Horse lame, only in trot and only on right rein

[exracehorse]

Horse was fine a week last Saturday, schooled very well. Hacked out Sunday, albeit in walk, all fine. Monday of last week, my daughter rode him in the ring and he was absolutely fine in walk but when she asked for a trot, he put his ears back and seemed very slow, which he never is normally being a TB, when she asked for change of rein, it was apparent that he was lame in trot on the right rein, he took small steps and almost tripped a few times so, we immediately stopped. No heat at all in hooves, legs etc or swelling. I trotted him in hand on the road the next day and he was sound, and he is barefoot as well. Asked him to turn tightly and he crossed his legs appropriately and seemed happy. Next day, he was ridden again and it was still an issue with the right rein so, stopped. Spoke to my vet, he said could be anything, said rest for a while and then see if any improvement. I allows me to lift and stretch his legs backwards and forwards. I cannot see any type of abscess. Although, usually an abscess gets worse. We rested and then, rode him yesterday. He is better, the strides are not as short on the right rein but, he is reluctant to bend, and looks uncomfortable. We stopped after a few minutes as my daughter said he is still not right. There is no head bobbing. Its a mystery. I don't know whether to have my trimmer out to look at his feet or back specialist, or vet. He is in a field by himself so, couldn't have got kicked.

 

[Alphamare]

Couldn't have got kicked but could have slipped or twisted something. It doesn't sound like an abscess. I would probably call my chiro out in this situation

 

[exracehorse]

Yes, alphamare, I don't think an abscess BUT - this is the other thing. He is barefoot with very sensitive feet, and sometimes he can be foot sore after a trim but, this has only happened 3 times over the past year. He was trimmed 5 days before he showed up lame. HOWEVER, usually when he is footsore, its on both feet and his feet get hot within 24 hours. Whereas, he was fine for 5 days after the trim. So, don't think that. Agree, about the abscess, would be worse. I have taken some video footage and want to upload it as its easier for you all to see but, don't know how to do this. I have put it on photo bucket. I think ringing my chiro would be a very good idea. He has not got worse, thank goodness and has improved but, is clearly still in pain somewhere.

 

[exracehorse]

http://s1069.photobucket.com/user/kaycomber1/media/20130826_110140_zpscfab124d.mp4.html

 

[exracehorse]

Ok, hope this can help, this is of yesterday. He is stretching out more in trot on left hand rein but shorter on right. I know he needs more impulsion etc but we were just assessing how he felt after time off. So, please no comments on the schooling side lol - funny enough is fine in canter. Its the trot. My daughter said he didn't want to bend either and felt stiff.

 

[NZJenny]

Actually, it sounds exactly like an abscess. There is no set pattern for abscesses, they make their own rules. My mare has had one niggling away for the last four weeks. She is perfectly sound until you trot her on lumpy ground or soft sand and then it hurts because of the upward pressure on the sole. Finally out this week through the frog.

I don't think you say what leg - just lame on the right rein at trot. Trot is the best pace to see any lameness at, because it is a very symmetrical gait, unlike canter and there is rarely enough concussion at walk to show up a mild lameness. Only lame on the right rein suggests an abscess on the inside of the NF or the outside of the OF. Those are the sides of the hoof that will be hitting the ground first on the right rein.

The coming an going and the fact that is only mild at the moment are all abscess "behaviour" in my experience and it may go on like that for three weeks before resolving or going into the hopping lame stage. And looking on the bright side, if it is an abscess, as horrible as they are, at least you know that it won't be forever.

 

[exracehorse]

Hi NZ Jenny, its his front leg. Shall find a picture of that hoof as I took photos as well. Let me see if photo bucket will let me do it. Its so hard to know, if its foot, leg or body though isn't it?

 

[ridefast]

Edited, didn't read all replies

 

[exracehorse]

http://i1069.photobucket.com/albums/u472/kaycomber1/20130825_101951_zps3437e0f5.jpg
http://i1069.photobucket.com/albums/u472/kaycomber1/20130825_101923_zpsdd1678fb.jpg

 

[exracehorse]

If its foot, then it would be the above photos

 

[pines of rome]

My TB who is also barefoot, is lame looks like laminitis , so he is in! But the off fore has a lot of heat and now his leg has filled, so maybe it is an abscess! I have a vet coming this afternoon, so I hope he does find an abscess!!!!!

 

[exracehorse]

Pines of rome, that's it though, no heat at all and no bounding pulse, same each side. Hooves all feel warm, as they should. And sound when trotting him in hand on the road. Tears around the field as if nothing wrong, but definitely not right when ridden.

 

[Jnhuk]

Sorry not looked at the links but have you trotted him in a small circle on both reins with soft ground and hard ground (with and without rider)? Is there a difference?

I am thinking abscess or something within hoof if no signs elsewhere.

 

[twiggy2]

little mare at work is shod but was showing all the symptoms you describe, vet and myself both reckoned foot but nothing obvious-rested on bute for a week was no better so nerve blocked and scanned the leg, she had mild damage to the deep digital flexor tendon, in box rest and bute for 3weeks then start in-hand walking, after 3 weeks both myself and owner felt there was no improvement so o requested a referral. she has the same damage in both front legs but worse in one than the other, 6 weeks box rest and we are now on week 4 of in-hand walking (it is sooo boring), she is being reviewed next week but i cannot see any improvement so far so we shall see.

what i a am saying in a long winded way is get the vet out to have a look and go from there

 

[opinionuk]

I had a similar prob with my mare, vet had been out etc etc got the Chiro out and her pelvis had slipped, put back into place and she was fine, I'd get her back checked

 

[Calcyle]

I reckon there is a slight head-nod. Most visible on the video around 20s in as she crossed in front to change rein. I'd be suspecting something bilaterally, but it's so difficult to investigate when it is so slight. Not sure how much use a therapist would be to you in this instance, if you choose that route, they should be clear that if they don't find anything around base of the neck/shoulders/cranial thoracic region, and there is no clear improvement after the first session you should pursue a work-up with the vet.

 

[crystalclear]

I was going to say as above, it could easily be tendon damage. My horse hurt his check ligament in the field wouldn't have know but he got slightly lame.

 

[SusieT]

Vet before anyone else. Need to identify where the lameness is coming from

 

[webble]

I had a similar prob with my mare, vet had been out etc etc got the Chiro out and her pelvis had slipped, put back into place and she was fine, I'd get her back checked

This. I had exact same thing and she had a spasm in her back which had then caused tension in her shoulders. If they find anything it might take more than one session to sort out

 

[picolenicole]

Dont want you to worry but my pony did this nearly two months ago, sound on the road in a straight line 1, 10th lame on a lunge on hard surface.

He got stuck in his rug with his hide left, no heat, no swelling, no lameness!!! Just looked stiff, so we went to the vet, who said nothing wrong with his back or hide legs but we will just lunge on a hard surface, came up lame on front left leg. Long story short he was x-rayed, then MRI two weeks later and has inflamed ligaments in both front legs all four of them and the cartliage in both front hooves are calcifying. He has to have three sets of IRAP injections, blood was taken from him and anti inflammatories cultivated, which are then re-injected back into the coffine joint, and 3 to 6 months box rest. Only have 2 months and 4 days left before the vet can come back out to see if it will be 6 months or not.

So what I'm trying to say (badly) is if you think/feel there is something wrong then push the vet, as I was told by Newmarket if they were seeing my pony without Bakewell vets seen him first they would have sent us home. To then ring the next day and say "I'm supprised this pony can walk"


I hope your horse gets better soon, it's so worrying when you know there is something not right but not knowing what. Good luck

 

[Goldenstar]

Vet before anyone else. Need to identify where the lameness is coming from

I agree you need to narrow down the area causing the issue and only a vet can do that .

 

[crystalclear]

Def agree with above

 

[Jericho]

I agree you need to narrow down the area causing the issue and only a vet can do that .

This. Am havin same issue with my daughters pony. The whole sorry saga is in vet and hoof care section "conflicting advice etc etc"

We are off to vets thurs to X-ray, highly likely to be a grumbling abscess but I need to know after nearly 4 weeks of niggling lameness and vets and farriers disagreeing... Good luck!

 

[exracehorse]

OK, an update. He is no better today, tacked up, rode him long and low in walk, all fine. Picked up rein and asked for trot and immediately looked lame. Almost as if rolling his shoulder. Definitely in the right. Took him to the field to as the area is more level than our schooling ring, which has taken a hammering after the recent rein. Removed saddle. Asked for trot on lunge, in a large wide circle. To anyone else, he looked sound but, I know he isn't. Also, noticed tonight that he isn't tracking up. Whereas, he is normally the type that over tracks. I stopped session. He also is slow - again a stranger could think that it was because of the heat (very hot today) but, he is a typical TB - so always has lots and lots of energy, doesn't seem happy. Even led in from the field slowly. So, I rung up my back buy, and I have an appointment for tomorrow at 3.30pm, explained what I have found, I have also got the vet coming out on Friday to sedate him and rasp his teeth so, if the chiro cant help, I can then ask that the vet comes earlier before the sedation to have a look and assces before he is knocked out. I am worrying myself silly. I cant understand how in 24 hours he went from having a wonderful schooling session to being 'off'. Its not an obvious head bob, I agree. He is 'sound' when trotted in hand on the road, can turn when asked in a circle. Has no heat in his feet. No swelling anyway. The not tracking up tonight, makes me think that its muscular rather than feet? but I may be wrong. I keep going from abscess to pulled ligament to sore back, its so confusing. Shall let you all know tomorrow what my chiro says, and I do trust him, he is very good.

 

[Goldenstar]

If he's lame your chiro should tell you to get the vet it's unlawful for him to do anything esle.

 

[Alphamare]

That's not true, your chiro needs your vets permission (which I think is stupid but that's neither here nor there) but if you have a regular person they would have already received the permission. We got permission first time but I don't get their permission again and again every time.

 

[Murphy88]

If he's lame your chiro should tell you to get the vet it's unlawful for him to do anything esle.

Exactly. Even for a routine check a chiro/physio should ask for permission to look at a horse from the vet, they most certainly shouldn't be looking at lamenesses without vet approval.

It could be anything, but no one other than your vet is qualified (or legally allowed) to diagnose it.

 

[Goldenstar]

Even the most experianced pracititoner should not attempt to give an opinion on why a horse is lame if they are not also a vet.
They should never see a horse without a vets permission and a vet ought not to give a chiro permission to see a lame horse without seeing the horse first.
It's very black and white the law in this area.
The chiro would probally not be insured in such circumstances strictly speaking a farrier should not dig out a poisoned foot however it's a practice established to the dawn of time so most do.

 

[twiggy2]

the horse is slow coming in indicating it is not comfortable but you tack up, horse is not tracking up again indicating things are not right, you then work the horse long and low then go into trot where horse is showing lame, so you go to another area and try again horse is still lame, has been lame for over a week and you get a person who by law cannot treat a lame animal (so will not be covered by insurance) to come and look at it and if they cannot wave their magic wand you will eventually get a vet.

shocked I am.

 

[Tnavas]

Most lamenesses are in the lower limb and most definitely in the foot.
A good way to decide if lameness is in the lower limb or higher up is to lunge the horse in Trot

If lameness increases when an inside leg hits the ground then the horse is usually lame in the lower limb. Reason: the horse tends to put more weight on the inside leg.

If lameness increases when the outside leg hits the ground then the horse is usually lame higher up. Reason: the outside limb has to take a longer stride.

I personally would be suspect a developing abscess. Tub the foot daily, more if you can. A softened foot helps get the abscess out faster. Talk with your farrier as he is generally far better at finding them.