Lame horse - help please!!

[Christmas Crumpet]

TB hasn't felt right since we had a whoopsie with stinging nettles two weeks ago. I gave him a week off and he looked pretty sound. Since, he's been feeling quite stiff behind and as though he is bracing his back. He has been quite revved up after having a week off so thought it was just him being excited. He has spavin and had 9 months off after having hocks medicated and had a 6 week "back in work" check up the other day and passed with flying colours.

Anyway he was ridden yesterday and was trotting down a ride when he suddenly went horribly lame behind for about 4 strides. I immediately stopped and started walking and he felt fine. He did exactly the same tonight but three times when I was on him and so I got off to lead him home and he did it twice whilst being led. Its almost as though he's got stringhalt for a couple of strides. Whatever it is is obviously hurting him yet I can see nothing at all which might indicate he's hurting externally.

Any ideas at all? Yesterday he galloped across the field for his supper as he usually does and did an emergency stop and then a big bunny hop which I'm assuming is down to spavin and hocks hurting.

Its such a pain in the bum. I just have this awful feeling that this horse is never going to come right properly. Any ideas what this hopping lameness could be?

 

[Squeak]

My horse has also got spavins and has just had both hocks medicated and has started spasmodically started going lame for a few strides as well when out on a hack but apart from that seems absaloutely fine. Although his is on a front leg. We have had the vet out to look and he can't find anything so he is going to have to go into the clinic next week.

 

[illy89]

Hi,

My mare has spavins in both her back legs. She had no treatment just two years off in the field (very long story involving a court case which meant we could not treat her) She came back into work last year and was perfectly sound and began eventing again. She too used to go lame for a few strides in trot every now and again whilst out hacking, but stopped doing it after a month or so. I would get the vet out if you are worried but seems to be something that is associated with spavins!

 

[Christmas Crumpet]

Is it like hopping lame though? When I was walking home leading him he did it twice and lifted his leg right up like he was saying ouch for a couple of strides. It really looked quite horrible.

When he did it yesterday I thought he'd slipped which is why I didn't worry about riding him today. He hasn't done it when I've been leading the other horse and seems to pick his hind feet up more then.

 

[illy89]

yeah hopping lame. i got off the first time it happened and walked her home as it felt like she was going to collapse....but then she was fine after a few strides, trotted her up in front of my mum as soon as we got back and seemed fine. she only did it in trot though, never in walk. I would get the vet out if it is worrying you and if the problem persists especially as my mare seemed ok after a few weeks during which time it occurred only a handful of times.