Front end stiffness

[cowgirl1119]

My horse is 14 and had thrush for quite a few years in a row due to the constant wetness at her previous home. Now her feet are back to normal but she is so used to walking different from her feet hurting and I'm not sure how to help her. I know she would be a great riding horse but I need to lengthen her stride and somehow get her back to walking normal, or at least halfway normal.

Any ideas?

Thank you.

 

[Nudibranch]

Is she shod or unshod? If she is walking very abnormally it sounds like there is more of a problem than just having thrush in the past. Has she seen a vet? What does the farrier think? Have you tried boots to see whether she walks more comfortably? That can help narrow the range of possibilities.

 

[Goldenstar]

It's a job for the vet book a call out .

 

[atlantis]

It's a job for the vet book a call out .

Sounds like my mare. This is what I did!!!

She went for a full lameness workup with nerve blocks which found nothing. The only thing that the vet found was very very sore muscles around her shoulders.

She had bad thrush when I got her (November) that got a bit better but then got worse when she was on box rest for her first season of the year and turned her bed into a swamp!!! The box rest didn't last long but the war on the thrush was stepped up snd straight after the vet work up I got the Physio out.

The Physio has helped no end and she was sound for a few weeks after, but as I stepped her work up (with agreement from vet and Physio) she became tight again. So Physio came out again last week and was really able to get in and treat and release her sore muscles and the difference in her this week is amazing!!! She is strutting along!!

The thrush has been difficult and I'm still actively treating it with red horse products and regular milton washes. Its so much better but it can really make them foot sore. She is now comfortably landing heel first on all 4 feet.

My girl is barefoot and will stay this way. I've adjusted her diet and I'm doing regular in hand work to really loosen her front end and get her weight over her hind end. She is also regularly worked on the roads to stimulate her feet to grow and I actually moved livery yards to enable this.

My point??? Thrush can make them very sore and hold themselves in a braced way. This is what the professionals looking after my pony think has happened. She is young and weak and needs correct work and comfortable feet to improve. The difference with her now 3 months on and 5 months since I got her is amazing.

I would advise vet first and then a good ACPAT Physio for their professional opinion as well as the treatment!! A good farrier / trimmer and a good saddler too!!! My mate keeps changing shape!!

Good luck!!!