lame-barefooters

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claribella

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So Ill try to keep this short.

Ive not had a lame horse before and dont really know the protocal. My mare is barefoot. Shes never been lame since I had her. Just lately we moved and she was footy over stones which I did assume was the fact that she hadnt really experienced stones that perhaps she just needed transitioning and conditioning. So Ive been walking out everyday and theres a massive improvement in her going over the stones. Then I went to feed her a few days ago and she looked lame in one of her hinds but only very slightly and the next day she was fine until she fell out with one of the herd and slipped and then looked funny again. Went up again today and she hasnt got any worse and sometimes she looks ok but other times she doesnt. Then there is the fact that she is really happy and doesnt look like she in any pain. She managed to stand with two feet high on the grass and balancing most of her weight on her hinds while she ate some grass. She trotted off down the field and up again and looked fine. Theres no swelling, she lifts both feet for me and theres no heat. She doesnt shift weight. Ive observed her for ages and shes just pottering around grazing.
The other thing I should mention is she has flares on the inside of both her hinds and she has a gammy hip which hasnt affected her so far.
Should also mention that in the field she looks worse in walk like shes dragging her hinds but when we walked up the road she looked fine. Am I just being over the top? Is it just because shes lazier in the field? Maybe I should put up a video.

Could this be spavins or does it sound like she pulled something? Im just wondering if its something more sinister because of the flares which she has had for quite a while.
I dont really know whether I should bother with the vet at the moment because shes not really bothered and I kind of think maybe I should give her a week and see if it sorts itself out. Im kind of thinking of getting my trimmer out because he needs to come out anyway. I trust him and isnt it true that he can tell alot by looking at her feet?

does mud fever cause lameness?
Could it be thrush?
IM sorry this post is all over the place I'm just really not sure what to do really if anything at all since it's not hardly noticable and sometimes I think is it there at all now because Im constantly observing her back end.

Any advice and answers to my questions is much appreciated:)
 
I also forgot to say the reason I ask about mud fever is because she has some on her hind and wondering if thats causing problems.

Honestly since weve moved shes been really happy but its been one thing aft another. Reaction to one of the plants, playing me on the ground but only me and no one else, cut on leg, mud fever all in the space of about six weeks. Considering shes never been ill just feels like a lot.
 
My barefoot TB had an unexplained lameness too, came on over a couple of days then went away again. I went through all the angst about her being barefoot, was I expecting too much of her, did she have an abscess, stone bruise etc. I spoke to the vet who's attitude was pretty much 'well what do you expect with a barefoot TB, TB feet can't cope without shoes'. Anyway there's no sign of any issue a week later - I'm non the wiser as to what it was but it appears to be fine now!
Not much help to you but hopefully a little 'tea and sympathy' :)
 
How old is the mare? The reason I ask if you say she has a bad hip, and she seem's stiff one day, and fine the next, she could be a bit arthritic? my mare has some arthritis and she is like this now the weather has changed and got colder. She also drags her hinds. She is never miserable or "lame" just a bit stiff untils she gets moving!

I think vet would be the best thing to do next!

good luck :)
 
Should also probably ad that my mare is a TB and Barefoot! And we hack on all sorts of surfaces, she has fantastic feet....
I think the "typical TB feet" are more a myth than anything else!;)
 
See baker190 that did cross my mind because she is sixteen and like I said in trot she seems fine. How do you treat arthritus out of interest? Should I maybe try a supplement?
Thank unicorn dreams. Like I said Im far from expert so not even sure if it would be described as lame. Vet might say whaty the hell you on about lol!

Really appreciate all your feedback. I think I might give it a week and see where things go but obvioulsy if it gets worse then Ill call vet. Thanks again for everyone who replied.
 
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