2 questions- would you be worried - bump on legs and pointing a front foot..

charlie76

charlie76

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2 seperate questions.
My horse has got 2 little bumps on the back of his leg below the knee, they look like bumps in a vein- hope that makes sense- not swellings in the tendon/ligament way. However, he never used to have them. He does where boots in the field and I wondered whether its the pressue of the velcro?

The other question is, he likes to stand with his front foot out in front of him, he has done this for about a year and it worries me. He shows no signs of unlevelness and I have trotted him on the hard on the lunge and he moves beautifully- would this worry you or should I just accept this is how he likes to stand. I am tempted to get the foot x rayed just in case.
The really odd thing is, is that he can be standing up normally, if I touch his hind leg on the same side, he sticks his front foot out in front him straight away!

Ideas?
 
Charlie,

It's hard to say without seeing pics etc.

I would hazard a guess that the bumps at the back of the knee are probably caused by boots - whether the boots are too loose, too tight, slipping, on for too long, getting bits of grit/dirt underneath them etc. etc are all questions worth asking yourself.

Front leg pointing forwards, you say started about a year ago. Can you think back and relate it to any accidents/injuries/events/ illnesses that might have happened leading up to that time? It does sound as if the horse is compensating for something by standing like this. I wouldn't necessarily rush to get the foot X-rayed - if there is an issue it's not necessarily an issue with the foot, it could be in the sholder, back, etc. Personally, I would get a good equine physio or chiro out to take a look (with your vet's consent), because they will be able to spot any muscular-skeletal imbalances. See what they say - it might turn out that there is a possible foot issue, in which case getting the vet to investigate more thoroughly and work alongside the physio (and then possibly the X-rays you suggested might be the way to go).

Alternatively, have you mentioned the toe pointing to your farrier? It might be worth seeing what he/she has to say, too.
 
My last horse had navicular so aware of this , however, he was pottery and short striding before he went lame and the lameness came on before the toe pointing. This horse (touch wood) has never taken an unlevel step and is winning BD elem dressage.
 
Unfortunately my friends horse (9yo) was totally sound, placed in RIHS qualifiers and eventing but pointed a front foot alternately. She was diagnosed with NS. Every horse is different. Maybe PM cptrayes, she knows loads about navicular?

Hopefully it wont be but pointing a foot is obviously not a normal stance for a horse:(
 
Pointing relieves pressure from the heel, which is typically why navicular horses do it, but also from the coffin joint. Is the foot that he points with in any way different from the other one? Slightly contracted? Frog any smaller? ridges on the hoof? A bit boxy? Anything like that? Have you tried trotting him in a small circle on a hard surface?
 
But he has been doing it for over a year now with no other signs- its almost as thought he is stretching our rather than pointing( when navicular horses do it its to take the pressure off the heels) as he rests a hind leg at the same time. I wonder if he is sore in his back.
 
FWIW for 2 years, Jacob hunted/dressaged and showjumped beautifully, all the time he was pointing his off fore. Then he started refusing and thats when we xrayed/nerveblocked and found his coffin joint problems.
 
Hmm, might get him x rayed then, even just to put my mind at rest- blinking horses!
He has no shortening of strides. Is 100% level on a hard surface on the lunge, is getting 7's and 8's for his medium/extended trot. His feet are of equal size, no ridges and he doesn't react to hoof testers on his frogs.
No difference in frog size and he has big round feet- no signs of boxiness.
 
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Would also add that my friends horse passed a 5 stage vetting but still pointed. NS was diagnosed approx 18months-2 years later
 
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