lame horse! Puzzling...

[Hollyhorse]

My horse is lame - despite being kicked several times since I've had him and having knees the size of balloons he's never had an unsound day n now he's about 2/10 - 3/10ths lame on his right fore (the vet came out this morn). He was fine last week then I was away over the weekend and rode him on my return on wednesday and he wasn't quite right, then the same yesterday so got out vet this morn. No heat, swelling, cuts, lumps or bumps. Sound on left rein when lunged on soft and hard and right rein on soft and then slightly lame on right rein on hard circle. Did some basic flexion tests but didn't localise the lameness. Used hoof testers and no response. The only thing we could say is that he has very flat front feet and tends to get long toes and weak heels but the farrier's coming on tues anyway so that would be usual that his feet get a bit long just before he's done. Hopefully trimming and new shoes will help, in the meantime he's on bute. The vet said to re-evaluate mid time next week. To be honest I'm slightly puzzled though and worried that it could either be something really minor and he'll be fine in a couple of days or that it's actually something quite serious... does anyone have any similar experiences or words of wisdom?

 

[Hollyhorse]

It might be relevant to explain that he's a 6 year old 16.2 ISH who I evented last year for his first season then BSJA and BD all winter. Not done much competing the last month, mainly dressage schooling. About to get him ready for this BE season.

 

[scotsmare]

When farrier comes get him to have a good hunt round the horses feet - it could be a corn on his heels if they are collapsed though hoof testers should have shown response if they were applied correctly! Only other thing you can do if horse doesn't come sound is to nerve block to find the lameness.

 

[doris2008]

Does sound like it might be foot related..could be simple as a balance issue..make sure your farrier is really thorough & doesn't rush the job. Hopefully he will improve after this. Otherwise I would send him in for a lameness workup. Sounds v similar to my boy. He ws intermittantly lame bilaterally, so far diagnosis has been imbalances which with x rays & now some 'special' (bloody expensive!!) shoes he is drastically improved. He also has very flat, thin soled front feet.