nelliefinellie
Well-Known Member
Took my mare to vet today for lameness work up - initial tentative diagnosis had been immature joints but as she had never been lame enough to block we weren't sure. I had decided that if there was a problem with immaturity to give her a year off and put her in foal. Anyway needless to say she was remarkably sound trotting up at vet - grrr - even after flexion. Only way we could see any lameness was by lunging on small circle on concrete. Anyway, to cut a long story short, after coffin joint block she was totally sound, if anything slightly off on other foot. So the squidgy joints were a red herring. Luckily x rays showed no damage to the cartilage, but foot pastern axis was well broken back. Vet said long lay off would not help problem, and pointed out that if after rest / foal she was still lame my insurance would no longer cover this injury. She suggested medicating the joint, corrective shoeing and a joint supplement. I'm obviously gutted that my lovely 5 yr old has a problem I would normally associate with older horse, esp when I have been so careful not trotting on the road etc, but hopeful that as we have identified the problem early, can do something about it. So putting her in foal is on hold till next Spring - vet thinks more important to try and get foot balance right and keep her in steady work. Therefore no more stallion advice required at this point, but any coffin joint inflammation experiences gratefully received!
