16/04/2026
Conformation - a “hunter’s bump” is a prominence over the horse’s hindquarters, around the sacroiliac (SI) joint (where the spine meets the pelvis). This usually indicates an injury to the ligaments supporting that joint.
It’s often associated with horses that have experienced a slip or fall, or those that have been worked hard over uneven ground, such as during fast work or jumping (often horses that have been hunted or exposed to hard fast work on slippery/ deep going). It could just be from an unlucky fall during turnout.
When the SI ligaments are strained or torn, they lose some of their original elasticity. Ligaments never return to their normal length once seriously damaged. Because of this, building and maintaining good muscle strength over the hindquarters is important to help support the joint.
Some horses with SI discomfort may show signs such as:
• Difficulty maintaining a balanced canter or disuniting
• Reduced engagement from behind
• Struggling on hills
• Intermittent reluctance to go forward or perform
