How many of your horses would......(also in CR)

[Vickijay]

.....trot up sound on the a hard small circle?

One of my horses normally trots sound on surface, in a straight line on the hard and through flexions but on the hard small lunge circle he is 1/10th lame.My vet (Jane from Liphook) says that many competition horses have that level of lameness. She looks after a few of our olympic eventing team and she said they were the same.

Was just wondering if your horses were? And if you still go out and compete normally? or if your horse stays relatively lame free do you ever check so would you know?

My bit of lameness came from having a tendon injury 2 years ago. Hes geeting better now. Ive spent a forune on remedial shoeing and now Im just carefull of the ground with mine.
Id just be interested to know as have never competed a horse with this kinda thing.
Thanks if you reply x

 

[CPW]

My horse is not completely sound on a small circle on concrete on the lunge - my vet also agrees that many horses at his age (12) won't be - but it is knowing what is normal with them and then noticing change.

 

[Vickijay]

[ QUOTE ]
My horse is not completely sound on a small circle on concrete on the lunge - my vet also agrees that many horses at his age (12) won't be - but it is knowing what is normal with them and then noticing change.

[/ QUOTE ]

and do you treat him as normal? What do you do with him?

 

[annret]

I know lots of horses like this & if it's normal for them then that's fine. Quite common in youngsters and long horses without enough muscle tone as it can just be too much hard work.

However, because I know that it's not normal for my mare, when she was 1/10ths lame on one direction in trot on the lunge and sound on the other rein AFTER boxrest for a damaged shoulder muscle last summer, it really really worried me but she was back to normal after a few additional weeks.

ETS - person above (CPW) says it perfectly & succinctly!

 

[CPW]

My horse has many ailments bless him, he has suffered from sacroilliac and suspensary issues previously along with getting laminitis last year - so he will never be expected to be sound on a tight circle. He is five months back into work - I am taking things very slowly.

But as said previously it is all about knowing what it is normal for the horse and then picking up on change.

My horse is big and quite long so this also affects his ability on tight circle.

 

[hellybelly6]

My horse would not be sound. He has bilat bone spavin, side bone and remedial farriery for this and split his DDFT 2 years ago.

He is fine for hacking and light schooling. I avoid trotting on hard ground and roads and lunging in circles (we lunge in a ovalish shape now).

As previously said, its about knowing the horse and picking up on subtle changes. I knew my horse was uncomfortable with bone spavin, but nobody else saw it other than a vet.

Its about knowing his limitations and managing as best I can.

Considering after his tendon split, the vets thought he would never be ridden again, let alone pain free in a field, he has made a fantastic recovery.