Baffled - Ned's lameness

[Shantara]

I'm so confused

I took Ned for a little in-hand walk to try and entertain him for a bit. I wanted to check if he was still lame, so trotted him. I trotted him on both grass and road...

He was perfectly fine on the road, but limping/nodding on the grass :S what could that mean?

 

[LynH]

As the grass is softer there will be more stretch through the ligaments and tendons than on hard going so if a horse is more lame on soft going then it could indicate a soft tissue injury rather than skeletal. I would also expect it to be a less severe soft tissue injury if it only showed on a soft surface but I'd be wanting the vet to have a look if it has been going on for some time.
Good luck, hope he's ok.

 

[Shantara]

I've been thinking he's pulled/strained something jumping the fences all the time, then making it worse by continuing to jump!
It's been going on for about a week now, will be getting the vet out on Monday if it's no better.

 

[lamlyn2012]

I agree, it does sound like ligament issues.

 

[Shantara]

There is a bit of heat on the inside of his fetlock, on the actual joint and above it for about an inch.

 

[Shantara]

Is there anything I can do for him in the mean time?

 

[Spottyappy]

Hose the fetlock. Twice daily for about 15 min a time.
Also, have you had your farrier check its not a poisoned foot?

 

[Shantara]

Hose the fetlock. Twice daily for about 15 min a time.
Also, have you had your farrier check its not a poisoned foot?

He hates the hose, but I've been sponging it
I haven't will give him a call too!

 

[AmyMay]

I would be thinking tendon. And I would call the vet today.

In the mean time cold hose.

 

[Shantara]

The heat is in the area, worse on the highlighted leg and veerrryyy faintly on the other leg.

 

[TuscanBunnyGirl]

my horse was completely sound on hard ground trotting up, but then as soon as we turned a circle she was crippled, she had damage to her tendon

 

[Copperpot]

I've had the same! No heat or swelling anywhere. Farrier came and no abscess. Vet came out and said to poultice just in case which I have. He got a little better but is worse again now. Off for scans / x rays on Wed. She thinks maybe front suspensory. He trotted up sound on the road but not when lunged in the field. After flexion he was lame on road too I can't wait for Wed to find out what is wrong and start fixing it.

 

[Shantara]

Oh goodness! I'm getting worried now what if Neddy needs to go off for xrays too?! D: I was hoping it would be like last time, a week off and then back to normal

 

[Carefreegirl]

Your vet will be able to X-ray at the yard if necessary

 

[CarolineJ]

If he doesn't like the hose, can you buy or borrow some cool boots / ice boots for him? Merlin's not keen on having his legs hosed or sponged, but will wear these no problems. You soak them in cold water, then put on the horse's legs for 20 minutes.

Hope it's nothing serious.

 

[ghostie]

You can improvise a cheap and cheerful ice boot with a human ice pack from chemists (the flexible ones) held in place with an exercise bandage x

 

[MrsMozart]

Hope he's okay.

If he doesn't do hoses, get a big bucket of water and a big sponge.

Get the sponge as full of water as possible and gently hold it against the leg. Let the water run down. Repeat as many times as necessary for about fifteen minutes.

 

[Shantara]

Thanks so much guys, I'm the biggest worrier ever and its not helping my nerves! I just want to ride my ponio again!