lame horse :(

[larderp135]

Hi

I have a 16yr old thoroughbred mare who is lame on her near fore. She hasn't been right now for 5 weeks, shes had 2 farriers look at her and hasnt been ridden at all. She went lame very suddenly between coming out of the showjumping ring and going back to the trailer.

She did become sounder and then went backwards again. Shes go typical flat throughbred feet so the farrier thought it was a bruise to start with.

the lameness isnt noticeable in walk but is just about in trot and turning in tight circles doesnt bother her. She's worse if shes stood in a stable for an hour or so. but is happy to go galloping round the field like a loony whens shes out!

and theres no swelling or heat or pain in the foot or leg which makes it even more annoying!

any ideas what it could be???

 

[brightmount]

There may not be any swelling or heat but there must be pain, or she wouldn't be lame. I wouldn't be letting her hoolie round the field without a proper investigation, in other words getting the vet out to nerve block and locate the area where the lameness is coming from.

The fact there's no heat or swelling makes me think it could be deep in the foot, maybe DDFT, but you need to know in order to manage it. My vet gave me an analogy once of a tendon or ligament being like a frayed rope, that can hold itself together but suddenly snap if mismanaged.

It must have been a trauma that started it if you noticed it come on after an event, which is why I would think tendon or ligament.

 

[Flame_]

Could be allsorts, definitely a vet job.

 

[merlinsquest]

I would get the vet out..... if it wasnt serious then it would be getting better by now!!

 

[guisbrogal]

I have just had all this and my mare was diagnosed with Lammy on Monday

Definitely worth getting checked out now before whatever it is goes too far!

 

[Llwyncwn]

Agree with all the good advice already given. It could be a problem within the foot or even a hairline fracture - then again it could be something quite simple. With any sort of lameness it is important to speak to your vet asap.

Do let us know how your girl gets on.

 

[kellyeaton]

put your horse in a small paddock to walk it off start treatment for abbcess brusings sprains ect and call the vet!

 

[RachelB]

Cold hose immediately, although you are possibly too late to have much effect five weeks after the injury but it certainly won't do any harm even if it does no good. Then I agree with the others about getting a vet out. I also agree with brightmount that it could be a tendon - my horse went suddenly hopping lame one day last year, then was intermittently slightly lame for four weeks before I got the vet out. I wished I had done it sooner as it turned out she had torn her deep digital flexor tendon (sudden severe lameness that turns to slight lameness can be a classic sign of tendon injury apparently). I'm not saying that's definitely what your horse has done, but it's a possibility and needs to be diagnosed so you know whether she will have to have time off in the stable/field/not, and for how long!