Tail dock question?

Horsemom2 · 07-04-2009, 12:18 PM

Can a horse sprain it's tail or the dock of the tail??? I was going to ride my mare today and when I was getting her ready, I noticed that it caused her pain to have her tail touched. When I touched the tail dock, she hunched up and scooted forward. The rest of her back appears to be fine. She is moving well and doesn't appear to be lame. I decided not to ride her, but I am not sure if I should be concerned or not. It is weird. I am giving her some time off though. Hopefully she will feel better soon.

Druydess · 07-04-2009, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Horsemom2

Can a horse sprain it's tail or the dock of the tail??? I was going to ride my mare today and when I was getting her ready, I noticed that it caused her pain to have her tail touched. When I touched the tail dock, she hunched up and scooted forward. The rest of her back appears to be fine. She is moving well and doesn't appear to be lame. I decided not to ride her, but I am not sure if I should be concerned or not. It is weird. I am giving her some time off though. Hopefully she will feel better soon.

It is possible they can sprain or bruise by running into something/getting kicked, etc.
Some aspirin or other anti-inflammatory may help with soreness and inflammation...
Hope she's better soon.

recklesshoundog · 07-04-2009, 01:11 PM

I had a horse that broke his tail before so I'm sure a sprain is possible.

Hope it's simple and feels better in no time flat.

Barngoddess · 07-04-2009, 02:58 PM

Did you run down the back bone to see if there might be a bone alignment issue? It could be a chiropractic issue of bone alignment rather than a strain/sprain. I'm guessing you checked for any type of bites, etc....

ahabarabs · 07-04-2009, 03:18 PM

Have you had mare long? or has new horses been around her much? the reason I ask is I thought perhaps she was in heat, sometimes besides the obvious signs of heat, I have found that some mares become kind of "hyper sensitive" to things, especially when around their butts sometimes.

Horsemom2 · 07-05-2009, 12:13 AM

I have had her for almost 5 years. I have never seen this kind of behavior before. The rest of her spine appears to be fine with no sensitive spots to pressure. She was sensitive to touching the tail dock. I couldn't lift her tail. She was twitchy with my even running my hand down her tail. She is showing NO signs of lameness. There is a slight swelling and some minor warmth at the tail dock. I was just trying to figure out how she would have hurt her tail.

candy4legs · 07-05-2009, 01:00 PM

Is she out with other horses? Is it possible that somebody bit her? If you're feeling heat, something did happen...could be she bumped it on a fencepost or a tree...

ahabarabs · 07-05-2009, 05:06 PM

It's hard to say, could be alot of things, I would not be to concerned unless it seems to be getting worse, she might of been butt rubbing against something, and scratched, or run a piece of something into her tail, or a bite, if it doesn't start getting better, or gets worse, probably gonna have to force her to let you do a better inspection, even if you have to use restraints, or a little ace.

walkinthewalk · 07-05-2009, 09:11 PM

Along with the other great thoughts, what about sunburn?

If she doesn't have the thickest of tails, she couldn've gotten sunburned and welted up from rubbing herself.

I have one horse whose tail thins out every summer and I have to put diaper rash cream on his tail dock. If he has a sensitive spot he will shiver and hunker down, so I have to apply the cream gently just in case he might think he needs to launch me while I'm trying to help him

The same thing could have also happened if a tick bit her. The tail dock and anal area are favorite places of those evil little creatures and finding them in the tail hair is the hardest

I don't know if a kidney or bladder infection would make a horse react that way?

Or it could be a mare thing that needs attention as someone else suggested.

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07-04-2009, 12:18 PM
Horsemom2 Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 537	Tail dock question? Can a horse sprain it's tail or the dock of the tail??? I was going to ride my mare today and when I was getting her ready, I noticed that it caused her pain to have her tail touched. When I touched the tail dock, she hunched up and scooted forward. The rest of her back appears to be fine. She is moving well and doesn't appear to be lame. I decided not to ride her, but I am not sure if I should be concerned or not. It is weird. I am giving her some time off though. Hopefully she will feel better soon. __________________

07-04-2009, 01:11 PM
recklesshoundog Greenbroke Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 3,162	I had a horse that broke his tail before so I'm sure a sprain is possible. Hope it's simple and feels better in no time flat.

07-04-2009, 02:58 PM
Barngoddess Weanling Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 350	Did you run down the back bone to see if there might be a bone alignment issue? It could be a chiropractic issue of bone alignment rather than a strain/sprain. I'm guessing you checked for any type of bites, etc....

07-04-2009, 03:18 PM
ahabarabs Weanling Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: indianapolis, indiana Posts: 487	Have you had mare long? or has new horses been around her much? the reason I ask is I thought perhaps she was in heat, sometimes besides the obvious signs of heat, I have found that some mares become kind of "hyper sensitive" to things, especially when around their butts sometimes.

07-05-2009, 12:13 AM
Horsemom2 Yearling Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 537	I have had her for almost 5 years. I have never seen this kind of behavior before. The rest of her spine appears to be fine with no sensitive spots to pressure. She was sensitive to touching the tail dock. I couldn't lift her tail. She was twitchy with my even running my hand down her tail. She is showing NO signs of lameness. There is a slight swelling and some minor warmth at the tail dock. I was just trying to figure out how she would have hurt her tail. __________________

07-05-2009, 01:00 PM
candy4legs Long Yearling Join Date: May 2009 Location: O'Fallon, MO Posts: 1,437	Is she out with other horses? Is it possible that somebody bit her? If you're feeling heat, something did happen...could be she bumped it on a fencepost or a tree...

07-05-2009, 05:06 PM
ahabarabs Weanling Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: indianapolis, indiana Posts: 487	It's hard to say, could be alot of things, I would not be to concerned unless it seems to be getting worse, she might of been butt rubbing against something, and scratched, or run a piece of something into her tail, or a bite, if it doesn't start getting better, or gets worse, probably gonna have to force her to let you do a better inspection, even if you have to use restraints, or a little ace.

07-05-2009, 09:11 PM
walkinthewalk Newborn Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Middle Tennessee Posts: 25	Along with the other great thoughts, what about sunburn? If she doesn't have the thickest of tails, she couldn've gotten sunburned and welted up from rubbing herself. I have one horse whose tail thins out every summer and I have to put diaper rash cream on his tail dock. If he has a sensitive spot he will shiver and hunker down, so I have to apply the cream gently just in case he might think he needs to launch me while I'm trying to help him The same thing could have also happened if a tick bit her. The tail dock and anal area are favorite places of those evil little creatures and finding them in the tail hair is the hardest I don't know if a kidney or bladder infection would make a horse react that way? Or it could be a mare thing that needs attention as someone else suggested.