Leanne1980
Well-Known Member
Hi all
I purchased my new horse in January this year after a few vetting. No issues highlighted. Had a new saddle fitting then got underway riding my new horse. It became evident quickly that the horse when contact was taken up would put her tongue out the side of her mouth and chomp the bit. After various bits I settled on a happy tongue as I felt she did not like tongue pressure. She has been ridden in a French link old style snaffle and flash at the dealers yard do I assumed it was an habit she had picked up. However the problem as never really gone away fully.
In February I got the chiro and dentist to check her out to see if there was any reason that she would continue to do this and both confirmed that there was nothing major to report and she has in fact has obviously been cared very well for. So we plodded on and by April I was finding that she was locking her neck and shoulders on the left, hanging on the left rein, not softening into contact (shes never been easy) and tongue was out more than ever. Instructor insisted it is just her weak rein and she needs riding more equally into both reins. I'm not convinced. Anyway I got the chiro back out who confirmed she was sore through her left shoulder and up her neck. She released everything and we were back to a soft happy mare again.
A month later the mare goes lame in her front left leg, probably 4/10 noticeable in walk under saddle and in trot both under saddle and in hand. Farrier looks and believes it to be an abscess. We poultice and in 4 days she is sound again, nothing major happening with the poultice other than it being a bit smelly. So shoe back on and ridden work commenced. Saddle fitter also came during this time to check her new saddle was still fitting ok - it was.
Over the last few weeks the horse has started locking through her left shoulder again, not flexing at the poll, not softening, same pattern as before. I get the chiro out earlier this week who confirms once again she is sore through her shoulder and neck. Chiro agrees with me that this cannot be just a coincidence. On trotting her up for the chiro she felt draw to the movement from the left front leg but no obvious lameness.
So yesterday, goes to school the horse as normal, horse feels lame left fore. I jump off and asked her to trot round and she looks ok, nothing obvious. I get back on horse feels lame again. I take her out the ménage and grabs the farrier (hes based on the yard) who says poultice is again and pulled her shoe. However there is no heat, swelling or injury marks. To trot up on hard ground straight she looks sound, on the lunge in the field she looks sound but under saddle in trot she isn't. The farrier confirmed she looked off but its so minimal its hard to pinpoint. Under saddle it feels like she isn't moving her shoulder fully. I realize shoulder lameness is unlikely and its usually coming from the hoof or leg but I am convinced there is more going on.
I am still applying a poultice and have phoned a vet but awaiting a call back. I want to take her in for a full lameness check but I don't know if they will because the lameness is not obvious. The other thing I have noticed is that the horse groans, a lot! she will stand in the stable and groan, its loud enough for people to notice it and comment. I think shes trying to telling me she hurts. She doesn't have a high pain threshold at all.
So am I being paranoid? is there something more going on? is the tongue out, lack of suppleness, shoulder soreness and left fore all the same issue? if so what could it be?
I have not given her any bute as the lameness is so minimal now that it will probably hide it even more. Also I am not riding her which makes it hard to spot the lameness. I am sure a trained eye can see it though. I just feel it. Its probably 1/10.
I am awaiting the vet to get back to me with a day I can take her in - next week. Just at a loss what to do before. Your thoughts?
I purchased my new horse in January this year after a few vetting. No issues highlighted. Had a new saddle fitting then got underway riding my new horse. It became evident quickly that the horse when contact was taken up would put her tongue out the side of her mouth and chomp the bit. After various bits I settled on a happy tongue as I felt she did not like tongue pressure. She has been ridden in a French link old style snaffle and flash at the dealers yard do I assumed it was an habit she had picked up. However the problem as never really gone away fully.
In February I got the chiro and dentist to check her out to see if there was any reason that she would continue to do this and both confirmed that there was nothing major to report and she has in fact has obviously been cared very well for. So we plodded on and by April I was finding that she was locking her neck and shoulders on the left, hanging on the left rein, not softening into contact (shes never been easy) and tongue was out more than ever. Instructor insisted it is just her weak rein and she needs riding more equally into both reins. I'm not convinced. Anyway I got the chiro back out who confirmed she was sore through her left shoulder and up her neck. She released everything and we were back to a soft happy mare again.
A month later the mare goes lame in her front left leg, probably 4/10 noticeable in walk under saddle and in trot both under saddle and in hand. Farrier looks and believes it to be an abscess. We poultice and in 4 days she is sound again, nothing major happening with the poultice other than it being a bit smelly. So shoe back on and ridden work commenced. Saddle fitter also came during this time to check her new saddle was still fitting ok - it was.
Over the last few weeks the horse has started locking through her left shoulder again, not flexing at the poll, not softening, same pattern as before. I get the chiro out earlier this week who confirms once again she is sore through her shoulder and neck. Chiro agrees with me that this cannot be just a coincidence. On trotting her up for the chiro she felt draw to the movement from the left front leg but no obvious lameness.
So yesterday, goes to school the horse as normal, horse feels lame left fore. I jump off and asked her to trot round and she looks ok, nothing obvious. I get back on horse feels lame again. I take her out the ménage and grabs the farrier (hes based on the yard) who says poultice is again and pulled her shoe. However there is no heat, swelling or injury marks. To trot up on hard ground straight she looks sound, on the lunge in the field she looks sound but under saddle in trot she isn't. The farrier confirmed she looked off but its so minimal its hard to pinpoint. Under saddle it feels like she isn't moving her shoulder fully. I realize shoulder lameness is unlikely and its usually coming from the hoof or leg but I am convinced there is more going on.
I am still applying a poultice and have phoned a vet but awaiting a call back. I want to take her in for a full lameness check but I don't know if they will because the lameness is not obvious. The other thing I have noticed is that the horse groans, a lot! she will stand in the stable and groan, its loud enough for people to notice it and comment. I think shes trying to telling me she hurts. She doesn't have a high pain threshold at all.
So am I being paranoid? is there something more going on? is the tongue out, lack of suppleness, shoulder soreness and left fore all the same issue? if so what could it be?
I have not given her any bute as the lameness is so minimal now that it will probably hide it even more. Also I am not riding her which makes it hard to spot the lameness. I am sure a trained eye can see it though. I just feel it. Its probably 1/10.
I am awaiting the vet to get back to me with a day I can take her in - next week. Just at a loss what to do before. Your thoughts?
