Even more mad now!

I sent this email to the physio yesterday.

" Ace came in extremely stiff in the back this morning in the saddle area and the loins. I massaged him  this afternoon to free it up (I got taught how a few years ago by a physio)  and I did the exercise you told me to, which went fine.

I put the saddle on and there was no problem with girthing him up.  I rode him very gently in walk and he stretched out really well but he absolutely refused to trot and simply bucked. I got off and put him on the lunge to see what was happening and he tried to kick me. When he did trot he was squealing and not right behind on either leg. I have rugged him up very warm for tonight and will be turning him out later when the grass is less sweet.

Obviously I'm going to have to wait a few days for whatever it is that is hurting him to wear off. My question meanwhile is whether you want me to continue to do that back-raising reflex with him. He did not seem to have any problem with it. His carrot stretches were terrific too.

I'll await your advice.   "

I had a phone call this morning that went like this:

Physio-

I didn't do anything that would have caused that reaction, it must have been the air that we took out of the saddle.

Me, restraining myself from blowing up because she didn't even seem to have read what I had written,-

The saddle hadn't been anywhere near him. He came in with such a stiff back that I could see it. 

Physio -

I didn't do anything that could have caused that reaction. He must have twisted or slipped in the field overnight, but we need to rule out the saddle

Me, wondering why an equilateral stiffness in the direct area that she manipulated 18 hours before would have been caused by a slip in the field, when turned out with another horse so lame he can't trot, -

The saddle has already been ruled out. It had been nowhere near him. He came in sore.

Physio -


I didn't do anything that could have caused that. Let me know how he goes on.

Me (unspoken) -

What's the point, you aren't coming within 100 yards of a horse of mine ever again.


I'm so mad! Why couldn't she just say that it was a very uncommon reaction but accept that it cannot be a co-incidence and tell me what to do with him now?  I think I know what she has done. Yesterday morning he looked just like SH did after a charletan osteopath (later struck off) pinched his spinal cord by pressing too hard manipulating his back, where he has a number of ruptured disks. Ace looked just like him yesterday morning and I am sure that what has happened is that she has bruised his nerves.

Thankfully, he's a lot better today, and having suffered from it himself SH's view is that he should be kept very warm, moving gently, and nothing else until he frees up of his own accord. I'm inclined to agree with him and Ace currently  has a winter weight rug on although it is approaching 20 c outside.   To make it worse, the forecast rain has not appeared and I really am missing my dressage outing for no good reason at all !

I tried so hard to do the right thing, and all that has happened is that I  have paid someone to damage my horse.

NOT HAPPY!!!

C