Foreleg dosnt swing forward straightly...

silvershadow81

silvershadow81

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I know... im obsessed, but no-one so far in veterinary has said that they have experience in this.....

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Has anyone ever had experience with a horse who, when walks foreleg swings forward, but also slightly inwards??
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As its on her left side, she is finding it hard to turn right, eps noticeable on lunge.

I already have vets, farrier and awaiting a physio opinion next week (im finding all this waiting about quite fustrating!!).... but I feel sooooo helpless and would LOVE to know your ideas, experiences!! xx

(I can then spend my Friday researching all possibilities!!)
 
How long as she done it for or has it just come on, what sort of work have you been doing with her etc?
Only thing I can think of is does her elbow or shoulder look out of shape, does she look to be turning in from that elbow (so the elbow points outward)? If so, perhaps it was born like that or injured itself at an early age and has just learnt to swing to compensate? If it is that then I don't think it can be corrected you will have to adapt to that way of going which is now natural for that horse. Other than that, don't know, sorry but will be interested to hear.
 
I would ask all the same questions . . .

Is this new?
If not, did it follow any change or event in the horse's life? Anything, even if it doesn't seem related.
Is the horse sound? Both to look at and to ride?
Is the leg correctly conformed? Is the hoof level and balanced? If not, is this new or has it always been the case?
What sort of work is the horse doing?
Does the flight path of the leg change when the horse is working correctly?
Can she move the leg properly in other ways?
Can/does she cross right over left and left over right when turning on her forehand?
Does the leg deviate from straight if you move it in a stretch? Does she stretch properly?
Does she distribute her weight equally when standing?
Do the footfalls sound even when she'd trotted on a hard surface?
Can you find anything visually and/or through palpation in the shoulder, back, or chest?

When I'm assessing a horse I keep an open mind and look for anything different, however slight and apparently unimportant. I'm sure if there is a problem the thorough evaluation you've scheduled will shed more light on the situation.
 
Thanks for your questions... i will try and reply next to each.. hope this works|! [ QUOTE ]
I would ask all the same questions . . .

Is this new? <font color="blue"> </font> Yes, she was shod weds and then we hacked on wet ground and on thursday she was walking very lame, esp on hard ground and wanting to walk on grass.

If not, did it follow any change or event in the horse's life? <font color="blue"> </font> only the farrier and the hack. She was evented the sunday beforehand and was sound mon- weds

Anything, even if it doesn't seem related.
Is the horse sound? <font color="blue"> </font>she is much better than she was, though still lame on the lunge in the arena on the right rein (she is lame on her left fore). when walked in a straight line on grass the only difference is she glides to the right as her left leg swings right?

Both to look at and to ride? <font color="blue"> </font> I have not tried to ride her, she is too lame...
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Is the leg correctly conformed? <font color="blue"> </font> She has great legs, no problems there

Is the hoof level and balanced? If not, is this new or has it always been the case? <font color="blue"> </font> yes it is, farrier was out, removed shoes yesterday and ensured she was completely level.

What sort of work is the horse doing? <font color="blue"> </font> she does sj and eventing (Unaff) so is very fit atm

Does the flight path of the leg change when the horse is working correctly? <font color="blue"> </font> I havent tried to work her correctly tbh as she is not right and i have only lunged from a headcollar when assessing her.

Can she move the leg properly in other ways?
Can/does she cross right over left and left over right when turning on her forehand? <font color="blue"> </font> she dosnt cross over as far as she should be when being turned right... she finds turning left, much, much easier.

Does the leg deviate from straight if you move it in a stretch? Does she stretch properly? <font color="blue"> </font> yes,when i stretch her she will stretch it out in a straight line, there is some resistance when we go forward (compared to the right leg)

Does she distribute her weight equally when standing? <font color="blue"> </font> yup, she will stand quite happily and dosnt shift her weight about too much (vet must have watched her for 10 minutes and she stood square the whole time on concrete)

Do the footfalls sound even when she'd trotted on a hard surface? <font color="blue"> </font> nope, you can hear the left is coming up short.

Can you find anything visually and/or through palpation in the shoulder, back, or chest? <font color="blue"> </font> she will let anyone press, prod her legs and body and she is swinging her back fine. When i run my hand firmly- not that hard- down her shoulder she flinches and when the farrier did it she tilted her shoulder downwards away from him and then turned on him- she must be in pain as she is such a gentle girl usually.

When I'm assessing a horse I keep an open mind and look for anything different, however slight and apparently unimportant. I'm sure if there is a problem the thorough evaluation you've scheduled will shed more light on the situation.

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I hope that helps and I really appreciate your comments! xx
 
Well the internet sucks for diagnostic work
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but it does sound like she's pulled something - sort of a combination swinging leg and supporting leg lameness. Most obvious would be something in the shoulder (horses don't have collar bones so the flight of the leg it determined by soft tissue) but I wouldn't rule out the back or the chest. The latter particularly is an area where problems can get missed because it's so hard to see what's going on.

Keep in mind though that almost any pain can change the flight of the leg as the horse tries to compensate. I wouldn't think anything super serious hard tissue, though, given the speed with which it came on and the fact it's getting better quite quickly.

Good luck!
 
Agree with TarrSteps...when I've seen other acquired changes in limb movement, it's been due to injury, usually muscle damage.
Hope your vet/physio can identify the source for you.
S
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I can highly recommend homemade gait analysis. Get enthusiastic OH to lay on the floor and video her from belly down as you walk + trot towards and away from the camera then get clever OH to slow it down and you can study the action- it really helped with convincing our vet + farrier that there was something wrong with our big ID and after i posted the link on here i had so many very useful comments and opinions
 
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Well the internet sucks for diagnostic work
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I agree, i think it makes my diagnosis harder as always seem to come up with yet another option!!

Tarrsteps, that is great advice. Thanks you very much for your post. I really cant wait to hear what the physio thinks.

I just went to see her in my break and walked her out, with reference to how she is placing her foot on the ground... she dosnt seem to place obvious initial placement on the front or the heel of her hoof... it looks quite even, it is only the swinging which is a little different and as you say, that is dertermined by soft tissue (so can hopefully rule out navicular, pedal bone ect?)

I will keep up her rest and gentle walking out (much to her disapointment!) over the weekend and hope the physio can make it early next week
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[ QUOTE ]
Agree with TarrSteps...when I've seen other acquired changes in limb movement, it's been due to injury, usually muscle damage.
Hope your vet/physio can identify the source for you.
S
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Thanks Shilasdair
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If the physio is unsure after meeting her then i will refer her back to the vet for further inspection... one way or another i want to know what this is and what i need to do to help her get better... and quickly!!!!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I can highly recommend homemade gait analysis. Get enthusiastic OH to lay on the floor and video her from belly down as you walk + trot towards and away from the camera then get clever OH to slow it down and you can study the action- it really helped with convincing our vet + farrier that there was something wrong with our big ID and after i posted the link on here i had so many very useful comments and opinions

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The problem here lies in your second paragraph....... enthusiastic OH!!! he happily joins me at a show (as long as theres a beer tent!) and thats as far as the horse support will go!
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That would be a really interesting study to do though (im wishing i could go back to uni and do another dissertation!!)
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When my Appy was 'out' in her neck she was taking shorter harder steps with her front right (the side the neck was stiffest on) Vet came and chiro'd and accupunctured and all returned to normal. It made a big difference to her stride.
 
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