Advice please - what would you do??

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Wilbur_Force

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My horse stumbled on to his knees when being lunged in the field on Friday. Trotted up sound though when I had finished him off on the yard. Didnt work him the weekend. Rode him today and he seemed a little choppy or pottery in front. Might be my imagination but who knows?? What would you do? Get the vet asap or leave it a couple of days? No swelling, heat, etc and others on the yard reckon he looks OK. Argh - advice please!!
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i'd cold hose the knees unless the skin is broken. if it is, have a really good careful look to see how deep it is... this is crucial, "broken knees" (if joint capsule is damaged etc) can be very bad. if in any doubt at all, call the vet.
if the skin's definitely intact then i would think it's bruising and has swollen and stiffened him up a little. gentle walking, keep him out not stabled, so moving around not standing stiffening up, if he was mine i'd give a bute or two to take the edge off the pain, but not work him harder until the bute's worn off, in case it masks any lameness.
 
Hmmm. How old is ned WF? Stumbling for no apparent reason, especially on eneven ground or going downhill can be an indication of bilateral front foot lameness. I'd monitor it carefully and if it doesn't go away or gets worse, get a full lameness work up done with nerve blocks. When you nerve block just one foot with suspected bilateral lameness, the results can be shocking. The lameness doesn't show up otherwise coz both front feet hurt as much as the other. Stop one hurting and you see the true level of pain in the other. But hopefully it is just something minor.
 
First port of call for any bumps, bruises or strains has to be arnica to reduce bruising. Even vets recommend and it doesn't interfere with medication.
 
cold hose arica witch hazel gentle walking streches on the leg if no better in a couple of days get vet out call vet for advice!
 
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