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Wagtail

Wagtail

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This boy is having some soundness issues which the vet thinks are from his hocks, but xrays and scans are clear. He has been skipping in canter behind and being reluctant to go forward under saddle. The skipping did lessen when his hocks were blocked and so he's had steroid injections but there's no imprvement after 4 weeks, so next step is tildren. I am beginning to think his problems may be coming from somewhere else. He often lands toe first in trot, but then has the occasional day when he doesn't :confused:. Anyway, I spotted this grove on his right hind hoof (his worst leg) and wondered about its significance. It is not like normal event lines that go right around the hoof. Maybe an injury to the coronet band? But the amount of growth would probably correspond to when his stiffness issues became worse. Any comments?

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That hoof is longer on one side than the other and the toe is long even for a back hoof. That line is trauma.
 
tallyhohoho! said:
That hoof is longer on one side than the other and the toe is long even for a back hoof. That line is trauma.
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Hmm, I'm wondering if he fell in the field or something? Or kicked a fence? He's not right, poor fella. I think he's sore in his back too, though the vet doesn't think his back is too bad, but he really swishes his tail when the saddle goes on and also when you ask him to trot, when he also kicks out. His saddle cost a fortune and was only checked a few weeks ago.

cinnamontoast said:
What does your farrier say?
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I'm afraid I forgot to ask him when he shod him last week. I had so many things happening the same time.
 
Wagtail said:
Hmm, I'm wondering if he fell in the field or something? Or kicked a fence? He's not right, poor fella. I think he's sore in his back too, though the vet doesn't think his back is too bad, but he really swishes his tail when the saddle goes on and also when you ask him to trot, when he also kicks out. His saddle cost a fortune and was only checked a few weeks ago.
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What make is the saddle and what country was it produced? You'd be amazed at how terrible expensive saddles can be
 
misterjinglejay said:
My lad had these on all four hooves, only a lot deeper. Being concerned, I asked the farrier, and he said it was just due to a change of diet.
I thought diet lines weren't as marked, but they grew out with no ill effects.
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Yes, the horses here all have slight event marks from when they came off the grass. A couple of them have quite deep marks, probably because I had to get them off the waterlogged fields straight onto the all weather, but this gelding only has that one mark on one side of one hoof.
 
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Wagtail I think this could be a foot balance issue. I have seen similar creases on horses that go to Rockley. If it was an injury, I would not expect it to be causing issues now. I think maybe you should get the farrier to reset that shoe. I'll try and find you a Rockley picture to show you.
 
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amymay said:
Spavins, not spins (sorry)
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Lol.

His xrays were clear, but vet still thinks that he must have the start of bony changes in the hocks. She said that you cannot see the spurs that are deep within a joint on xrays, and she is convinced that he blocked to that joint. Though I was there, and he still did not look right behind to me, but he did not skip behind as much.
 
Certainly an event which has occured at the coronary band could have been an abscess.

The skipping however could be due to issues higher up the leg e.g the pelvis for example.

It is a process of elimination and you need to observe your horse carefully in various situations and make notes. For example start with your horse untacked and loose in the school.
1. Observe how he moves in walk, trot and canter in both directions. Watch how he places his legs his head and what does he do with his tail.
2. Then add the saddle and observe in all paces
3. Then add the bridle and then a rider and observe at all paces.
4. try the horse on soft and hard ground.

Video is the best way to help with a diagnosis and it can help your vet too.

You need to check your saddle again - for example the gullet must not be narrow and the panels must not interfere with the shoulder blade particulary when the horse tries to extend his forelegs.
 
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Thanks. The horse was seen by the vet yesterday, and although there was no change on the lunge (neither better or worse) we put the saddle on and rode him for the first time in 10 days and he was terrible. Could not take a contact in walk, walked backwards and sideways and threatened to rear. Could not trot even on a lose rein, just lashed out and bucked, swishing his tail. I am now suspecting kissing spines or hoof pain that has caused him to be sore in his back. Vet doesn't think so though. He had tildren and vet is organising a course of physio. Will xray withers and spine if no better after treatment. It's very worrying. I'm very fond of this horse and owner is so worried, bless her. He's a lucky horse though as he'll be retired if he cannot come sound, so long as he's comfortable, which currently he is. He's very happy playing with the foal every day. He's besotted with him.

Just going out to lunge him in a bit before this awful weather takes hold. I am going to be lunging him most days in the pessoa as vet said to keep him worked on the lunge, just no riding for now.
 
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What about sacroilliac (sp?) problems? I think the skipping in canter can b a sign if that, also the canter landing together behind is another classic sign
Hav 2 say I bought brand new albion hav had lots of problems & hav similar symptoms 2 u (without hoof lines) physio said sacroilliac (altho vet disagreed) & after 4 weeks of treatment & using my other saddle only so far horse seems a lot better & finally maintaining an outline!
 
Chocy said:
What about sacroilliac (sp?) problems? I think the skipping in canter can b a sign if that, also the canter landing together behind is another classic sign
Hav 2 say I bought brand new albion hav had lots of problems & hav similar symptoms 2 u (without hoof lines) physio said sacroilliac (altho vet disagreed) & after 4 weeks of treatment & using my other saddle only so far horse seems a lot better & finally maintaining an outline!
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Yes, I had wondered about sacroilliac, but the pain seems to be in the front near his withers. However, that is not to say he doesn't have pain behind as well. I think he will be going to Rossdales for a bone scan and other investigative tests if vet here draws a blank.
 
Wagtail- can't quote as on fone but I was exactly same pain in front over withers & shoulders- I put it all down 2 saddle being 2 wide in front so was shocked when physio said sacroilliac.
Horse was very responsive 2 touching withers but bothered bout further back it was the way horse walked behind that gave physio 1st idea bout sacroilliac

Now I no I can get pulled apart here as physio is not chartered physio (hides) but well recommended & used by people I trust & at the mo the difference speaks 4 itself- just hoping it continues!
 
My old mares hoof looked like this after she had an abcess break out of her coranary band it took months to grow out and looking to the front of the foot also had the lopsided look about it. She was fine after it had grown out but it did take ages.
 
Chocy said:
Wagtail- can't quote as on fone but I was exactly same pain in front over withers & shoulders- I put it all down 2 saddle being 2 wide in front so was shocked when physio said sacroilliac.
Horse was very responsive 2 touching withers but bothered bout further back it was the way horse walked behind that gave physio 1st idea bout sacroilliac

Now I no I can get pulled apart here as physio is not chartered physio (hides) but well recommended & used by people I trust & at the mo the difference speaks 4 itself- just hoping it continues!
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That's very interesting and useful to know. Thank you. I hope we can get him sorted.
 
welshcobabe said:
My old mares hoof looked like this after she had an abcess break out of her coranary band it took months to grow out and looking to the front of the foot also had the lopsided look about it. She was fine after it had grown out but it did take ages.
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That's interesting. Thanks. He has never been lame enough to have had an abscess though. Although I know some are not so painful as others. But he was worked 6 days a week, so I would have thought I'd have noticed something. It's so wierd. vet was puzzled too.
 
I'm no hoof expert & don't know if its even possible, but just had an idea. You know when a horse has a deep vertical crack in the wall, how sometimes the hoof wall can start growing inwards & pinching the foot? (probably not something you'd get on your own horses Wagtail!). Is it possible that the indentation is now on the inside of the hoof, rather than the wall just being thinner where the dent is, & pinching on the inside of the hoof wall. And if that foot is slightly uncomfortable, & he's moving less than usual, it would explain the stiffness. However like I say I'm no hoof expert so if someone says that's impossible I'm happy to stand corrected.
 
Chocy said:
What about sacroilliac (sp?) problems? I think the skipping in canter can b a sign if that, also the canter landing together behind is another classic sign
Hav 2 say I bought brand new albion hav had lots of problems & hav similar symptoms 2 u (without hoof lines) physio said sacroilliac (altho vet disagreed) & after 4 weeks of treatment & using my other saddle only so far horse seems a lot better & finally maintaining an outline!
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I second this - bunny hopping in canter, discomfort - reluctant to be ridden - canot work from behind, all could point to SI problem. My boy has one hind foot slightly smaller than the other as his SI damage happened as a youngster and affected the hoof capsule growth.
 
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