Does anyone have a sound horse?

It depends on what day I look, of the 7 here 5 have been lame recently for various reasons, I was wondering what was going on, 2 have had abscesses, another picked up a nail but was fine after a scary few minutes , 1 was slightly lame when first warming up one day and has been fine since, possibly stood on herself traveling but I was getting to the stage where I didn't want to watch any of them move, fortunately they are all sound at the moment, just 1 now on laminitis watch as the grass seems to be growing again after the rain.
 
I now have one sound and one who thinks he is sound because he is on box rest and Bute. I'm really hoping now the Bute has finished he will still be sound early next week so his shoes can go back on and he can start walking in straight lines.
 
Lindylouanne said:
I now have one sound and one who thinks he is sound because he is on box rest and Bute. I'm really hoping now the Bute has finished he will still be sound early next week so his shoes can go back on and he can start walking in straight lines.
Click to expand...
I’m doing the walking in straight lines thing... hacking out nutter cob that’s been off work for 8 weeks and not allowed to be lunged is ‘interesting’ to say the least - ‘sideways’ seems to be the only direction he feels comfortable with!
 
I wonder how many humans would pass as sound??? I was reflecting how I can accept me feeling stiff and sore the day after a tough session, but worry (a lot) if a horse so much as takes an anything less than perfect stride. Soundness is a relative term though, which is perhaps why there are so many who are still out competing when other people would be investigating why they are lame. Now that I have first hand experience of how stoic most horses are, I am definitely in the stop and investigate camp.
 
According to my vet very little horses he sees trot up these days are 100% sound. He said it amazes him how many owners can't see lameness when its quite obvious! Then there is me.. anal as anything!
 
  • Like
Reactions: TPO
blitznbobs said:
I’m doing the walking in straight lines thing... hacking out nutter cob that’s been off work for 8 weeks and not allowed to be lunged is ‘interesting’ to say the least - ‘sideways’ seems to be the only direction he feels comfortable with!
Click to expand...

My straight lines will all be inhand and then I'm going to cheat slightly as my two are off to an equine pool for 10 days so they can swim in straight lines 🤣 The lame one has had laminitis and the other is just fat.
 
Yes, my ID is sound as a pound and, barring one pus in the foot episode, has been for the 7 years I've owned him. He's a chunky monkey though, not everyone's cup of tea!
 
Nope. But both have been given the all clear.

One had a ddft tear 2 years ago, pretty much written off for awhile, had all winter turned out and is now the soundest he's ever been (vets words) and has been given the go to start jumping again. Though I think is prob half a tenth depending on what he's been doing.

The other had PSD surgery in March and has now been told he can start cantering. Is 1/10 to 2/10 but the vet has said he'll always be that but he's happy and healthy and there's no reason he can't do a little dressage test or cross country.

She reckoned they were both sounder than alot of horses in work. She said something interesting on last check up that she's seen dressage horses up to 4/10 or 5/10 lame before warming up, yet still going on to compete and win.

I think it is hard to distinguish between sound and not-lame. Bit of a minefield.
 
I wouldn't pass a 2 stage vetting let alone a 5 stage but I'm really not confident that I could pick up on very subtle signs of unsoundness, but I think Rose and the fatty are both sound currently. Touch wood!
 
ihatework said:
Training, riding & management gets/keeps them straight & sound
Click to expand...
This can also work for wonky horses, depending on what the wonkiness is. My mare (bilateral hock arthritis) is much sounder and less wonky when kept in proper light work (with vet and chiro vet involvement) than if left out in the field. It’s a fine line though, and I can get very a bit paranoid about any slightly ‘off’ step she might make o_O.
 
I don't claim to be able to see subtle lameness but I think you get a feel for your horse so you learn to feel when they aren't quite right.

That said, last summer a lady who keeps her pony in a field close to mine hadn't noticed that her pony was lame, despite it being rather obvious. I made her aware and had to talk her down from continuing to ride him. Shocked is an understatement.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top