Intermittent lameness, your thoughts please...

[rcm_73]

For about the last fortnight 16 y.o.TB mare has been going intermittently lame on right hind possibly also left hind. Owned her 2 yrs have jumped & XC with no problems of lameness. Have moved fields to a smaller field with less grass and more horses as initially I thought it might be down to her weight and/or field strain. However she seems to be ok for a couple of days but then goes lame again, she also appears more lame after standing / flexion. I'm now thinking this is more than a field strain and am wondering if it's arthritis or a back injury? Am calling vet out but was just wondering if anyone had experienced anything similar?

 

[TGM]

Given her age and your description of the lameness, then it could possibly be a spavin - they are quite common in older horses. But could be any number of other possible reasons so best to get vet to do a lameness investigation.

 

[mermaid]

Goodness it could be a great many things! It would be practically impossible to list all the possibilities, and some of those are scary, and there is no point worrying (easier said than done though!) until you know for sure. But I can tell you about my experience.

My mare had intermittent lameness last summer, she would be anything between 99% sound and hopping lame on a day to day basis. On having all sorts of nerve blocks, x-rays and ultra sounds (at my insistence) they discovered she had a small amount of fluid around one ligament, and as everything else had been ruled out this was deemed the cause.

Like your mare, mine is 'older' and has TB blood. She had about 6 months field rest in the end and had come back sound.

 

[mickey]

I wouldn't like to guess. As everyone else says it could be anything. But it does fit in with what you would expect with spavin/DJD which tends to be a bilateral problem. You'll need to get the vet to extensively investigate if you want a conclusive answer.

 

[Merlotmonster]

Agree with other posts...could be anything!

however I had a TB mare with this sort of problem. Every time the vet came out she would be sound again. Took her to Rossdales in Newmarket for a bone scan and she had a kissing spine which required surgery (hope your insured!!). anyway, it sorted it all out. Its very common in TB's apparently.