Lame barefoot horse... We're do we go from here?

BigGinger

BigGinger

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12days ago by lad showed signs of lameness in his front left. Noticed this while I was lunging on the left rein before riding, he was nodding and had shortness in his steps I left it at that and I box rested for 3 days over the weekend i got a good friend to watch him trot up and she could definately see lameness in front left but there was also slight heat in hind right fetlock and said she couldn't decide if he was also lame in his leg too.

Farrier came out on Monday to check feet and trim and didn't think any abscesses were brewing and was quite happy with feet. At this point he trotted up sound so for Monday eve I lunged him lightly and he looked good and I also lunged Tuesday and he looked great so Wednesday morning he went out for 1 hour supervised and he didnt hoon about although he had a roll and a canter round but nothing crazy. Wednesday pm he trotted up quite lame (again on left front). Plan was to box rest for 5 days and assess and he has improved slightly but then got worse as he now seems lame on right leg and is hobbling when asked to turn circles in both directions.

Just to add, he doesn't do box rest week he get very unsettled and is usually on his back legs and previous times of box rest he has needed to be sedated throughout.

Vet came yesterday evening and says he is definitely lame on right front leg not left but it could be both of them. She wants him in for tests (nerve blocks, X-rays, scans) what can I expect? She hasn't said what it could be or what she thinks it might be but I dread them sayin he needs any types of shoes as I've worked so hard taking him shoe less..

Any experience of this kind of lameness?

Apologies if I've missed any major info need my heads abit all over the place after everything we've been through!
 
Sounds like what my horse is like at the moment, however the fact your vets come out and said they want to do tests may suggest not? Did the vet say anything specific? Have you tried running him on soft ground?

If i run mine up in the yard he is very short in his stride, however if i do it out on grass he's okay, and ridden he flies around very fresh, but in the school he's back to being shortfooted, so i'm avoiding the school currently. Tried giving him so rest, however it hasn't made a difference, so it's currently been put down to sore feet by the farrier and yard owner, as although he's always been barefoot and done well like that, the grounds been so wet lately, then sudden turned into a concrete hard mess due to the cold weather, so his feet are soft but the ground is hard, causing them to be sensitive.

Hopefully it's only something like this and nothing too serious! Would be interested to hear what the tests come back saying xo
 
Well I would go with your vets advice get him in for test and examination asapnerve blocks and work up starting at feet - most likely the problem and x-ray depending on findings. Remember just you dont always have to go the remideal route if it is a foot problem once you know what you are dealing with you can always speak to Rocklea.

Torri, I think by not working in the school you are avoiding the issue. The lameness/ short stride is still an issue you are just avoiding the problem, that could get worse. With what you describe i would also be looking at feet prob a thin sole type problem. (hope i havent offended just my opinion)
 
2horsesnomoney said:
Well I would go with your vets advice get him in for test and examination asapnerve blocks and work up starting at feet - most likely the problem and x-ray depending on findings. Remember just you dont always have to go the remideal route if it is a foot problem once you know what you are dealing with you can always speak to Rocklea.

Torri, I think by not working in the school you are avoiding the issue. The lameness/ short stride is still an issue you are just avoiding the problem, that could get worse. With what you describe i would also be looking at feet prob a thin sole type problem. (hope i havent offended just my opinion)
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No, not offended! :) It's always good to hear other people's opinions/advice. I've been advised to stick to the softer ground until his feet have a chance to harden up again. Quite a few barefoot horses at the yard are having this issue at the moment as the fields have gotten so wet. Obviously if it continues i would look into getting the vet to check, but both the yard owner and farrier are unconcerned, saying he's just a bit sore at the moment.

The farriers been out a few times, as we're working towards shoes, and no mention of thin soles, his feet look perfect visually, he generally has very good feet, hence having always been barefoot. But i just had a read up about thin soles and their causes so i've learn't something new today! xo
 
Infact, i've been told to possibly try boots (as he's currently too nervous to be shod!) Has anyone had any experience with these? Will create a thread about it, but may aswell as whilst here! xo
 
Well, lets give it some thought... How long has he been barefoot? Also, what kind of access to grass is he currently getting? Any change in diet? Could it be a bruise to the frog or sole?

Once we have ruled out the simple things that can affect the actual foot, we can start to think about limb factors. So, has there been a sudden increase in work?

Boots def an option, they have come a long way and you will be spoilt for choice. Have look at easycare inc, cavalry, renegades...

I think there is a website called www.trelawneequine.co.uk that stock everything!
 
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just to add. horse was previous lame on left front around when he threw a splint but he came sound once this had formed and with rest. since had short spells of shortness in the last few weeks on the lunge but after a few strides looked fine
 
Oh, maybe both... Sorry, just realised that I read two different people's posts.

The first bit that wasn't about boots was for the OP.
 
Id also lay off the lunging, 1 rein lunging for long periods 15+ is detrimental to the horse as its all one sided and uneven.

Long lining and riding are far more beneficial, inhand work better still.

Box rest is actually going out of fashion unless its a fracture as it just causes stiffness and fluid buildup - so not that useful. Similar to horses being stiff after a flexion test!

If its just one leg and he's not hopping lame Id be thinking its the leg rather than an abscess. Id try cold hosing it and leaving him out 24.7. See what its like in a week.

Nerve blocks etc are fine, remedial shoeing is a load of tripe, whether your believe in barefoot or not. No vet would get egg bars near my horses - no matter how qualified they think they are.....
 
Torrie said:
Sounds like what my horse is like at the moment, however the fact your vets come out and said they want to do tests may suggest not? Did the vet say anything specific? Have you tried running him on soft ground? xo
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The reason they have suggested tests is because I have rested him and he's still lame and I don't want to box rest him if I don't have to and want to know what I'm dealing with. On the lunge he is lame on the left rein but hardly noticable on the right rein, the surface is rubber, sponge and sand is really bouncy and soft. Just strange that he improved and was sound then back lame
 
TigerTail said:
Id also lay off the lunging, 1 rein lunging for long periods 15+ is detrimental to the horse as its all one sided and uneven.

Long lining and riding are far more beneficial, inhand work better still.

Box rest is actually going out of fashion unless its a fracture as it just causes stiffness and fluid buildup - so not that useful. Similar to horses being stiff after a flexion test!

If its just one leg and he's not hopping lame Id be thinking its the leg rather than an abscess. Id try cold hosing it and leaving him out 24.7. See what its like in a week.

Nerve blocks etc are fine, remedial shoeing is a load of tripe, whether your believe in barefoot or not. No vet would get egg bars near my horses - no matter how qualified they think they are.....
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The reason he is lunged so much at the moment is because its the only way I can get on to ride him as he can be fresh and still coming into work after more than 12month off due to other issues (fractured skull and ulcers,smashed up knee). He gets lunged for 20 mins but this includes me doing lots of leg work so I suppose it could be classed as half and half long reining/lunging. I tend to try use the whole arena and walk/jog round with him in trot and do lots of transitions and change the rein frequently to keep him switched on and listening.

I have made the vet aware I do not intend to box rest and this is the last option I just hope they will work with me on this one for my horse's sanity :-(

He's booked in at the vets for fri morning so I can only wait and see but just wanted to here other people's experiences

Thanks :-)
 
Sorry to hear you are having problems. My mare had shortness/lameness issues just over a year ago and I ended up at the vets for a full lameness work up and it turns out there were severe problems in the RF, we thought initially it was the shoulder/wither but she was compensating there for the problems going on.
I really hope it is nothing major and you get to the route of the problem, but if it isn't something so simple I just wanted to give you some hope that although my mare has problems to the extent of she should be crippled lame, she is 100% sound and still barefoot. My vet wanted remedial shoes but myself and my farrier felt we could deal with the problems barefoot and she is much better for it and now has nothing other than glucosamine supplement after coming off of her bute a few months ago. So there is light at the end of the tunnel for the more severe things with good management! We moved to my current yard 3 months after her diagnosis and to this day my yard owners and other liveries still tell me there is nothing wrong with her as she bombs around the field like a 2yo on a regular basis :)
I really hope you get some answers on Friday, good luck :)
 
baker190 said:
Sorry to hear you are having problems. My mare had shortness/lameness issues just over a year ago and I ended up at the vets for a full lameness work up and it turns out there were severe problems in the RF, we thought initially it was the shoulder/wither but she was compensating there for the problems going on.
I really hope it is nothing major and you get to the route of the problem, but if it isn't something so simple I just wanted to give you some hope that although my mare has problems to the extent of she should be crippled lame, she is 100% sound and still barefoot. My vet wanted remedial shoes but myself and my farrier felt we could deal with the problems barefoot and she is much better for it and now has nothing other than glucosamine supplement after coming off of her bute a few months ago. So there is light at the end of the tunnel for the more severe things with good management! We moved to my current yard 3 months after her diagnosis and to this day my yard owners and other liveries still tell me there is nothing wrong with her as she bombs around the field like a 2yo on a regular basis :)
I really hope you get some answers on Friday, good luck :)
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Thank baker190, what was the issue with yours? I was discussing this with some of people on yard and was wondering if maybe it was coming high up from say withers to affect both legs and for it to change and be worse on different legs and made us wonder. Do you still ride yours now?
 
torrie-your horse is lame rather than 'just a bit sore' and needs a proper examination rather than your 'yard owner' sayign he's a bit sore. you should not be riding a sore horse. that is neglect. legally you are being a neglectful owner.

OP-instead of panicing about the treatment i advise you get a diagnosis first! This is the problem when you get very driven into your way being to only way as you end up thinking you won't do something in case someone tells you to change! get a diagnosis, find out their treatment plan and then see what you want to do.
 
will go off and research collateral ligaments!

i suppose i'm just worrying! been through so much and finally thought we could get on with riding and doing some nice things and enjoying ourselves. i just feel like sometimes there isnt other options when it comes to treatment plans and it might not be something i agree with but i do t particularly want to be at logger heads with the vets either because what do i know? i k ow my horse does not deserve to be stood in months on end.. but then it may not get to that
 
the problem is vets are trying to give you a solution, you need a diagnosis before you worry about fighting with them.
 
BigGinger said:
Thank baker190, what was the issue with yours? I was discussing this with some of people on yard and was wondering if maybe it was coming high up from say withers to affect both legs and for it to change and be worse on different legs and made us wonder. Do you still ride yours now?
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She has in the RF, high ringbone of the short pastern, sidebones and DJD. The vet gave us a very bleak outlook on her ridden career and said she would probably be not much more than a field ornament, maybe a light hack at most. The day of diagnosis she had steroid injection and was put onto 1 bute a day for the foreseable future and glucosamine supplement. We took her home and she was unmanageable after about 2 months of no work so myself and the vet decided work was the best thing for her and to look at quality of life instead of quantity. I did hacking all summer and she came sound.
In September we went back to the vets for a follow up and vet was gob smacked on how sound she was, 100% in RF! She was slightly off in LF and did an xray whilst we were there to find slight Navicular changes.
We ended up having Tildren as the vet felt she was the ideal candidate and he wanted her in remedial shoes. I went back to the farrier with the xrays and he disagreed as did I, so the vet spoke to the farrier and we decided to carry on as we are! Vet even said he did not see the problem with us starting back up wiht the school work and the odd jump on a good surface so we started the schooling and did our first dressage test in December and came 5th with 60.43% :D The Tildren was like a god send to us, she was like a new horse 4 days after treatment!

She has been out of work for 7/8 weeks due to not having a saddle but now we have the new one I will be bringing her back to full work. She finished her bute a few months ago and she is still sound and very happy :)

I keep her slightly on the leaner side to help with the pressure on her legs and I am careful with what ground I ride her on but generally she does everythig that we did before!

Thta was quite some essay lol I hope you get a good outcome at the vets! :)

Yes she is ridden the same as she was before!
 
thank you baker thats interesting to know and what a success story! i am over fussing at the moment as i know i dont have a diagnosis yet even but its hard not to panic! about the what ifs.
 
Well my horse was lame for 3/4 months on and off - some days completely sound, 20 minutes later completely lame, other days, marginally lame. Vets were scratching their heads, had convinced me that it was her navicular and she was booked in for an MRI scan at Leahurst. A week before she was due to go, an abscess burst out and almost instantly she was much better. It burst about 6 weeks ago and she has been fine ever since - don't think it can't be an abscess! :)
 
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