Advice Needed and Appreciated

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Bessieboo

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Hi everyone

I am after some advice regarding my friends horse.

She has been lame in the past which seems to have cleared up however it appears that she frequently stands with her legs kind of stretched out. Front legs and rear.

Today my friend asked if I would try and pop her over a jump as she has been having trouble getting her to jump so I gave it a try. As soon as I got on her I felt that something was just not right although obviously I do not really know the horse. I did try and take her round to a very low fence and she did approach in well but just did not pick up to jump when we got there. I felt that it was like she could just not get her feet off the ground and I know that she has jumped in the past so she is more than capable of this.

So what I want to ask is could she be laminitic? Sorry if I should stupid but I have never come across this before I just would like some advice for my friend. The way her horse is standing seems odd to me and the other thing is that she does lie down alot in her stable.

Hot chocolate and cookies to all who read and thanks to all who answer.
 
Vet as soon as poss. If it is lami it needs seen asap and dealt with. Don't ride it until vet has seen it and stable it on a deep bed of shavings with only hay pref soaked until then.
 
Yes it could be laminitis.

Does your friend's horse seem reluctant to walk on hard/stoney ground? Is the horse overweight and/or cresty? Does the horse seem to lean backwards from its front feet? Do the horse's feet seem warm to the touch? Can you feel a pulse from the vein just above the fetlock?

If the answer to most of these questions is yes then your friend needs to stable the horse on a deep bed and call the vet immediately. There is potential, in the worst cases for the pedal bone to rotate and break through the sole of the foot.

Get your friend to seek help now!!!!

Sorry to be alarmist but laminitis can be fatal!!!

However - if the horse is being worked persistantly on hard ground and does not have the above symptoms then it may have severely bruised soles which will be helped by rest and a course of Danilon (bute).

Hope this helps!!
 
I agree, I'm assuming tack, back teeth etc are all ok. He may have gotten tight through his back compensating for lameness/changed shape whilst off. I don't know, just a thought :)
 
Thanks for the replies.

You have pretty much confirmed what I thought.

I would just like to say that I did not know she was standing like that until after I had tried to jump her or I wouldn't have even got on her back.

I will tell my friend to get the vet out asap.
 
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