A Pain In The Neck …

A sore neck can be the most deceptive of injuries. Because the horse uses his neck as a balance in every move he makes, even a slight soreness there can stop a horse in his tracks. From looking at him, you would think the horse has tied up, foundered or broken a leg, when all that has really happened is a misdirected vaccination causing him a pain in the neck.

A simple way to test for neck soreness is to offer the horse a carrot just out of reach and in line with his shoulder. If he bends his neck normally to nibble it, you can eliminate the neck as the source of the trouble. A horse that won’t bend his neck or goes through bizarre contortions to reach the carrot may indeed be sore up front. A little detective work can help you determine the location and likely cause of the injury.

A common source of neck pain is an infected tick bit along the crest. Examine the roots of the horse’s mane carefully, looking for a swollen, warm, sensitive area. Clean the area well, and if the infection seems well-entrenched, consult with your veterinarian about administering antibiotics. Injections are another source of transient neck soreness, either because they are mistakenly administered into ligamentous tissues or because the medication or vaccine itself produces a minor inflammatory response. Pulled muscles and ligaments, caused when the horse makes a desperate counterbalancing action to keep from falling, can lead to guarded movements to avoid aggravating the strain.

Palpate along the horse’s neck, and watch for pained reactions to pinpoint the sensitivity: When neck soreness is caused by tick bites, injections, strains or other relatively minor local traumas, the horse appears otherwise healthy and willing to eat. A few days of rest is usually all the treatment that is required. Just be sure to raise the horse’s feed, water and hay to a level he can reach comfortably.

Any kinks, abnormal bends or large lumps along the spinal cord could indicate skeletal damage. These signs, combined with a reluctance to move, point to a serious condition requiring immediate veterinary attention.