Any ideas horse suddenly went lame hunting

Dogstar

Dogstar

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My vet is coming out first thing in the morning. Horse was fine when I hacked her out yesterday (1/2 hr walk and trot round the village) and the day or so before when we cantered round the farm. She was fine at the meet and trotting a short distance down the road to the first field. Seemed fine the first field, but I didn't let her go, we just trotted. We stopped at a gateway while I shouted at the people behind that the gate was meant to be left open, then turned and galloped to catch up with the field and she went really lame on a foreleg. Obviously I got off, no stone, walked her back to the meet and took her home. I have hosed and had a good look at the hoof- just an overreach wound but doesnt look much...tendons feel fine, hoof not hot...she is weight bearing but the foot is sort of dragging slightly? Knee? Any ideas pre vet...?
 
Thanks; I wondered shoulder or knee, however I have just been for another feel and that foot is hot actually, the other is stone cold. I cannot feel a pulse at all but I am not an expert. She had laminitis once 3 years ago but that was when much too fat and unfit whereas she is hunting fit now (been out twice quite recently) ..wondering if it could be an abcess, but that wouldn't come on that suddenly would it? And she is fine in herself..Also the dragging thing is weird. The only other thing I can think of is she was kicking at the trailer when I arrived at the meet...
 
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If the foot is hot (as myhorses is at the mo-also with sudden onset lameness) i would also think abcess to start,, could yours have trodden on something, a stone maybe? (that would explain the suddeness of it) but not sure about the dragging thing. Let me know the outcome. good luck
 
Update; vet arrived, pulled horse out of stable, clearly slightly dragging near fore. Vet examined and did trot up with and without flexion tests. Also did hoof pincer test front and hind- nothing showed up. Horse not concerned about bearing weight on the lame leg; at least it's not laminitis. Vet could not feel any heat, nor could I this morning. Horse appeared to become less lame the more she was trotted. Vet unsure, though tempted to think shoulder, so did a nerve block to assist diagnosis. This did not help the lameness at all. Vet eventually suggested a pulled muscle and gave me 10 days bute. She originally said to box rest but we thought as she seemed better the more she walked, to put her in her micro paddock/yard. The plan is now to see how she is in a fortnight and liaise then. Vet felt she would probably be OK but we would do more tests if the time off did not resolve. Thanks for the input blackhorse37 hope your issue resolves soon...
 
strange but reassuring in a way that the lameness lessened with work. My boy completely sound today and heat gone!! (confused!!) hope all goes well for you and soon sound and back to normal. :):):):)
 
An update on my mare; she seemed to improve within a few days of being yarded on 'bute (stopped dragging the foot). When the two week's rest was up this weekend (off 'bute about 5 days) I walked then trotted her on the road- sound! I phoned my vet as instructed and she said to commence work with 2 weeks of gentle walk and trot then to try a bit of canter to see whether it recurred. She hoped/thought it wouldn't recur but if it did we would take it from there and it wouldn't do any additional damage. So at least things have gone the right way so far...if anyone has had anything similar I would be interested to hear about it or any other thoughts of what it could have been... thanks!
 
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