Hoof people - What's this?

[Scarlett]

Sounds like a similar situation as we had with my OH's horse. He always struck of wrong on the right rein and would often go disunited in canter. He has time off due to an unrelated suspensory tweak and when he came back he had his o/s hock injected to see if we could get him moving better - the 6 months of rest has meant everything has seized up - the hock was definately better after the injection but he still wasnt moving well. Vet diagnosed SI issue, options were to inject the SI, physio, or at my vets suggestion, accupuncture as that can get far deeper into the muscle than a physio. Two accupuncture treatments made him sounder than he has ever been, he is now striking off correct in canter for the first time ever with us and is moving well. We'll continue with the accupuncture as and when its needed and is helping him.

 

[YasandCrystal]

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.

I ment to say in my post that my horse had really tight tied up muscles on his left shoulder - this coincided with the diagonal (r/h SI injury).

 

[Wagtail]

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.

It is certainly something to add to the melting pot I think.

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.

Hmm SI seems more and more likely then, thanks.

Wouldnt it be a better idea to xray the spine and wither to see whats going off before the course of physio?

That's what I would have liked, but left the owner chatting with the vet. Vet thought not to xray until after the therapy because often horses can have KS but really it isn't an issue for them and any xray of the spine would result in an exclusion on the policy, perhaps for nothing.

 

[Wagtail]

Sounds like a similar situation as we had with my OH's horse. He always struck of wrong on the right rein and would often go disunited in canter. He has time off due to an unrelated suspensory tweak and when he came back he had his o/s hock injected to see if we could get him moving better - the 6 months of rest has meant everything has seized up - the hock was definately better after the injection but he still wasnt moving well. Vet diagnosed SI issue, options were to inject the SI, physio, or at my vets suggestion, accupuncture as that can get far deeper into the muscle than a physio. Two accupuncture treatments made him sounder than he has ever been, he is now striking off correct in canter for the first time ever with us and is moving well. We'll continue with the accupuncture as and when its needed and is helping him.

That's very useful, thankyou. It certainly is beginning to look like SI.

I ment to say in my post that my horse had really tight tied up muscles on his left shoulder - this coincided with the diagonal (r/h SI injury).

That is exactly how this boy is!