Britestar
Well-Known Member
Went out to help a friend with her 6yr old highland yesterday.
When I arrived she had been walking him about to warm up, and so after a few more minutes went up into trot on the left rein. Trotted around the school, did some 20m circles in trot, couple of canter tranisitions and then changed rein across the diagonal. All was fine.
As soon as she changed the bend and was on the right rein, the horse trotted lame.
Brought him back to walk, and I picked up his feet to make sure nothing was in them (woodchip surface), but there was nothing.
Took him back out onto right rein, picked up trot, and definately lame. Took him onto a straight line, trotted him up - sound. I felt all his legs and absolutely nothing to find. Back onto left rein, trotted him straight and in 20m circle - fine. Across diagonal, fine, onto right circle - lame.
Did rudimentary flexion test, ie hold up leg and straight into trot, front and hind -nothing. Its even quite difficult to say which leg it might be, as appears to take even steps both front and behind, although I would say its most probably his off fore/ shoulder due to the nod. Hips are level when trotted away.
Took him out of the school and onto grass, exactly the same. In a straight line he is 100% sound, as he is on the left. Distinct nod on the right rein.
She has been working hard to keep him straighter through himself ( he would happily be a banana) and had a lesson on Tuesday working on this. Could he have strained himself and it only shows on the right? He was hacked Thurs/Fri and was fine.
Turned him out, trotted off down the field sound as anything. Going to give him today off (just as well, its hissing down) and then take him on a hack Monday, and then try a few circles after that to see what he is like - just in case its some sort of stiffness.
She says he did something similar, but not a pronounced last year during a lesson but the trainer felt it was more due to him being stiff and unbalanced, and it dissappeared after 10 mins.
Saddle is fine - actually thats what I was there to check for her, and other than a little stuffing needed, fits hims beautifully.
Thoughts? Obviously if he's the same tomorrow she'll ring the Vet, but tbh I'm not sure they would be able to cast any more light on it.
When I arrived she had been walking him about to warm up, and so after a few more minutes went up into trot on the left rein. Trotted around the school, did some 20m circles in trot, couple of canter tranisitions and then changed rein across the diagonal. All was fine.
As soon as she changed the bend and was on the right rein, the horse trotted lame.
Brought him back to walk, and I picked up his feet to make sure nothing was in them (woodchip surface), but there was nothing.
Took him back out onto right rein, picked up trot, and definately lame. Took him onto a straight line, trotted him up - sound. I felt all his legs and absolutely nothing to find. Back onto left rein, trotted him straight and in 20m circle - fine. Across diagonal, fine, onto right circle - lame.
Did rudimentary flexion test, ie hold up leg and straight into trot, front and hind -nothing. Its even quite difficult to say which leg it might be, as appears to take even steps both front and behind, although I would say its most probably his off fore/ shoulder due to the nod. Hips are level when trotted away.
Took him out of the school and onto grass, exactly the same. In a straight line he is 100% sound, as he is on the left. Distinct nod on the right rein.
She has been working hard to keep him straighter through himself ( he would happily be a banana) and had a lesson on Tuesday working on this. Could he have strained himself and it only shows on the right? He was hacked Thurs/Fri and was fine.
Turned him out, trotted off down the field sound as anything. Going to give him today off (just as well, its hissing down) and then take him on a hack Monday, and then try a few circles after that to see what he is like - just in case its some sort of stiffness.
She says he did something similar, but not a pronounced last year during a lesson but the trainer felt it was more due to him being stiff and unbalanced, and it dissappeared after 10 mins.
Saddle is fine - actually thats what I was there to check for her, and other than a little stuffing needed, fits hims beautifully.
Thoughts? Obviously if he's the same tomorrow she'll ring the Vet, but tbh I'm not sure they would be able to cast any more light on it.
