How to tell the difference between "stiffness" or "unbalanced" and an actual lameness?

[Fifty Bales of Hay]

Is there any obvious thing you can do or look at to differentiate between a horse showing a stiffness or being unbalanced, vs a lameness presentation.

Other than getting out the vet obviously?

How do you rule out stiffness/unbalanced?

 

[Fieldlife]

partly knowing what is normal for your horse and what environment your horse has been in.

For example if I had been and done an endurance ride on a hot day, on harder than ideal ground, with a fair bit of travel. I would be interested in the feedback if my horse was a bit stiff the next few days, but I probably wouldnt need a vet to assess. (Obviously I would have slowed to fit with the harder ground.)

Similarly an older horse unexpectedly stabled in winter for cut, might then present stiff initially once getting moving again, would seem fairly explainable.

My horse sometimes swings his right hind out wide and stiff, if something has inflamed his hind gut. Add a buffered antacid to his feed, and within 5 days he tracks straight again.

An unfit, overweight, unbalanced horse might present looking lame on the lunge as lacking balance on a small circle but would hopefully look okay on a straight line.

 

[maya2008]

Stiffness works off. Unbalanced = young or very green or just coming back into work after a long time off.

Lameness gets worse with work, not better.

 

[ycbm]

Lameness gets worse with work, not better

If you're talking about in any one session, a opposed to over a longer period of time, then I'm afraid this isn't true. Lameness caused by both soft tissue injuries and by arthritis will often wear off as the horse warms up.


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[ycbm]

Is there any obvious thing you can do or look at to differentiate between a horse showing a stiffness or being unbalanced, vs a lameness presentation.

Other than getting out the vet obviously?

How do you rule out stiffness/unbalanced?

For me stiff is another word for lame and usually quite easy to tell from unbalanced. "If in doubt, it's lame" is probably a good rule of thumb, the big question then is why.
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[blitznbobs]

Stiffness is lameness in my book, and unbalanced is an inability to maintain a rhythm or outline but generally they move in a sound way between wobbles.

 

[SEL]

Recently had that discussion with my physio (following vet visit). General view was if he got worse over the next few weeks then it's likely the vet would need to investigate further (lameness) if my canter issues started to improve then probably balance / training.

 

[dominobrown]

Lameness is a broad term, so a stiff horse is lame technically, and if a horse is unbalanced to the point its unlevel, especially with a preference to one side is also lame.
How severe and concerning the lameness is another factor. A horse that is a bit stiff can be managed and treated maybe. Same with an un-balanced one.

 

[maya2008]

If you're talking about in any one session, a opposed to over a longer period of time, then I'm afraid this isn't true. Lameness caused by both soft tissue injuries and by arthritis will often wear off as the horse warms up.


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I’ve always found mild arthritis issues = stiffness and improve work. Soft tissue and bigger arthritis issues worsen, which is why vets of old before all the diagnostics would tell you to work a horse hard with a mild unclear lameness, so it got worse and became very obvious. I’m prone to soft tissue injuries due to my genetics - I can most assuredly state they get a lot worse with work, very quickly. By work, I don’t mean a gentle hack, I mean schooling incl plenty of canter/jumping, or hacks with hills and fast work.

Maybe horses are more stoic than ponies and they get used to the pain when they’ve warmed up, but I’ve only ever had ponies and they’ll quite happily tell me when there’s an issue.

 

[Birker2020]

Stiffness is lameness in my book, and unbalanced is an inability to maintain a rhythm or outline but generally they move in a sound way between wobbles.

Hmm i have to disagree with this.

Going by how my body used to feel
when I got out of bed in the morning I would be stiff/achey but it wore off within minutes when I was up and about. The same is true with animals who are older and have arthritic issues.

Before I bought my asics trainers that I live in and work all day in (I have five pairs that I alternate), then if I got out of the car after a 20 minute drive I would be stiff and in discomfort. But by the time I'd walked to the front door I would be completely fine having 'freed up'.

I am amazed that I can now stand and have a 30 minute conversation with someone on concrete and be able to walk off without hobbling and in pain. This was impossible before! I expect losing weight has helped too, but with me its all about these trainers, this really highlights how much foot balance is the key!!! Same with horses.

If a horse is still stiff after a warm up then yes, I would question that, but I wouldn't say a horse is lame when it comes out of its box from a night or day in and is stiff for a few strides!

 

[ycbm]

Stiff horses are lame until the stiffness wears off. We just prefer to call them stiff because it sounds better than riding a lame horse.

Stiffness wearing off can be a positive, especially for arthritic horses, or it can be hiding further damage being done. You need to know which you've got before continuing to ride a stiff horse (and it could be both!)
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[Birker2020]

Stiff horses are lame until the stiffness wears off. We just prefer to call them stiff because it sounds better than riding a lame horse.

Stiffness wearing off can be a positive, especially for arthritic horses, or it can be hiding further damage being done. You need to know which you've got before continuing to ride a stiff horse (and it could be both!)
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Stiff joints in horses: what are the possible solutions? *H&H VIP* - Horse & Hound

Creaky joints are a common complaint after hours spent in the stable. Roger Lee MRCVS discusses some of the causes and possible cures

www.horseandhound.co.uk

Well this was an article written by H&H so make of it what you will.

I don't think you can blanket say that a horse that is stiff is lame. According to this article it is not the same. Horses are stiff coming out of the stable and are normal when stiffness has worn off, if they are not then they are lame surely??.

For older horses and those in full work, prolonged stabling is a recipe for stiffness. Some common-sense steps can help keep this to a minimum. The most obvious requirement is a stable large enough for the horse to move about freely, with plenty of dry bedding to encourage lying down. There should be good ventilation, without draughts, and the horse needs to be kept sufficiently warm.

If you can turn out during the day then do. For those with plenty of dry, well-draining turnout, remember that older horses can do better when out full-time, provided they are well rugged and have access to shelter.

The best way of managing stiffness is by regular, controlled exercise. All exercise should start with a slow warm-up and end with a period of cooling down. Begin your warm-up in walk, with the horse in a relaxed frame that allows him to stretch down. Then ask for gentle flexion and do large circles, before moving into trot.

What to do about age-related stiffness

Look for signs of joint trouble as your horse ages. As the years pass, you may find that you don’t leap out of bed feeling as spry as you once did. Likewise, it’s not unusual for an older horse to walk out of his stall or begin a ride feeling a bit stiffer than he did when he was younger.

equusmagazine.com

If your horse works out of his initial stiffness within 15 minutes of starting a ride and it does not return, chances are good it’s nothing to worry about. Simply take it slow as he “works out the kinks,” and hold off on picking up the pace until he seems ready, limber and eager. Increasing his turnout time is also a good idea; outdoor living with an active, friendly herd will help keep an aging horse’s joints loose.

 

[ycbm]

You seem to have it fixed in your head that lame has to mean permanent, B. It doesn't. Lameness can wear off. You and others call temporary lameness stiff, I call it temporary lameness.
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[stangs]

When my boy was stabled (before I bought him), the yard staff said he was “stiff” in the mornings. Vet didn’t call it stiff. Vet called it 4/10 lame behind.