Curious post re: lameness...

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Lucy_Ally

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So as we all know lameness is one of the major worries about owning a horse. But how confident are you that you can spot lameness? Would you be able to identify which leg was affected? Can you spot whether the lameness is high up (i.e. shoulder/hip) or low down (i.e. hoof)?

So a little poll:
 
I'm rubbish at telling lameness, its just not something I have much practise in, having *touch wood* a horse thats only been lame once in 9 years. I can tell with Chex from the sound of his hoofbeats, I know exactly what they should sound like, how much weight they land with etc. I couldn't pinpoint where in a leg the problem was. I just call the vet if he's lame, its not worth me making a wrong diagnosis
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I couldn't pinpoint where in a leg the problem was. I just call the vet if he's lame, its not worth me making a wrong diagnosis
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Absolutley, I am not suggesting that anyone should be diagnosing lameness - I am just curious how many horse owners can honestly spot lameness in a horse and have an idea where it is coming from.
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Lucky you having such a sound horse (touches wood on your behalf!)
 
Can you spot mild lameness in a horse?

<font color="red">Yes </font>

Can you tell if it is hindlimb or forelimb?

<font color="red">Yes </font>

Can you tell where the lameness is coming from?
<font color="red">Yes </font>

Can you feel lameness when riding?

<font color="red">Yes </font>

If you think yo can spot a lame horse, who did you learn from?

<font color="red">From experience, vets, YO </font>
Do you think it is an integral part of horse ownership to be able to spot lameness in your horse?

<font color="red">Yes </font>
 
Lol, I didn't mean anything by that, sorry. Just meant some people treat lameness themselves (boxrest, bandaging etc), but I wouldn't know where to even begin, hence the vet being called
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I think 'spot' encompasses seeing, hearing, telepathy, horse whispering and any manner of clairvoyance.....

I think my stint with one of the top equine orthopaedic surgeons in the country helped me
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[ QUOTE ]
I think 'spot' encompasses seeing, hearing, telepathy, horse whispering and any manner of clairvoyance.....

I think my stint with one of the top equine orthopaedic surgeons in the country helped me
wink.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Oh, I take 'spot' to be visual for some reason...I suppose we all use language differently.
But regarding lameness - the saying 'where ignorance is bliss, tis folly to be wise' might be useful.
Do you lecture in lameness etc?
S
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Merlins foot falls in walk always go... clop clop clop bang.... his near fore always seems louder than the other feet.... he has a problem with his near hind fetlock so I have always put it down to that or my imagination/camber of the road etc (maybe sounds louder as that would be the foot that falls the furthest as the gutter dips away)??

But when the vet came out last time he had a student with him and pointed out to him that he seems to land harder on that foot, maybe because he pushes off harder with the off hind (diagonal pairs and all that)

Weird
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Yes, yes, most of the time, yes, other, yes

Other as generally I just can tell. I often question myself with low grade lamenesses especially when someone else's horse but annoyingly a lot of the time I turn out right
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its from several things but mainly I can see the irregularity of the gait. come from years round horses. vets, pony club lectures and instructors etc have helped me to pin down to specific limbs/part of limbs but I think there is a definite knack of spotting/seeing a lame horse
 
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What is an 'undergrad tutor'?
S
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Alongside my research I did small group teaching, mentoring and examining of undergraduate students, I also supervised dissertation projects etc. I didn't give formal lectures (my particular research was a bit too specialised for the undergrad courses) and opted out of pursuing lecturing as a career elsewhere. Does that answer you question?!
Are you an equine lecturer?
 
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[ QUOTE ]

What is an 'undergrad tutor'?
S
laugh.gif


[/ QUOTE ]

Alongside my research I did small group teaching, mentoring and examining of undergraduate students, I also supervised dissertation projects etc. I didn't give formal lectures (my particular research was a bit too specialised for the undergrad courses) and opted out of pursuing lecturing as a career elsewhere. Does that answer you question?!
Are you an equine lecturer?

[/ QUOTE ]

I was just curious...and hadn't heard the term 'undergrad tutor'....forgive my ignorance...
S
smile.gif
 
As a new owner it is something I worry about, if I felt something was wrong I would ask for advice. My fear is that I wouldn't notice mild lameness and someone would end up telling me - awful.
 
[ QUOTE ]
As a new owner it is something I worry about, if I felt something was wrong I would ask for advice. My fear is that I wouldn't notice mild lameness and someone would end up telling me - awful.

[/ QUOTE ]

I don't think that's awful, I think it is an integral part of horse ownership/the learning process - after all, everyone who can spot lameness wasn't born knowing how to, they developed the skill, probably through people pointing out to them when something was lame...
 
To recognise the slightest sign of lameness in your own horse is very important. Often an owner may know something is not right even when it's not visible to a vet, as it represents a change in the horses way of going rather than an actual lameness.
 
[ QUOTE ]
As a new owner it is something I worry about, if I felt something was wrong I would ask for advice. My fear is that I wouldn't notice mild lameness and someone would end up telling me - awful.

[/ QUOTE ]

I used to/still feel the same to some extent, it's more a feeling of 'something's not right' than knowing what is wrong.

Never feel afraid to ask for help and even as a new owner follow your instincts - you are usually right
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well, being a vet, i hope i can spot lameness, but i'd like to know who all the clever people are who can spot where lameness is coming from! if you're all that good then you might as well replace the vets of this world who need nerve blocks to identify the site of lameness!
 
We had a horse at our old yard that came in from the field hopping lame, he really looked like he had injured his shoulder the way he was holding his leg up and not standing on it.
We got the vet out straight away and he took one look at him and got his hoof testers out, we all looked at each other in amazement 'can't this vet see he's injured his shoulder?!'
good job we're not vets then isn't it...
He had pus in the foot
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