"cracking" or "clicking" in right shoulder

[JadeWisc]

The mare staying with us for a couple of months ( not mine) seems to have a clicking in her right shoulder that comes and goes.


She has no tenderness or lameness or any swelling anywhere. It does not seem to bother her as far as I can tell. You can hear it with each step .

Sometimes you cannot hear it at all and it is as if it goes away.


any ideas what it is or what should/could be done?



She is quite old (17)


Does anyone have any experinces with this sort of thing?

 

[mattilda]

My old mare has a clicky foreleg. She has had it foe as long as I can remember and never caused her any problems so I have let well alone.
My dressage horse had a clicky neck, again didn't cause him any problems but I fed him Cortaflex as a precaution for his other joints, he is a big lad, and it has gone completely.

 

[JadeWisc]

Thanks for the story; it sounds reassuring.



The owner does not seem concerned and said to go on riding her as long as she appears not to be in any discomfort.

He claims he never noticed it before and said to just keep an eye on it and see if it goes away?

Makes me nervous for obvious reasons as she is not mine and she is in my care.

 

[Esme]

I used to have a gelding that clicked in one leg (I can't remember which one or where it was now!). Someone at the yard who'd worked in a vets was telling me about how common it was for horses to get a bit of air trapped in their joints that would 'pop' so we just put it down to that and it never caused him any problems

 

[mattilda]

It doesn't sound as if it is causing her any pain or irritation. My ankle sometimes goes clicky and although it irritates the hell out of me it doesn't hurt. Maybe it's an age thing!!

 

[JadeWisc]

was it a one off "pop" here and there or would it go "pop" each time he took a step for extended periods?

 

[JadeWisc]

I crack all over too

 

[Esme]

Yeah, it would do it every stride once it'd started, though it didn't happen all the time. The first time i noticed it he'd just had a hissy fit in the middle of a field and i'd only had him about a week so i was terrified that i'd broken him!

 

[Halfstep]

These clicks are totally normal, they are either air popping in the joint or a tendon/ligament snapping over bone. Completely normal and nothing to worry about

.

 

[JadeWisc]

Phew!


Thanks everyone

 

[kellyeaton]

have you tried a ostepath to make sure every thing is ok and maybe try some cod liver oil or apple cider vinger it might just help him out a bit!

 

[cokelly]

I wouldn't worry bout it XD My 18yr old cob has a click in his hind leg (or legs sometimes!) I feed him on superflex to sort out any potential stiffness and he's fine!

I tend to notice it wen I start riding and further into a schooling sesh it usually goes away

x

 

[JadeWisc]

[ QUOTE ]
have you tried a ostepath to make sure every thing is ok and maybe try some cod liver oil or apple cider vinger it might just help him out a bit!

[/ QUOTE ]

Well she is not mine and only arrived at my house three days ago so I have not tried anything yet.


I may give her a joint suppliment while she is here and see if that helps anything. It surely cannot hurt.


I have never heard anything about the vinegar and cod liver oil before.
I will have to look into that.

 

[JadeWisc]

Now that I think of it...........

after we ride her for a bit it seems to lessen.

It seems to start though right after she strats being active.

at least I *think* it does. I guess I am still feeling it out each day she is here.



Thanks again everyone. All responses have been helpful. I was expecting many negative and worried responses and I am glad I have not had one yet.

 

[BeckyD]

Ronnie's shoulder suddenly last summer started popping and clicking loudly - especially when first moving off from standing. I had the vet out - Ronnie was v v v v v slightly lame on a tight circle. The chiro came out and released Ronnie's hyoid process (in the throat region) - and the clicking totally stoppped - and his frame visibly relaxed as well, not that I'd noticed he was tense before. The hyoid is attached to the tongue and the big muscle that connects neck to shoulder. I think.

 

[kellyeaton]

ya most people try apple cider vinger pr cod liver oil to help with jounts before going onto the more exspensive joint supplements!

 

[Shanny]

My mare had a clicking that you could feel when ridding her under the saddle. I could actually feel it under my leg and it felt horrible! She keep being lame on and off and the clicking would come and go too.

The vet x-rayed her back and she has kissing spine, the joints have become slightly athritic too.

Hopefully your situation isn't has bad though, but keep us posted on what happens.

Shan

 

[Rollin]

Yes reassuring. My just backed four year old clicks in walk on his hindlegs sometimes but not in trot, again no indication of any lameness.