Alternate front limb lameness - what is this???! HELP PLEASE

[Booboos]

Rusky was fine when ridden last Sunday, went for a lesson with Isobel Wessels on Monday, travelled well, but when he got there he was alternatively lame on both front legs. It was really weird, so at first we tried changing from the double to the snaffle, then Isobel had a sit on him, everyone in the gallery had a look but could not figure it out. He was sound on a straight line, but ridden on a circle he was alternatively lame on the right and the left fronts. Imagine not a heavy lameness on one leg, but more of a weird bridle lameness but more exaggerated through the neck on alternative legs.

He had two days off, then tried him on Thursday and he was still lame, cue vet this morning. Sound on hard ground on a straight line, sound after flexion, sound on the lunge in the school with side reins and without, but lame when ridden especially when taking up a contact. Teeth look fine and were done recently, no sensitivities around the head/ears, neck seems fine, no evidence of heat or swellings on the legs, no response to the hoof testers (due for shoeing Tuesday, done every six weeks). Nerve blocked both feet, mild improvement. Overall still lame, probably more on the right front, worse on the left rein, but also left front lame on the right rein. Vet thinks this is odd, suggested either x-rays or rest from work for two weeks. Will try x-rays on Wednesday before rest, but just wondered if anyone had any ideas what this might be!

 

[Rowreach]

Sounds like perhaps tree point pressure?

 

[imafluffybunny]

I would agree, sounds like the saddle is uncomfortable when bending. has it been checked recently?

 

[Flame_]

If he's due for shoeing, get the farrier to have a really good dig for corns, even though the improvement when nerve blocked was minimal. Otherwise, it sounds complicated, sorry.

 

[Booboos]

He's in a treeless saddle, but vet did not think it was a back problem as he was sound behind, tracking up, using his back and even quite elevated in the trot. It would be odd for it to be the saddle as the onset was very sudden, fine on Sunday, lame on Monday and had won an Elementary and Medium the week before (have videos and went over them with the vet, no signs of trouble then). His back is also checked every two months because of previous completely different problems which have been resolved since February.

Here's a video of him yesterday looking very lame:

 

[ttt]

Booboos,
You will think I am mad but get his back checked by a specialist. My boy was very similar, the vet thought it was his shoulder. Even though he was lame in front, he was tracking up behind so it wasn't easy to diagnose. Two trips to Tex Gamble and he is now totally sound.

 

[Marchtime]

If you are certain it's not his back and he has shown some improvement with nerve blocks then it suggests bi-lateral lameness. From my experience this can be difficult to diagnose as the horse doesn't necessarily come completely sound through nerve blocks as they are so used to compensating. If x-rays are clean and you rule out everything else I'd go down the MRI route with his front feet. It's probably worse case scenario but both of mine who have been bi-laterally lame have had injuries to the ligaments with the foot (collateral to be precise). They tend to have only damaged one but where the other has been weight bearing there is associated swelling etc. Good luck.

 

[Booboos]

Thank you everyone. I'll give his physio a call just to make sure his back is OK and see what comes of his x-rays on Wednesday - the whole thing is so upsetting, just when he was coming right again!

 

[hellybelly6]

I have had similar with my horse since the beginning of May, rest, danilon still, lame repeated etc etc. It turned out that on x-ray he had mediolateral foot imbalance and side bone, this was corrected with remedial farriery and spiral shoes with 2 grooves in the side of the hoof wall, where the side bone is.

I am not saying your horse has the same, but its a possibility.

 

[bushbaby28]

I would be tempted to say back too. My horse was lame a few weeks ago and again... sound when straight and only on circles. Was sound behind and we found it was his back after had physio out. All the muscles are obviously connected and it was showing as lameness in his right shoulder. This was not saddle problem but just playing out in the field.

While i'm on this topic, anybody had any experience with back problems and have any advice to help with recovery? Physio has recommended light hacking for 2 weeks but he's still stiff.

 

[Booboos]

Unfortunately physio is on holiday until 8th September! Off to the vets tomorrow for x-rays to check the feet and ultrasound to check the ligaments. If all clear, I'll ask the vet to check the back again (couldn't find any signs of trouble last week). What a nightmare!

DraytonsBarney my physio sometimes recommends exercises to do from the ground like neck and leg stretches which can be helpful.