Am I ready for this?

[Caol Ila]

Probably not.

I was schooling my horse today, and she felt sound and well. Then all of sudden,40-45 minutes into it, we were doing a half-pass and she went lame. I stopped and walked out for about 20 minutes and she was sound in walk. I fed her and faffed about, and then trotted her up with one of the lovely, helpful barn staff. We agreed she looked lame behind. Godammit. But I learned from another livery that she'd been hooning about like a lunatic in turnout, and she also had the farrier today. So maybe dressage was too much for her today on top of all that? It was the first time this has ever happened. She had issues with being lame after farrier at my old barn, but this hasn't been a thing with current farrier. I wish I'd just hacked her out today. Maybe she's getting too old for this dressage malarkey. :-( I know I'm super lucky being able to ride her at all at 27, and I know there's a world of difference between half-pass and end-of-the-line, but I kind of illogically hoped she would go on forever, which is crazy, but I just can't imagine a world where I can't ride her.

 

[Roxylola]

Half pass isnt exactly a breeze. It's never easy watching our horses struggle with things as they age, but I'd think you're worrying a bit prematurely just yet

 

[doodle]

Maybe she just needs a step down. No reason to think stopping riding totally. Schooling to half pass level for 45mins, That’s quite hard work I would think.

 

[ihatework]

At the age of 27 I can’t imagine expecting them to school, let alone half pass. A quiet potter if they are reasonably happy and soundish maybe.

 

[Caol Ila]

Yes, I know, but it's sort of sudden. She was doing advanced movements (not lots) without any trouble last week.

 

[Trouper]

Keeping her flexible and supple is so important so I would not be stopping - just scaling back to the easy simple things which will keep her body in good shape - plus some ground stretches too.

 

[Reacher]

Hopefully it’s just a small tweak she did in the field and will be better soon. You are doing very well keeping her in such good nick at that age

 

[Gloi]

Maybe she just caught herself stepping across . Hopefully she's right today.

 

[little_critter]

Did she feel like she was struggling with the schooling session up until she suddenly went lame?
If she was happy and willing up until that moment that would suggest she is coping with the work and has tweaked something (just like a 8yo can tweak something)
If she felt she was struggling / below par in the rest of the session then maybe it’s time to look at backing off a bit.
The cause of the sudden lameness may end up making the decision for you. Hope it’s something simple for you both.

 

[milliepops]

I'm with IHW really, I don't think I'd be planning to be fully schooling a 27 yo tbh. Depending on what you find caused the lameness I think I'd perhaps consider this a warning sign that she might need to step back to some quieter work, and if she returns to soundness then I think I'd consider myself lucky to still have her feeling fit and well.
I only school my younger horses for 45 mins tops anyway a 45 min ridden session might now be too much. perhaps you could look to some in hand work to maintain her suppleness in an easier way for her body? she's quite an age for a bigger horse.

 

[Caol Ila]

Yes, she was feeling lovely and supple and forward and then all of sudden went off. Didn't even feel stiff in the warm-up. No news from the yard this morning, so I assume she wasn't hopping lame when they turned her out.

Still, I think I will be more careful about watching the time when I school and doing minimal sideways stuff. It might have been a combination of farrier + hooning + dressage but I would rather just be cautious.

 

[Caol Ila]

I found the cause of the lameness. It wasn't dressage. She was still NQR on Monday, and my non-horsey OH, who it turns out has a better eye for lameness than most horse people, observed that she seemed to be picking her right foot up ever so slightly quicker than the left at walk. It was really subtle. I carefully perused the foot and found a squidgy bit on the sole, and the foot was hot. An abcess! It must have started brewing last week. I feel like an idiot. I was so sure it was muscle/joint/tendon related and spent ages feeling various bits of her legs for heat but I didn't check the feet. In hindsight, I had noted a touch of bruising on the sole last week but didn't think anything of it.

 

[outdoor girl]

Phew!!! I know an abscess isn't a nice thing to find, but it's treatable. I've had horses who have been sound and then an hour later been on 3 legs - literally - with an abscess, so don't beat yourself up about not thinking of it. Give her lots of kisses and cuddles, tub it and poultice it and she'll forgive you.

 

[Trouper]

Good to have a -relatively - easy solution!!

 

[Laurac13]

Good news ? I hope it bursts soon

 

[DressageCob]

What a relief!

 

[dorsetladette]

Oh that is a relief. Good news!!

 

[ycbm]

glad it was simple
.

 

[Caol Ila]

Farrier came yesterday and gave her the all clear. Said the abscess had burst and didn't have to dig around in her feet too much, but recommended using Keratex and purple antiseptic spray on her foot. They've gotten a bit soft due to the crazy weather, hence the abscess.

She's barefoot behind, and I haven't needed to use her Scoot Boots since I made the transition to barefoot in early 2017, but would you hack out in the boots, just to be safe? The trails can be pretty rocky. And because it's a busy public park, there might be crap on them like broken glass.

 

[alibali]

If her feet are soft I don't think use of boots would hurt for a short time? I'd certainly be extra careful until they settle down, prevention is better than cure!