Horse smacked leg on fence now lame??

[Ginger Bear]

Because of the deep snow, my boy has been in since Tuesday..tonight I took him in the outdoor menage as the snow was melting & was slushy & soft to have a run around...he had a trot round & was looking very flashy & well & then he decided to go & see a pony who was on the otherside of the menage fence in a paddock stretching his legs..he wanted to play with him, kicked his front leg forward & brought it down on the rail of the fence..no cut or mark or anything..decided to take him in the indoor menage to lunge & ride him but he was lame!! There's no heat, swelling, cut or anything but he was nodding at a trot on the leg he's banged.. do you think it's possible that he could have done anything that bad to his leg or do you reckon he may have just bruised it? He is afterall a wussy tb! Before I put him to bed I picked his feet up & he was happy putting weight on the leg, also checked his hooves and evrything. He definately wasn't lame prior to banging his leg.. I know I should just wait to see how he is tomorrow but just feeling a bit worried..

 

[Kokopelli]

Sounds like he just bruised it, trot him up tomorrow if the ground is okay if there is an improvement I wouldn't worry. Perhaps after a few days and there is not improvement I would ring the vet and just see where it goes from there.

 

[Izzwizz]

Probably a bit sore. Check tomorrow for the usual heat, swelling and if your worried ring Mr Vet. They will probably say to give a bit of bute and see how it goes.

 

[Ginger Bear]

Update..By Tuesday I trotted him up & still lame at a trot, still looking fine walking & happy to put his weight on that leg while having hoof picked, there did seem to be a little bit of heat in his leg just above his hoof, no swelling though..decided to give him 2 days of bute. Tonight no heat at all..trotted him in straight line in indoor menage & seemed fine but trotted him round the menage & looked lame again as he turned but not as bad.. was thinking of giving him until Monday, that will be a week of box rest by then, farrier said he will pop out & check hoof & then if he doesn't find anything will call vet..what do you all think? Does anyone haveany experience of anything like this before? Could it be anthing major when there is hardly any heat/swelling? If it is bruising how long should that take to heal? Thanks in advance.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Be careful about giving pain relief to a horse with an as yet unidentified traumatic lameness. You want him to know he's hurt his leg so he doesn't do anything daft on it. I'd say be careful about trotting up too, just in case there's a hairline fracture sitting there. I#d ring the vets if he's still lame on Monday.