Horse lane after having wedges

[Notanag]

I’m after some advice please. Our gelding who we have on loan went lame last year after Eventing. He sadly did his suspensory on the near side fore. This was an old injury from years ago that sadly flared up again. With owners backing we have rehab him so so slowly over the past year. He’s has several treatments of indiba and came sound again. Vet said considering it was a chronic injury there was slight improvement with scans. As mentioned we have rehabilitated him slowly and started jumping again in May (small and only a couple of jumps at a time), even Successfully competed in a few dressage competitions (1st place in all comps). Farrier has been using flat pads for support all successfully until 3 weeks and he changed then to wedge pads. Horse is now lame with no swelling or heat, in fact legs are tiny and smaller than ever! Could the pads be the issue? Vet is coming this week but just wanted to see what people think? Physio has been, said he is stiff in hocks so suggested getting them medicated to perhaps help

 

[SEL]

Do you know why he changed to wedges? The change in angle could put pressure on the suspensories - or something else.

Any chance of taking them off and seeing how he does?

 

[ester]

Yes they could be, I’d get them removed before going any further.

 

[AmyMay]

Yes they could be, I’d get them removed before going any further.

This. Neither my vet nor farrier would recommend shoeing with wedges.

 

[Notanag]

This. Neither my vet nor farrier would recommend shoeing with wedges.

It was to support the suspensory a bit more but I do agree. I will ring farrier first thing

 

[ester]

It’s one of those theoretical vs real life scenarios. They have their place but not if the horse isn’t comfortable

 

[AmyMay]

It was to support the suspensory a bit more but I do agree. I will ring farrier first thing

Did he say why he was fitting wedges? Was it on veterinary advice?

 

[Melody Grey]

Sounds like too much of a coincidence with timing to not be the wedges- I’d go back if horse was sound before!

Only other consideration is whether the ground turned from solid to soft at the same time, assuming the horse is turned out/ worked on grass? Could have changed the demands on the suspensories?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would get them removed I personally would never use wedges if they do work and that's a big if its normally only short term.

If your horse has a chronic suspensory injury and possible hock problems you may have to consider his jumping career is over, and he may just be up to gentle hacking or worst case scenario retired to the field.

How old is he?

 

[ycbm]

It was to support the suspensory a bit more but I do agree. I will ring farrier first thing

Wedges don't so much support the suspensories, as slacken off the tension on it. It may well be that has caused instability of the joints above and below it.

If left on, the tension could be restored by the ligament contracting, at which point you've got a real job on your hands ever getting the wedges off again safely.
.

 

[Notanag]

I would get them removed I personally would never use wedges if they do work and that's a big if its normally only short term.

If your horse has a chronic suspensory injury and possible hock problems you may have to consider his jumping career is over, and he may just be up to gentle hacking or worst case scenario retired to the field.

How old is he?

He is 15. He has been sound since rehab and has stood up to jumping fine. His hocks were last treated 4 years ago. He has been sound since November until these wedges were put on

 

[ycbm]

I am struggling to understand why a farrier put wedges on a sound horse.

 

[Notanag]

I am struggling to understand why a farrier put wedges on a sound horse.

He had flat supports in for approx 6 months and gradually moved onto the wedges to give more support as he is low on his heels? But I do agree with you!!!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Sounds like he could do with some time without shoes to get the heels good again.

I'm not sure I would be using that farrier again either

 

[ycbm]

He had flat supports in for approx 6 months and gradually moved onto the wedges to give more support as he is low on his heels? But I do agree with you!!!

So he's had bar shoes for six months and now your farrier is disturbed by him having weak heels (probably due to them being taken out of use by having bar shoes), and the solution is to escalate and fit wedges?

I think you maybe need the opinion of another farrier.
.

 

[Skips11]

I don’t know half as much as other posters here so can’t offer much advice, but I am mid barefoot rehab for a mess made by a farrier who used bar shoes on my mare, and I would encourage you to seek another farrier/barefoot trimmer. Do have a look at the photos on my thread as it sounds like yours could head in the same direction if you continue with the existing farrier.

 

[lynz88]

I would remove. Never had any luck with wedges and actually found they made everything worse. Horse was not happy (who has hock arthritis that also extends into suspensories). He's happy as a clam barefoot.

 

[Notanag]

Would the wedges explain him being sound on hard but lame on soft?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Would the wedges explain him being sound on hard but lame on soft?

Lame on soft normally is soft tissue so they could be aggravating soft tissue in the foot or the leg really, it's hard to say though but I would get them off.