Can a school surface cause lameness?

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12Feb

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My riding mare has been trotting up fine on hard surface, ridden and unridden but when in the school she has been lame/unlevel. Firstly in a circle but yesterday was obvious on a straight line as well. Vet is booked in to investigate next week but a few people, inc farrier are saying that the school surface is the problem. Or that its tendons because of being ok on hard but not on soft. Any one else experienced this??
 
A bad surface can definitely make a horse unlevel.

But also, a horse with soundness issues can be unlevel on soft going, even if the surface is good.

Vet is your best bet which you already have in hand, hope it goes well and is easily fixable.
 
Lame on softer surfaces is an indication of soft tissue problems as opposed to lame only on hard ground which indicates a possible boney problem. Its just an indication though and will give your vet a clue as to where to look for the injury. Hope it all works out and your horse is sound again soon :)
 
Unfortunately, yes. Lameness on a circle, particularly on soft surfaces, can often be indicative of suspensory ligament issues behind. The horse may warm up and not show as much lameness after a while. Usually, a horse will be more lame when the affected leg is on the outside of a circle. And typically, a horse may present sound when trotted on hard surfaces in straight lines.

Sorry. I suggest asking your vet to scan the horses back legs - although some will protest that a portable scanner won't be good enough for a full diagnosis - a portable scanner can show tears that occupy less than 10% of the ligament.
 
She looks lame on the front right and more so when this leg is to the outside. I have noticed that she is dragging her back feet as she is 'squaring' off her toes/shoes on the road.

She definately didnt do this before she had her shoes back on in December - she had been barefoot for two years up until then but not really working. Loaners wanted shoes on her (which actually I regret as I dont think she moves as well in general now?). Vet said to keep lightly working her until he can get out to see her properly with xrays/nerve blocks etc. Due to loaners moving house she hadnt been ridden for a week and then they hacked her on sat (I wasnt there so didnt see). Then rode her with me around yesterday, short hack to warm up then literally ten mins in school. I thought she looked very short on both legs in front and then quite obviously lame on circle and this time also lame on a straight line. It didnt get better whilst in there. She also started doing some head tossing and making faces which isnt like her AT ALL. Up until then she had been doing her best to work forwards and round as asked but just looked very uncomfortable. I stopped them after watching her trot on both reins as dont want her to associate ridden with pain. She will happily hack out. Vet coming later today as need the old pony looking at as well so will ask him as not keen on her being 'ruined' as she is a sweetheart!!

Loaner has been told a few times that the school is really 'bad' for horses as its topped with builders sand and this 'stings' and can make them lame???!!!Farrier thinks it has caused abcess in another livery horse, altho this horse only just back in work and only been in there about 20mins twice a week??

It has been quite deep over winter (unsurprisingly) but owners have drained and its better. Was actually not too bad footing I thought yesterday as has dried somewhat. Loaners think the surface is causing thier other pony to be naughty so have stopped lessons.......
 
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