Whiplash Injury

• If the horse's head is securely tied with a fairly short lead or cross ties, and the driver accelerates rapidly,the horse's hindfeet can slip forward underneath it.
• The horse may be thrown back onto its hock or buttocks.
• This has a reverse whiplash effect on the vertebrae in the thoraco lumbar area.
• The spine is suddenly wrenched into overextension,and the supporting intervertebral ligaments may be strained or torn.
• It leads to intervetebral disc damage.

Treatments

• A few weeks of rest is essential to avoid further damage
• Antiinflamatory is indicated if severe pain persists.
• Physical therapies such as magneto pulse therapy,massage,heat therapy

Daily hand walking or pasture turnout can help relieve the muscle spasms surrounding the damaged vertebrae.

complete stall confinement can result in fibrosis around the damaged intervertebral joints.

Flip-over or pull-back injuries can be prevented by taking care when tying and transporting horses, especially if they are young,inexperienced or nervous.

Reference

Lameness

Equine Research

Christine King and Richard Mansmann