Equine Sacroiliac Disease: Back Pain Welfare 2025

Key Welfare Facts

Sacroiliac joint dysfunction causes back pain, poor performance, and behavioural changes in affected horses.
Diagnosis has been challenging due to difficulty palpating this deep joint; diagnostic imaging has advanced significantly.
Affected horses show reluctance to engage hindquarters, poor collection, and resistance to saddling and mounting.
Scintigraphy and MRI advances in 2025 allow better characterisation of sacroiliac pathology and guide treatment.
Corticosteroid injection into the sacroiliac region provides significant pain relief in confirmed cases.
Physiotherapy, back muscles strengthening, and appropriate workload management support long-term welfare management.

Welfare Assessment

Sacroiliac disease causes significant chronic pain and performance compromise that is now more reliably diagnosed with advanced imaging. Working with an equine veterinarian and physiotherapist to develop a comprehensive management plan offers meaningful welfare improvement.

What You Can Do

Seek specialist veterinary assessment for any horse showing back pain, performance decline, or gait abnormality
Discuss advanced imaging including scintigraphy or MRI for definitive sacroiliac characterisation
Implement physiotherapy and targeted back-strengthening exercises as part of ongoing management
Review saddle fit and workload in conjunction with medical management