cant walk down hills advice needed

marie11

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23 April 2009
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hi my mums horse has had a problem for quite a while now,about 2 years ago he ran into a 5 bar gate and got stuck on the top of it and fell backwards after that he hurt his back so we rested him quite along time,then gradually brought him back into work but found he was very slow walking down hills,he has got navicular but we have had the vet out and he said its not his navicular,anyway he has had lots of physos but still the problem is there so he was rested again for about 3 months and when we started riging him again he is still slow walking down hills,everything else is fine i would just like to know if anyone has any opinons as to why this could be happening?
 
Its a very gentle muscle manipulation technique given by a trained person. If you google it, it will explain better than I can.All I know is it works. My friends horses and dogs aand she herself and also me and my horse have all been treated and cured of our aches and pains. Your horse could have a low grade pain after his accident and the treatment could well help him. Your local person will be in the yellow pages. Good luck!
 
My old pony was diagnosed with navilcular aged 21. I lost her aged 29. But from diagnoses onwards she always walked downhill in a peculiar fashion. She jogged everywhere else and never ever walked on the roads, except when we went down hill. Her navilcular was mild she was on no medication for it and started off with eggbar shoes but had standard shoes at the end.
 
Not sure if the horse has or hasn't got navicular syndrome? If he has, he probably has some degree of degenerative joint disease too. Depending on his age, beware, because those diseases can cause bilateral lameness, worse when going downhill because so much of the horse's and rider's weight is thrown onto the front feet. When BOTH the horse's front feet hurt the same amount, you can't detect lameness unless you nerve block one foot. The degree of lameness can be severe.

It might be an idea to get a referral to a specialist lameness centre where this can be thoroughly tested x
 
Maybe it is to do with the fall two years ago. My horse suffered a really nasty fall last June, resulting in a twist injury to his sacro-illiac joint. Immediately after the accident he couldn't even stand. Previously he was always a bit 'fussy' going down hill and I never felt particulary happy with him and often got off and walked him down steeper slopes. General concensus of opinion from the three vets who looked after him after his fall (one of whom specialises in sport injuries) was that he may well have had a previous fall which left him with a weak SI joint and that was why he didn't like going down hill (or jumping). I am now trying corta flex and devils claw to see if it improves things. I have been advised to keep him working, as rest can lead to a reduction in the muscle that helps keep the joint supported. Does your horse ever slide a back foot when going down hill?
 
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