ask SS3 what she thinks.
Are you having problems with her?
Remember not all horses who have it are problematic, with a saddle on and working correctly you would probably never know. This is why show horses are stripped of their saddles for the conformation judging.

[laurac]

Hi Jo

Have messaged you on the KS thread ;D

[wabuska]

I certainly don't see a roach.

[specialsparkle3]

Jan 6, 2011 13:24:17 GMT 1 @wabuska said:

I certainly don't see a roach.

Neither do I ;D

[2 bays & a grey:D]

Thats great guys thanks

[Cameo]

I'm not seeing a roach back either - I can see what the massage therapist meant a bit - in that her top line is a little sharp in the change from end of wither to the part of her back that goes under the saddle - but it isn't anything to worry unduly about.
Far more important will be the work you do with her to ensure that she works straight and engages her hindquarters (which she isn't fully doing in the photos - but obviously a photo is only a titchy snapshot of a moment! And I don't know your level of work with her yet).
If I was visiting this horse I would ask you to be aware of her saddle fitting as it is the kind of conformation (again - only going from the pictures!) that could cause a saddle to ride downhill. However - again, with good consistent and correct training, as she carries her weight further back, this will be less of an issue.
No work of any sort will change her skeletal conformation - but how you teach her to use herself under a rider will influence the muscular development to ensure a stronger back and the effective use of her musco-skeletal system.
Core stretches can help with the effective use of core muscles and flexibility - such as those advocated by Dr Hilary Clayton or taught on some massage workshops.

(how old is she? She sounds young according to your post.)

She looks a lovely horse! You look like you are having fun too!

[2 bays & a grey:D]

Hi Cameo thanks for your post.

She is 6 going on 7 and hasn't been in a lot of work due to her behavioral problems as a 4/5 year old (she had ulcers, thus resulting in sore muscles in her back). I am very cautious because of her history how I bring her back into work. I have bought a HM Vogue as yes saddles do slip forward on her (and I am not suggesting the HM won't as she will be working on the forehand), but, I plan to do a lot of ground work to help her use her back end more and lift her up (Becky Holden with this hopefully), and strengthen the back. I do carrot stretches with her too and do regular massages and stretch her legs.

[2 bays & a grey:D]

Hi Cameo thanks for your post.

She is 6 going on 7 and hasn't been in a lot of work due to her behavioral problems as a 4/5 year old (she had ulcers, thus resulting in sore muscles in her back). I am very cautious because of her history how I bring her back into work. I have bought a HM Vogue as yes saddles do slip forward on her (and I am not suggesting the HM won't as she will be working on the forehand), but, I plan to do a lot of ground work to help her use her back end more and lift her up (Becky Holden with this hopefully), and strengthen the back. I do carrot stretches with her too and do regular massages and stretch her legs.

[bjf]

no roach back on yours......
just to give you an example, click this link .....................

www.horsegroomingsupplies.com/pictures/files/4/7/2/2/charlie_1.12.06.jpg

[2 bays & a grey:D]

I had seen this picture when I was researching it, poor thing