Lame and unusual gait behind - suggestions?

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Sophiesmum

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I'll try to keep it short. 21yo mare, fairly fit and healthy (low grade PC activities ridden 5 times a week, but does have arthritis in her front fetlocks and has half a sachet of danilon a day and has done since about June, as she was not happy with the hard ground, I have just not taken her off of it as the ground has softened as she is going well). When my daughter went to ride her last night she was not quite right and was moving 'oddly'. She is almost extending her leg to take a pace but before it hits the ground is is pulling back a couple of inches befroe it hits the floor. If I turn her on it she moves fine and crosses her legs over as you would expect but if I turn her and it is on the outside of the turn it swings out in a peculiar fashion. There is a small amount of swelling around and above her fetlock, but to be honest she has fairly puffy joints anyway, so I could be clutching at straws here. She doesn't appear to be in any particular pain (except that she is a little unlevel, and seems to be resting each back leg equally when in her stable.

Am already booked into horsepital next week with the other horse, so could take her along too, just wondered what you guys make of it.

Be gentle with me though, not sure I can cope with anything too major on top of the other chap....................
 
Oh dear, two horses with problems is really bad luck!!!

One for the vet I am afraid! Perhaps the fetlock is bothering her more, could be back/pervis related, if the patella locks in place it could be a stiffle problem...It may turn out to be something really simple though, so fingers crossed for you!
 
It could be a torn stifle ligament, my horse was like that when he walked swinging the leg to the outside (in order to alleviate the pain from a normal walking action). I also think it could be a neuro problem but theres not much point speculating at this moment in time. Why don't you just see what the vet says.
 
My old pony walks oddly behind. Vet says she has ringbone, arthritis, navicular and rotten pedal bones!
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BUT shes 98% sound and if you spend plenty of time warming her up shes fine to be ridden as normal, bar trotting on the roads. My son still competes her showjumping, on surfaces, and she only has the very occasional half a bute.
I think it would be worth the vet to have a look but at the end of the day I'm not 100% sound in trot and still quite happy and active!
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Thanks for the replies peeps! She was diagnosed with navicular syndrome in front about 9 years ago, x rays to her front fetlocks 2 years ago confirmed arthritis too. She did 'retire' from proper hunting 2 seasons ago. We never trot on the road and tend to only book pony club stuff if we know it is going to be on a surface anyway - all booked in with the vet for next week so will know soon enough - just hope it's not too terminal - have had our 'horse in a million' for approaching 20 years now!
 
Good luck at the vets. Any chance you could let us know what the outcome is of the unusual gait as my 24 year old pony has also developed a similar kind of movement and my vet is baffled!
 
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