Define field sound

[pistolpete]

How lame is too lame to be kind to a horse? I have a lovely mare on loan as a companion. Can go back to owner if I’m worried. She’s not sound in trot but walks ok. Owner says with work she’ll get better but I will only walk her in hand while she’s obviously unsound. She’s a complete delight to have around. Only 16 and no injuries according to O.

 

[ester]

field sound to me = sound until you try doing some work with them.

Does she have a diagnosis as to why she is lame?

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Field sound, to me, is sound as long as it is in the field. Pottery might be ok, if it has been playing, and stiff might be ok if it was cold.

Lame in trot wouldn’t be field sound to me. I’d be looking to improve that or it wouldn’t be staying.

ETA it’s very different if the horse is being turned away to recover from an issue rather than just being generally unsound.

 

[pistolpete]

Vague diagnosis of some stifle weakness. Was walk trot canter sound last Sumer having come back from being this lame before apparently. Got to build her up slowly and steadily. See if I can strengthen her up or she’ll have to have investigations or go home.

 

[Goldenstar]

A horse that’s field sound is sound when it’s turned away and not worked .
The most difficult question is what degree of field unsound is reasonable and ethical .
For me I think it’s reasonable for a turned away horse for to be lame after a mad half hour but horses who only walk can’t lie down don’t roll or ever play need support with medication or putting to sleep .
I can’t stand people who won’t give their horses medication to control their pain it just makes my blood boil .

 

[SEL]

<<< that horse in my avatar is not sound in trot at all because of how his ringbone / sidebone have calcified on one leg. He's on 1-2 bute a day and on that lies down, rolls fully over and is quite capable of regularly popping over a dislodged electric fencing post into the long grass.

Breaks my heart thinking he won't be here for ever, but I owe it to him to not descend into a miserable painful mess. He's having a fabulous summer (new girlfriend!) thankfully.

He's also 16.

Does yours improve on pain relief PP?

 

[milliepops]

Hmm. like others, i would say my oldies are field sound because they are comfortable in all 3 paces but wouldn't now stand up to working.

i wouldn't be happy with one that isn't sound in trot unless like SEL's its something known and managed and with a plan. having to strengthen up to be a companion doesn't sound like a lot of fun.

does the horse live out or do you stable them?

 

[pistolpete]

They live out.

 

[milliepops]

:/ i'd be a bit skeptical about what you can achieve with gentle walk work if she's already walking around all the time. my old crocks got sounder when they went from a partly stabled environment to being out 24/7 because the constant gentle movement got them stronger and more mobile. but you're already at that point. unless there's a functional issue that you can re-train?

 

[NinjaPony]

To me, field sound means sound mooching around the field in all 3 paces. A bit of stiffness is fine as long as it isn’t prolonged or daily.

 

[Goldenstar]

:/ i'd be a bit skeptical about what you can achieve with gentle walk work if she's already walking around all the time. my old crocks got sounder when they went from a partly stabled environment to being out 24/7 because the constant gentle movement got them stronger and more mobile. but you're already at that point. unless there's a functional issue that you can re-train?

Given that Op does not know what the issue is that should be the start point .

Stifle trouble would often respond to work even in a turned away horse .
It would help if Op knew what was causing the lameness the owner seems pretty useless .
If I where OP I would see if some Bute makes the horse more comfy .

 

[milliepops]

Well yeah but if the horse is supposed to be a companion, having to somehow work it just to become field sound with no diagnosis seems a bit high maintenance and like you could spend a lot of time and effort getting nowhere.

How has the horse been coping up to now?

 

[pistolpete]

She’s fine. Totally chilled. Pops up to trot of fence is being moved to strip graze but is unlevel trot. Happy pony. It’s a steep hill they are on so getting some work just Up and down.

 

[DSB]

To me, field sound means sound mooching around the field in all 3 paces. A bit of stiffness is fine as long as it isn’t prolonged or daily.

Also bright in the eye and interested in what's going on.