Horse stiff first thing in the morning

Sassypants1

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Hi, I'm new to this forum and noticed how informative and helpful people can be, so thought I would post a question to see if can get some more advice.

I've a 15.3hh Cob X Hunter who is now 22 years old! He has only ever been used for light hacking since we bought him at the tender age of 5.

I noticed in the Summer one evening that he had a slight "limp" or "stiffness" to him, I left it to see how he would be the next day and he was fine, and I hadn't seen the limp after that, I'd also noticed, while out hacking, that when he turned sharp to the right, he would be a bit lame and have a slight limp and find it difficult to turn that way, this didn't happen everytime he went out though, just intermittent.

Anyways, Since coming in this winter we decided to take his shoes off knowing that if snow came etc he would be able to go out. He has no access to a field Turnout in the winter, only a hard standing paddock that he is in for up to 6 hours a day. When we put him out on a morning, he comes out of his stable OK but when he goes up the paddock, that has a slight hill, he starts to look "stiff" on his right front leg. After he has walked about a bit he is fine and no sign of limping or stiffness and he is always OK when he comes in a nights. I'm planning on having his shoes put back on in two weeks when my farrier comes.

There is no heat, no swelling etc on his legs, shoulder.... I rode him the other weekend and he seemed fine with his back...... However, when I got him onto the road he had a fair limp on the uneven tarmac shailing that's been put over the roads, but I was putting this down to him having no shoes on and the small stones digging in! I turned him back around and didn't ride him further.

I've put him on Vetrofen, which seemed to ease it a few mornings this week (he is on the therapy level of two sachets a day) but this morning going up the slight hill he had that limp again. He doesn't toss his head when he looks stiff, he doesn't stand in a funny way, his weight is even on both front legs when he is stood there.... both hooves are the same size as each other etc. His hooves are not sensitive when I touch the frog, there is no swelling anywhere at the back. He has in the past refused to pick up his right leg for me to pick it out, but that hasn't happened for a while.

We have a horse up there that runs them around ragged some days, in the summer and in the hard standing paddock in the winters. I'm just wondering if maybe this horse has had mine running around and he has stumbled and pulled a ligament? And maybe with it being winter, cold etc, and no shoes on, he is finding it harder. I've only noticed the limp since he has been stabled and on hard standing, which would be from November last year! The field is very up and down, and where churned up has deep pockets from where the hoses have walked when heavy rain has come down.

Getting a vet to him is no problem, but of course with him being 22 Petplan have changed him to their Veteran plan, which is injury only! (yes, will be looking around next year for another insurance co that does illness, too), so a bit reluctant to get one out with the click of a finger, but of course, if there was pain or he was really struggling money is not an issue and I would get a vet out immediately...

Many thanks in advance to anyone who could maybe give me some opinions on this matter :)

C
 
Many thanks for you reply :)

Yes, that is what I was thinking, also. But don't want it to be something that i'm sort of ignorant to.

He does also walk quite slow downhills when ridden or lead, but he used to run down them when he was younger, and we always taught him to walk slower! He is also quite a hefty built lad, so does take time to find his footing.

I was getting worried along the lines of Navicular disease....but surely it would be getting worse and not staying as it is? :/

C x
 
Sounds like part of getting older - affects us all! He probably has arthritis and may well need a daily dose of something like Bute or Danilon. A mare I looked after was stiff and felt the cold more due to arthritis in her hocks. Vet advised regular exercise to keep her strong, as much turnout as possible, and she had 1 Bute a day. The difference in her was amazing! If I were you I would speak to your Vet and make sure she is well rugged in the cold weather and has good quality hay so she is kept warm from within. From the shoes off point of view, he may well feel the ground more if its frozen or rutted atall.
 
Thank you for your replies :). I will use the correct dosage of Vetrofen, get his shoes back on and see how he is when it comes milder, and maybe look to get some stable pads for cold winter nights :)

C x
 
Sounds like arthritic changes. Look at the Aviform website - they sell Glucosomine Hydrochloride which is the purest form of Glucosomine you can get. It acts as a lubricant for the joints and was recommended to a friend by her vet and it was very effective. I am now starting my own stiff mare on it, but it will take a couple of weeks before I see a change. It's pretty cheap as well!

I think you will struggle to find an insurance company that will cover illness on a horse over 16 unless you have been with them for a while.
 
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