Birker2020
Well-Known Member
To cut a very long story short my 15 year old was diagnosed with spavin in both hocks (worse in off hind) in approx 2007. Had the usual injections, etc, then last year started dragging toes, etc. Then he developed a hopping gait on his off fore and went for trot work up and was diagnosed with a slight sprain on lateral branch of suspensory n/f. He was also injected in his near fore coffin joint with steroid as this had caused him some lameness issues about five years previous when he was injected the first time. Xrays showed navicular bone was fine but was diagnosed with moderate to severe arthritis in coffin joint.
In January 2012 I got this hocks fused with ethanol injection so he feels no pain in his hocks as he kept overcompensating onto the near fore and this was detrimental to the healing of the near fore suspensory injury.
It's taken a good 8/9 months to get him where he was sound with his suspensory injury and he started jumping about three months ago on vets advice, and he's now jumping 2ft 9" and no problems with suspensory at all.
Vet came out about three weeks ago to sign him off as his claim for the suspensory is coming to an end and I asked him about the problem I have with the horse being 'footy' at times. This is very inconsistent and he can go days without it showing and then when turned in a circle to go on/off the horse walker or turned to go into his stable he shows incredible lameness like a hopping action but then is sound again when going straight. The vet watched him on the lunge and trotted up and declared him sound but said he wasn't right when spun on a cirle on a hard surface and did hoof tests with the pincers and said he is more reactive on his off fore around the coffin joint. The vet said to bute him when footy for a few days.
When I ride in the school is is 2/10th lame when I first go into trot but after half a length of the school is sound again and will be sound for the duration of the schooling. He has always been slightly unlevel when first going in to trot since I've had him. After I ride in the school if I walk him round the yard to cool off he sometimes feels 'footy' again. The other day I turned him to the mounting block in order to dismount and when he turned he was hopping again but when led off was sound.
My physio and I trotted him up last night after him being lame when first in trot a couple of hours before, and he was sound, but slightly hoppy again when turned to trot back. We have also noticed he has been wearing out his front toes. Now we are wondering if he could have navicular disease. My physio is going to watch me ride sometime and help me with exercises for him to try and get him off his forehand and he does tend to lean on it a little when ridden.
Anyone had this issue with horse being footy on hard ground or unlevel when first trotting in the school? So sorry for long post have tried to shorten it about ten times!
In January 2012 I got this hocks fused with ethanol injection so he feels no pain in his hocks as he kept overcompensating onto the near fore and this was detrimental to the healing of the near fore suspensory injury.
It's taken a good 8/9 months to get him where he was sound with his suspensory injury and he started jumping about three months ago on vets advice, and he's now jumping 2ft 9" and no problems with suspensory at all.
Vet came out about three weeks ago to sign him off as his claim for the suspensory is coming to an end and I asked him about the problem I have with the horse being 'footy' at times. This is very inconsistent and he can go days without it showing and then when turned in a circle to go on/off the horse walker or turned to go into his stable he shows incredible lameness like a hopping action but then is sound again when going straight. The vet watched him on the lunge and trotted up and declared him sound but said he wasn't right when spun on a cirle on a hard surface and did hoof tests with the pincers and said he is more reactive on his off fore around the coffin joint. The vet said to bute him when footy for a few days.
When I ride in the school is is 2/10th lame when I first go into trot but after half a length of the school is sound again and will be sound for the duration of the schooling. He has always been slightly unlevel when first going in to trot since I've had him. After I ride in the school if I walk him round the yard to cool off he sometimes feels 'footy' again. The other day I turned him to the mounting block in order to dismount and when he turned he was hopping again but when led off was sound.
My physio and I trotted him up last night after him being lame when first in trot a couple of hours before, and he was sound, but slightly hoppy again when turned to trot back. We have also noticed he has been wearing out his front toes. Now we are wondering if he could have navicular disease. My physio is going to watch me ride sometime and help me with exercises for him to try and get him off his forehand and he does tend to lean on it a little when ridden.
Anyone had this issue with horse being footy on hard ground or unlevel when first trotting in the school? So sorry for long post have tried to shorten it about ten times!
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