horse abit stiff on back left leg????

SKY

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he was fine yesterday but when blacksmith came to do feet today, he was different wasnt lame as such, but back right leg when walking every so often like stiff when walking. black smith worked with it and said should be ok in a few days, but just rest. vet also said just rest but i have never had anything wrong with him before, i have had him since he was 2 and he is now 18. something happened maybe he got up wrong or banged himself. but what would you do??? i am not just happy resting is ther nothing else i can do or just takes time, if he was just lame i would knowwhat to do, but because is is stiff never had that problem.
 
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Could it be the start of a bit of arthritis? Your horse is a good age to have got to and never had stiffness! Mine has had arthritis since the age of about 12, but I deal with it and it isn't a problem as long as he gets plenty of time to loosen up.
 
no last night he was fine, but today, stiff when walking, now not really bad but you can notice it. he is always kept with young horses and he can out run them all. i know he will be slowing down, but to happen this quick, he must have got some sort of wee bang or kick, although cant see his field mate doing that. just worried.
 
Could it be the start of a bit of arthritis? Your horse is a good age to have got to and never had stiffness! Mine has had arthritis since the age of about 12, but I deal with it and it isn't a problem as long as he gets plenty of time to loosen up.

I was thinking this after, as my boy has arthritus and he started off getting stiff and doing funny leg movements when ridden x
 
also i was told to rest in field not to take in, suppose it is to keep him walking to walk it out. but was told he is fine out as i was going to take in, but told not to.
 
also i was told to rest in field not to take in, suppose it is to keep him walking to walk it out.

I would put him on field rest for a few days and moniter him, hopefully he'll come right. I agree that box rest for a stiff leg would be a bad idea. If his leg stays stiff or gets worse, get the vet to check him. :)
 
Is his hock swollen, does it has squishy bits? Mine gets stiff on the left hind too and sometimes he gets soft swellings.

The vet told me it was bog spavin and to keep him mobile. Turn out and exercise to keep the joint from stiffening up. I have just started him on Cortaflex and he seems much better. Its expensive to buy but lasts a long time if you buy a big tub.

Hope this helps. I know how worrying it is.
 
he has no swellings, i thought i felt heat above cornet band but they didnt. my heart just broke, never had anything with him worng. now i have had loads with other horses but never him and never had that. he is my main boy and here till he dies, hopefully not for years.
 
If it happened just before the farrier was due then maybe his toes were a bit long and he tripped. He may have knuckled over at the fetlock and just tweaked it a bit, especially if he likes to gurd about a bit in the field. A couple of days rest should put that right.

How is he today?
 
thanks for checking in, he is still stiff but can walk around ok but you can see back right leg is stiff. going to give it a few days and if not right, maybe phisio, i'll talk to vet in a few days. hope he will be ok.
thank you :)
 
Mine was just the same a few weeks ago - stiff in her right hind leg, like she wasn't bending it properly to walk. No other symptoms - no swelling, no obvious soreness in her leg or back. I just left her in the field for a week, (keeping an eye on her obviously!) and she's been fine since.

The same day as it started, one of her fieldmates cut her leg up somehow - we think she might have been trying to kick a fly or something, and my horse probably got in the way!

Hope yours is fine.
 
just to let you all know, i streched his legs front and back and good loose walking and he has loosened up alot, seems to be helping, so cross fingers and in a few days he will be 100%. thank you all so much, you where very helpful and jsut nice to talk about him. love the bones of him, had him 16 years since he was 2 now he is 18. will have to get his photo up.
 
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