Horse moving oddly......like a shuffle in the school

[Archie73]

Hi

I am really confused about this and would really appreciate some advice while I wait for the vet and farrier to call me back.

My horse has wedges on due to navicular syndrome type issues. He is now sound and in full work. He used to put all his weight on his right hind and be totally crooked. He is now striaght and fine apart from his front legs are not going anywhere. My boy is 17hh and is moving like a 14.2 in front.

He is hardly picking up his toes but is not dragging them (not on hard ground anyway) but in the school he is almost shuffling and hardly stepping out from under his chest.

I have tried over poles, he is fine, he can reach out if he has too to avoid a pole but it is not his preferred action. I have pulled his legs out as far as possible and quite high (too high at about 80 degrees) no reaction. I have poked and prodded everywhere on the leg- no reaction (he would show pain by flinching as a past rule).

My first reaction was he is being a bit lazy, but I think its more serious, if I was pushed to describe it I would say looks like 2 x shoulder injury.

Please help if you can

thanks

 

[ester]

my first reaction would be that this is a symptom of his navi syndrome, that it has degenerated and that the wedges are not working satisfactorily atm so you might need to reasses his management.

I was going to say poss navi just from the title of your post before I read he already had it.

 

[ThePony]

I wonder if he is lame on both fronts? Would lead to him being shuffly and get a bit stuffy in his way of going without showing as 'normally' lame with any heat etc. Would leave off the work until your vet gets back to you just incase you are inflaming anything.
Lots of luck, hope all turns out to be just fine.

 

[lindsayH]

My friends navicular horse moved in just the way you describe. We used to use 'pony-like' to describe it too. I always assumed it was down to slight soreness in both front feet but I don't know if that was the case.

 

[galaxy]

has he always moved like this since diagnosis and wedges etc fitted? Or has it developed recently?

If he was "sound" he would be moving as he did before he had navicular.

 

[Archie73]

I wonder if he is lame on both fronts? Would lead to him being shuffly and get a bit stuffy in his way of going without showing as 'normally' lame with any heat etc. Would leave off the work until your vet gets back to you just incase you are inflaming anything.
Lots of luck, hope all turns out to be just fine.[/QUOTE

Thanks...sounds like good advice.

Re: horse being sound and should move like he did before. Vet says he is sound, he is sound in trot on a 10m circle on concrete which was the only part he was unsound before.

I am going to get an MRI done I think....