Intermittent lameness

[jrp204]

Have had new girlie for 6 wks now, daughter has been riding and competing her for her previous owner for 3 months before this. Wk 3, she slipped off the concrete step outside the stable and caught her fetlock, same week was shod. Seemed fine at start of ride but was a bit short at the finish, this carried on for a few days. Gave her a week off, trotted up fine, daughter hacked her out, walking only, again fine to start then lame.
Vet out, she reckoned 1/10ths lame in back leg which we agreed on. Recommended a weeks box rest and bute, did this, trotted up sound, sound in field. Hacked out, 20 mins in, walking only, hopping lame again. Took her up to vets for a work up but different vet decided she wasnt lame enough, told to keep hacking her to hopefully make her a bit more lame so they can investigate. No change, its really fustrating as she appears sound, it does seem to happen more if she is on the road, she has been ridden in the field in trot and seemed fine. Farrier is coming on friday to remove shoes and have a good look.
Does anyone have any ideas?

 

[Meowy Catkin]

If she's sound on soft going but lame on hard surfaces, then that would indicate that it's possibly concussion causing the pain/lameness. As she caught her fetlock, could she have a bone bruise on that joint?

I'm pretty sure that there was an old saying (please correct me if I've misremembered it) that lame on hard only = bone problem and that lame on soft only = soft tissue problem?

Taking the shoes off would reduce concussion. I would talk to the Vet again and mention field rest with shoes off for a period of time (2 weeks plus?) and see how she goes. You could x-ray the joint if the lameness is pin pointed there.

 

[MrsJ]

May sound like a daft question but shat sort of road is she on at the time when she appears to go lame. Is is flat tarmac or stoney? Could it be she gets a sharp stone in her foot and she's a little foot sore?

I've had this on one particular route (that I now avoid)

 

[jrp204]

It is on tarmac road, daughter has just said she has only worked her in the field for 10 mins but did trot and canter, she seems to go lame on the road after 30mins so it is possible she would do the same in the field. The vet has said we could turn her away for a while but isn't confident she will come back any better. If the farrier has no joy she will be referred to a specialist vet next week who is more set up for a proper work up.
It is such a pain! Daughter sold her black horse as he wasn't consistent XC, this one is and the plan was to have some fun over the summer, or not!!

 

[MrsJ]

is there any heat or inflamation around the fetlock that she hit? It may be worth working her for longer in the field to see if the lameness is consistent with time....How frustrating for you both. I hope you manage to get her sorted out before the summer holidays are over x

 

[jrp204]

No heat, no swelling, no raised pulse and hoof testers picked up zilch. Rather hoping there is something under the shoe, small hole or something. She has the same farrier who has shoed her since she came over from Ireland 2 yrs ago.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Never discount an abscess unless it is ruled out.

I really hope that she comes right soon.

 

[MrsJ]

hopefully taking her shoes off will show something tomorrow. Good Luck, keep us posted