Horse confusing me - legs?

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ForeverBroke_

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This might be a bit vague, so bear with..

Basically, 16hh 12yo ex-eventer. Currently hacked/schooled 7 days a week and now has the odd jump (maybe once a week/fornight). He has always had 'problems,' with his legs filling overnight through winter because of the stabling but he's never been like this with it. He's now out 7-7, then ridden so isn't put to bed til 9ish every night.

The last few days he has had problems with his front leg, with what I believe to be filling again. Its from his fetlock upwards through his tendon to his knee. Theres no heat, and he's not lame but he's not himself either. He walks out quite badly at first but within being in the field 30 mins later the swelling is down and he's ok.

That said, he then comes in with a slightly fat leg at the bottom. Ridden wise he varies between striding out one day to being sticky in walk the next - but fine in trot? :confused: Under vets advice I have now been told to keep him TO for a long as possible and walk him out.

He has then the last few days been VERY naughty to walk out doing a lot of rearing, bunny hopping, spooking and everything in between. He was 10 minutes up the road yesterday when he started so then led him back and have left him since.

Vets are out to me either today or Monday - but what do you think ?! I'm completley at a loss.

Dentist, chiro and saddle all up to date - although saddle is coming back around soon.
 
Could it be down to the hard ground? I know of lots of horses struggling ATM because of it, even young horses. It's so uncharacteristically hard in the fields and I don't think many horses are coping well at all.
 
Thanks CC, we haven't had rain for 7 weeks so it could well be. He is shod every 5/6 weeks and his feet have coped quite well but its possible that he's perhaps hooning about in the day causing them to come up again.

Amymay - No they haven't yet. They're bringing everything out with them when they see me (still waiting on call whether its today/monday) to give him a work up. I did initially think it could be tendon but where it goes down the vets have gone down the path of them filling up for now.

Am thinking I could be better to leave walking him out til they see him?
 
Mention 'Desmopathy' to your vet... that isn't a complete name, I'm going backa while now and can't recall all the details, but it sounds a bit similar to my gelding. He was coming out of his stable in the morning lame, but after 15 mins in the field he was looking sound. His problem was with his hinds though, and there was a soft squigy swelling just above the fetlocks, at it's worst it was very noticable and extended about half-way up his legs. It's something to do with the tendon sheath, rather than the tendon itself.
Let us know how you get on, but hopefully the vet can find something.
 
Ohh thanks you both, hadn't actually thought about an abscess. Farrier due out Monday as well - Vet didn't want him to touch his feet before incase they decided to take his shoe off.

Crazydancer - that sounds just like it actually - off to have a google!
 
Fleabite said:
Crazydancer - that sounds just like it actually - off to have a google!
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I don't think it's that common, I haven't found a heap of info. I did talk to someone on the forum who had much better knowledge than I had. My vet did diagnose it quickly though, from the scan. My horse was 15 at the time. Vet recommended 24/7 turn-out, and he had a year off work (as I was also ill, so couldn't ride anyway!)
He hasn't looked lame since, although I've only lightly hacked him, turning him away every winter. He’s now rising 19, and I’m just bringing him back into work to act as babysitter to my new 4 yr old. (Who has also gone lame since I bought her AARRRGGGHHHH!!!)
But this is all jumping the gun a bit really, wait to see what the vet finds, fingers crossed!
 
Update time!

After 9 hours at the vets it has been found that he has bilateral high ringbone, with bony changes on the pastern bone and with some moving towards the joint. He also has evidence of osteoarthritus and some ligament strain.

He now has to have n.b shoes on with a 5mm wedge, a course of tildren and cortosone and then hopefully with some rest he could resume some ridden work.
 
Fleabite said:
Will do, the vet recommended it but we are all meeting up with the x-rays to discuss how appropriate it'll be!
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Brilliant. I know when Thumper was diagnosed with rotated pedal bones the first thought was wedges on his shoes, but after discussing it between ourselves (vet, farrier and me) we decided against it because of how dramatically it can make them worse. Just one experience though, obviously.

Really glad you've got a diagnosis.:)
 
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