Can someone help me with my lame horse?

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pluto87

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I have a 15hh 13 yr old arab gelding who has been performing well at dressage and generally fun. Suddenly he became very lame in trot with a rider. After many tests, during which he shows no lameness in straight lines, on the lunge both on soft and hard ground my vet referred us to a physiotherapist as he thought it was in his back. Nothing wrong there. We then were referred to a veterinary hospital where he had a bone scan, radiographs, nerve blocks and finally an MRI scan as it was decided it was in both front feet. He now has egg bar shoes on and has not been ridden for about 5 weeks. My vet came out today and the symptoms are exactly the same - sound in every way until a rider (and there have been several, not just me) trots him and he is crippled. The MRI showed minor things such as inflamation in the navicular bursa and the worse being splits in the ddft on the left fore. The hospital wanted to use tildren but as it is unproven and would be beyond my insurance it is a no go. Anyone else ever had this peculiar lameness? In the field he is competely sound and very bored and becoming a pain to handle. Help please.
 
Mine is perfectly sound in the field and looks ok on the lunge. He has a combination of hidn suspensory and front collateral ligament damage but both of these should have shown on the numerous scans that were done. Where was the MRI performed? Is it worth getting a second opinion on the results? You could try steriod injections into the coffin joint ot you could opt to turn him away for six months and see how he gets on. I'm afraid these are all only suggestions though. There is also the option it is learned behaviour and he is reacting because he remembers it once hurt, however his lameness sounds extreme for this.
Having just re-read your post though surely the splits in the ddft account for why he is lame?
 
I don't understand why you are riding him if he has splits in his DDFT? Surely thats why he's lame? Agree with Science about the Tildren.
 
Sounds like you have had a pretty comprehensive lameness work up. Injuries to the DDFT and navicular bursa are generally pretty serious and I don't understand why this is not a good explanation for the lameness. Tildren is not that expensive when compared to the cost of an MRI plus a bonescan plus a series of nerve blocks. It seems that you have had the diagnosis, opted not to treat as recommended and then wondered why it's still lame! I agree with science re Tildren, whilst the proof is not conclusive it is better than navel gazing.
 
Tildren is certainly not unproven
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, my vet recommended it for my WB gelding who had mild bone spavin and he's had two lots now and not looked back. It is approx £350-£400 a time, but insurance companies don't have any problem covering you for that providing its within your claim limit, time limit, etc. If there is a split in the DDFT then that would be why the horse is lame, surely?? I think you must have misunderstood what your vet was saying to you, and I would suggest going back to him and discussing your options for treatment. x
 
Arabs are particularly prone to navicular, but if you say the horse is only crippled when he is ridden at trot, I'd be taking a really careful look at the underside of the saddle. It could be that one of the points is poking through into him.

I don't think Tildren is unproven either, plus that shouldn't necessarily preclude you from using it. My horse is treated with an unlicenced drug (only licenced for small animal and human use) and I never had any problem with the insurance paying for it for 6 months.
 
Thank you, that article is helpful but as my vet says it has shown to be good with hock spavins or arthritis but my horse doesn't have these problems. Thanks again for the reply.
 
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