Can sarcoids cause horses to Under perform?

[ShowJumperBeckii]

Hello!
without going into details with long back story! Horse has 3 sarciods under front left armpit (vet is involved and treatment plan is arranged) over past few weeks horses performance has declined, (show jumper knocking down poles not just tapping them literally sending them flying to the point retired through in his class)
Horse is not lame!
so just wondered if anyone has had horses with sarcoids and can they hurt/bother them and affect their work?
obviously if this is not the cause we are going to look for a cause of underperforming just wondered if anyone had experience?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I should imagine that as the horse stretches the front leg out to clear the jump the skin pulls uncomfortably round the sarcoids.

 

[ycbm]

I think it's possible but after knowing 2 horses with them there, I'd be looking at the back end first. Can you get a video of whether he's failing to push off the back or failing to hold up the front after pushing off the back?
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[ShowJumperBeckii]

Thank you! The way he went out jumping the other weekend reminds me of my other horse who had hind suspensory issues, lacking power behind so unable to get enough height to get front legs out the way yet never appeared lame! Which we are hoping isn’t the case! Obviously it will be looked into and is in clinic next week just be interesting to hear if anyone has experience in this area!

 

[ycbm]

I hope it's the sarcoids, if they can be removed. There was a hell of a hole in my geldings armpit when his were removed, but it never lamed him. Good luck with them.
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[humblepie]

Mine has some by his armpit. He has occasionally moved the leg a bit odd. I had vet look at them as did wonder if skin pulling. She wasn’t concerned at the present time. He did the odd movement about a year ago and perhaps once since so probably more like us when we’ve slept awkwardly.

 

[lynz88]

Mine had one in his armpit. It didn't seem to affect him until it started ulcerating to the point I could pop it out.

I haven generally wondered if sarcoids hurt....

 

[ihatework]

It wouldn’t surprise me if sarcoids in that sort of location caused some discomfort/ performance issue in a more sensitive horse.

 

[irishdraft]

My horse had a sarcoid that grew very quickly to golf ball size in that area . I had it banded the skin is quite loose there, it never caused him a problem, he has a 6" scar there now but didn't affect performance.

 

[ShowJumperBeckii]

Thanks for replies! They have gone red and look slightly pus filled so wondered if that is making them feel tender too! He is due to have laser treatment for them so guess will find out after if he improves

 

[ponynutz]

Thanks for replies! They have gone red and look slightly pus filled so wondered if that is making them feel tender too! He is due to have laser treatment for them so guess will find out after if he improves

Mine had laser treatment for one that went bad and it worked really, really well for her.
Good luck!

 

[lynz88]

Thanks for replies! They have gone red and look slightly pus filled so wondered if that is making them feel tender too! He is due to have laser treatment for them so guess will find out after if he improves

I would say it is probably hurting!! Only one way to find out if that is the problem and sounds like you will find out soon. Fingers crossed that is the root of the problem.

 

[thefarsideofthefield]

Sarcoids are linked to issues with the immune system so it's possible that the sarcoids are a symptom of other problems rather than the cause .

 

[Tiddlypom]

My mare had one sarcoid forward of her udder and another on her left inner thigh. They were well separated when she stood square, and it never occurred to me that they could be impinging on each other when she moved.

She had got really cranky which I presumed was due to one of her other issues, but after the vet successfully banded both of the sarcoids she was grand again immediately. They must have been squished together when she stepped under with her left hind in motion.

 

[Akkalia1]

My mare had one just in front of her girth which grew and corresponded with a lameness in that front leg. I wasn't sure at the time if it was related, but it seemed very possible that as her leg moved back and forward the sarcoid was getting squashed between her leg and the girth. Not had an issue since having the sarcoid removed (long recovery time due to location!) so I think the sarcoid was certainly hurting her, but probably only because it kept getting squashed. She is also a very sensitive TB.

 

[abb123]

Mine had one right where the girth sat. She had it lasered off but the scar has caused discomfort when jumping. Never lame and happy over smallish jumps. As the jumps went up to 1m+ she started showing signs of discomfort specific to the jumping which she hadn't shown previously at those heights. She has had an extra 6 months off and just coming back now with a donut girth that sits over the scar. Not sure if she will ever jump again.