Is your horse or a horse you know short-strided behind?  Not wanting to change leads, instead chooses to cross-canter?  When given time off the horse doesn’t show improvement? And eventually, a lameness evaluation by a veterinarian finds nothing in the stifles, hocks or feet?

This problem falls into the category of undiagnosed, intermittent, or what I call, Mystery Lameness Behind.

“Something” is going on but the veterinarian can’t find any joint or soft tissue damage in the feet or lower legs. When the vet can’t pinpoint it, yet the horse displays these symptoms, I would define it as classic, “Mystery Lameness Behind.”

This type of problem comes up a lot in working horses. To better understand the problem let's get an overall picture of the hind end, above the legs.

The hind end junction (sacroiliac/sacrolumbar junction) is a like a huge joint, involving huge bones (sacrum, pelvis, lumbar vertebrae), huge ligaments (sacrotuberous), and huge driving muscles (gluteals, hamstrings), assisted by deeper supporting muscles (psoas, iliac, groin).

The power of the forward driving muscles of the hind legs transfers from the limbs into the body through this junction. The strain put on the deeper muscles and ligaments that support this junction often go unnoticed until a performance problem shows up.

Problems in this area can be created when something specific happens, such as a horse slipping or falling, taking a bad step, or getting a leg caught and pulling to get away.

On the other hand, the problem can also be caused by a build-up of tension leading to over-straining in training or work. As this tension accumulates in the deep muscles and connective tissue of this junction the horse will continue to do its job to the best of its ability - as horses do - until it shows up as lameness, or as “bad” behavior.

Muscle strains in this area often go undetected, with no visible or palpable signs of swelling or inflammation. The problem may not necessarily involve tears or other damage. Rather, the muscle tightens or spasms and won't let go or relax. The effects of this can be consistent, or can be intermittent, sometimes for years.

The first thing to do is rule out the possibility of stress involving the joints, tendons or ligaments of the feet or lower legs. If a vet exam reveals nothing in the feet or legs, then the next place to look is higher up in the body.

Often the problem isn't just one thing but rather a chain of pain connected by bio-mechanics involving these deeper muscles underneath the sacroiliac joint such as the psoas muscle and deep groin muscles. If there isn't damage to the muscles or connective tissue involved, often bodywork therapy will help to relieve the spasms that may be causing the problem.

If you choose to consider bodywork, the good news is you don't have to know a lot of Latin names of the anatomy of the hind end involved to help your horse release tension in these deep muscles. You just have to know some simple Masterson Method® techniques that will enable the horse's nervous system to relax the muscles, and how to read what your horse is telling you when the tension is released.

Many of the Masterson Method® techniques work with the horse's nervous system by bringing awareness to that area, always at a level below the horse’s bracing response.

The use of light levels of touch on specific points or areas - so the horse can't brace against the pressure – and movement in a relaxed state, will allow the horse's nervous system to begin to release the spasms and tension. 

Like peeling an onion, continued bodywork will reveal deeper levels of tension and strain and releasing this resistance will allow the horse more freedom of movement.

Jim Masterson’s newest DVD: Light to the Core, Gentle Techniques that Ease, Enhance, and Reset Physical Interconnections Deep Within the Equine Body addresses these issues head on. The Masterson Method® Light Touch provides you an invaluable tools to profoundly affect the deepest interconnections of the horse’s body. 

Three-D graphics familiarize you with essential interconnections inside the horse’s body.  Jim uses step-by-step instruction and demonstrates how to successfully apply individual techniques. He ends the DVD with a young horse case study, resolving trouble spots in real time using these Light Touch techniques.

About the Masterson Method® of Integrated Equine Performance Bodywork: 

The Masterson Method is an integrated, multi-modality method of equine massage. It is a unique, interactive method of equine massage in which you learn to recognize and use the responses of the horse to your touch to find and release accumulated tension in key junctions of the body that most affect performance.

In contrast to most traditional modalities, it enables the horse to actively participate in the process of releasing tension. It is something you do with the horse, rather than to the horse. This participation and interaction is what makes the method fascinating for those who use it. In fact, if you do not allow the horse to participate, it does not work!

To find out more about the Masterson Method® techniques, books and seminars leading to certification go to: https://mastersonmethod.com/masterson-method