Any advice or end of the road?

[Cbro23]

Hi

my horse has been lame since May 2022. I’ve had 3 chiropractors, 3 physios and 2 vets out since. We’ve done back X-rays, nerve blocks in the back, hocks and suspensorys, xrayed the stifle and medicated his SIs. all coming up with absolutely nothing. He’s uncomfortably stiff and disuniting constantly in canter on the left rein. Intermittently on the right. I am at a total loss.
Vets can’t go any further without spending thousands of pounds (already spent around £3000-4000 over various professionals) and because there is no concrete diagnosis we are just guessing and could end up not fixing it at all even after throwing thousands more at it.
They have suggested either turning away for 18 months and hope something changes or PTS. I really hate the later option. Has anyone got any idea what else this could be?! I am so exhausted (and now skint) and I am struggling with making an any decisions. He’s an 8yr old ex-racer, just seems so young. Any advice welcome! Thank you x

 

[meleeka]

Sorry you are facing this. Does he improve on bute?

 

[Cbro23]

looks less stiff but the disuniting persists. Absolutely no impulsion from behind. No sign of kissing spine or anything else. Feel so hopeless

 

[TPO]

How long have you owned him?

 

[Orangehorse]

Turn out as suggested. It might work - something somewhere is broken and it will give it time to heal. Or it won't. But then you know you have explored every avenue.

 

[Cbro23]

Hi I’ve had him 2 years. Only ever been in light work

 

[Cbro23]

Turn out as suggested. It might work - something somewhere is broken and it will give it time to heal. Or it won't. But then you know you have explored every avenue.

Thank you

 

[TPO]

Hi I’ve had him 2 years. Only ever been in light work

Has this come out of nowhere or can you identify when it started and a possible cause?

Was he vetted before you bought him? Do you know his history?

I'd be tempted to properly turn him away. Rough him off and pull shoes and find maybe a retirement herd for him to be properly turned away for at least 6mths. Then bring back into work following a very controlled rehab plan.

I'm not a fan of turning away wonky horses because I believe it just strengthens the compensations BUT it doesn't appear that your horse is presenting as wonky. With that in mind I'd rough off and turn away.

The issue will either sort itself or it'll get worse and that might present clear avenues to investigate.

 

[quizzie]

You say back has been investigated, does this include the neck?

 

[Cbro23]

Has this come out of nowhere or can you identify when it started and a possible cause?

Was he vetted before you bought him? Do you know his history?

I'd be tempted to properly turn him away. Rough him off and pull shoes and find maybe a retirement herd for him to be properly turned away for at least 6mths. Then bring back into work following a very controlled rehab plan.

I'm not a fan of turning away wonky horses because I believe it just strengthens the compensations BUT it doesn't appear that your horse is presenting as wonky. With that in mind I'd rough off and turn away.

The issue will either sort itself or it'll get worse and that might present clear avenues to investigate.

Thank you for this, he started to to be unhappy under saddle. We did all the normal things, saddle fitter, teeth etc. but nothing changed. Then went to chiropractor and eventually investigations with the vet.

He wasn’t vetted, came straight off the track. Was a gamble and I totally accept that, hence why I’ve been prepared to spend the money up until now. Vet does believe this is a historic racing injury but that’s just a gut feeling given that we haven’t been able to pinpoint the problem.

if nothing else, turning him away will allow him to be a horse. What I did forget to mention though is that he’s been given bute daily now (as of today) as prescribed by vet as they aren’t sure if he’s in pain generally until I’ve had time to process and come to a decision which complicates things further from a turning away perspective

 

[Cbro23]

You say back has been investigated, does this include the neck?

Thanks for your reply, he was xrayed and nerve blocked from the whither- so neck not been xrayed

 

[Zoeypxo]

Id be tempted to x ray the neck and do a pssm type 1 test

 

[PurBee]

I’d do PSSM testing to rule out metabolic stiffness issues.

 

[TPO]

Just because I've just read a post o a different thread suggesting this; what about trying someone like Tom Beech?

He seems to be a fairly pragmatic type and has worked wonders in some instances. Maybe worth a punt

 

[Cbro23]

Just because I've just read a post o a different thread suggesting this; what about trying someone like Tom Beech?

He seems to be a fairly pragmatic type and has worked wonders in some instances. Maybe worth a punt

could be an option, I’ve had every other professional out it can’t do any harm- thank you for the suggestion

 

[Cbro23]

I’d do PSSM testing to rule out metabolic stiffness issues.

thanks, will mention this to the vet

 

[Cbro23]

Id be tempted to x ray the neck and do a pssm type 1 test

Thanks, will mention this to the vet

 

[ycbm]

The neck needs x raying, I think. TBs commonly have a congenital deformity of C7 which prevents the proper attachment of the front legs to the body and can cause serious stability issues.
.

 

[Zoeypxo]

Thanks, will mention this to the vet

I believe you can test for pssm with a hair sample online . Although unsure on the actual website im sure someone on here can confirm

 

[ycbm]

I’d do PSSM testing to rule out metabolic stiffness issues.

You can't rule it out Purbee. Type 1 has a reputable test, done on hair. Type 2 doesn't have a properly agreed test yet.

The hair test can be bought at animalgenetics.com, based in the UK.

 

[Cbro23]

I believe you can test for pssm with a hair sample online . Although unsure on the actual website im sure someone on here can confirm

Thanks- I was just having a look and it looks like they take a sample from a muscle? Not quite sure

 

[Cbro23]

The neck needs x raying, I think. TBs commonly have a congenital deformity of C7 which prevents the proper attachment of the front legs to the body and can cause serious stability issues.
.

Thanks- I am definitely going to have the neck xrayed as a few people have mentioned it and it’s worth a go!

 

[Cbro23]

You can't rule it out Purbee. Type 1 has a reputable test, done on hair. Type 2 doesn't have a properly agreed test yet.

The hair test can be bought at animalgenetics.com, based in the UK.

Thanks for this! I’ll have a look at the website

 

[Zoeypxo]

Thanks- I was just having a look and it looks like they take a sample from a muscle? Not quite sure

theres 2 types of PSSM
Type 1 - hair sample (£30?) online
Type 2 - muscle biopsy from vet although unreliable results.

 

[Cbro23]

theres 2 types of PSSM
Type 1 - hair sample (£30?) online
Type 2 - muscle biopsy from vet although unreliable results.

Ah ok. So I could do the hair sample and see how we go. Thanks that really helps

 

[Zoeypxo]

Ah ok. So I could do the hair sample and see how we go. Thanks that really helps

No problem

 

[BBP]

Mine had a muscle biopsy and was diagnosed with RER (different to PSSM, nothing to do with glycogen storage) and also chronic vitamin E deficiency (from bloods) and hypermobility issues. He certainly struggles with canter.

 

[Cbro23]

Mine had a muscle biopsy and was diagnosed with RER (different to PSSM, nothing to do with glycogen storage) and also chronic vitamin E deficiency (from bloods) and hypermobility issues. He certainly struggles with canter.

It’s been an interesting thread as the vet has been looking at physical injuries but maybe we need to change tac a little. Convinced I need to have the neck xrayed and maybe bloods done. The PSSM test seems like a good option given it’s cost effective and easy. Glad you got a diagnosis for yours, that’s half the battle!

 

[tallyho!]

Good suggestions, perhaps you could start with the benign stuff first such as turn away barefoot as you won’t be riding and do some genetic testing and X-rays.

 

[EllenJay]

so you have all the professional advice and are now turning to key board warriors with no proved background. I would suggest that you take the professional advice of turning away