Lame on a circle?

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Skhosu

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At least it's a fine time to go lame, I've got 2/3 weeks when I could do with no horses to ride due to exams..
But, one of mine is lame.. He is in peak form, flew round one ten on sunday and is a joy to ride. But, he's lame on a circle on concrete..
Fine in a straight line. No idea how long he's been lame in a circle, as I don't normally trot him in a circle on hard ground. What would you normally look for in a horse on a small (less than 5m) circle on concrete?
He is fairly obviously lame, farrier suggested bruised soles and is coming to put pads on on monday, but thinks it could otherwise be to do with internal structures.
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What would you do?
He is potentially sore along one side of his back according to the physio, but he was a bit pshyco with her...
Fingers crossed he will be sound after the pads go on...
He is lame on both front feet...
 
How do you know he is lame on both fronts? Did the farrier to a pinch test or something?

Personally, I wouldn't expect to have to go that small a circle - you could find the horse looks lame where he's just trying to keep his balance on a slippery surface (concrete obviously classes as slippery).

In a nutshell though, if the horse is lame, you need to call the vet.
 
That's kind of what I think. Well, he is nodding on both sides, one slightly worse. It's a 2-3m circle so possibly just keeping his balance although on a bigger one he is slightly off as well. He did a pince test, and no reaction.
He also suggested that since he I was having no ridden problems (Although haven't ridden since he was said to be lame) to 'blatter on'.
Both the physio and farrier have said he is lame.
If he doesn't improve he will go to the vet, but since he will likely at this stage suggest trying the pads, and farrier are feet people
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we'll try them first. Just wondering as navicular sprang into my mind, if anyone else had had experiences with this or if it's a typical symptom of anything?
 
Might be foot imbalance. Would get a vet to look and then speak to your farrier as your farrier would never admit to a foot imbalance as it would be a reflection on his/her shoeing and trimming. It's amazing how many horses do suffer from this and it's often only from x-rays you can tell through looking at internal structures and then seeing how the foot is trimmed influences what goes on inside!
 
right, that's interesting. Although everyone praises my farrier, and how good he is, I don't like him (he asked us to leave him with the mare today. She was gently being a touch stroppy and after shouting at her said she was better behaved if we weren't there..don't like to think why..)
I hadn't considered that. He did have a small bruise last time he was shod which I'm wondering could it have developed?
Hadn't thought of that.
 
Can't think why lame - but would NEVER leave a farrier to get on with shoeing, particularly if I was asked to. Farrier I had belted my horse with a file when I wasn't there, needed IV sedation thereafter.
 
That's why he was certainly not left with her! We stepped back to allow him space, but he is monitored.
 
When my TB went lame back in November he was x-rayed after nerve blocking. Vet said his shoeing and trimming was pretty good but did speak to farrier about tweaking a few things (still don't know why he was so lame and for so long LOL!). HOwever I had a mare vetted and failed after vet thought something wasn't quite right in trotting her up. He asked to see her lunged on a circle and sure enough she was very lame. It was severe foot imbalance - and was usually trimmed and shod by a reputable farrier. Even the best get it wrong and make mistakes sometimes. What is it they say? Majority of lamenes in the front stems from the foot? Worth getting your vet to check it as like I said, farrier might get a bit stroppy with you telling him he's not doing a good job.
 
Surely neither your farrier or physio recommended lunging on a 2m circle??? That is TOO small IMO.

It doesn't necessarily mean he's lame on both sides (assuming he IS lame) - often if a horse is bilaterally lame, they appear sound until one side is nerve-blocked - i.e. the bilateral problem cancels each other out.

It isn't necessarily in the feet - don't be mislead by the farrier - could be anywhere, right up to neck or back.
 
My friends TB was lame on a circle on both reins - turned out her farrier that she has been using for years was leaving her toe too long and forcing her back on her heels. After nerve blocking and some very expensive vet visits, this was found out to be the cause. He changed the way he shod the mare and she has been sound ever since - he did not like being told he had been doing it wrong though...very Prima Donna are farriers!
 
Oh yes, he said that was just what he thought and it could be higher up etc., but pads surely can't do any harm? I can understand, he gets stroppy when I suggest toes are too long/short etc. !
Problem is, I doubt we could nerve block as he is ahhhh...a little needle phobic!
Thanks for all the thoughts, good to have lots of thoughts to think about what's happening!
 
No, you're right - pads won't do any harm - not sure they'll do any GOOD however. No harm in trying I guess.

How about give your vets a call & ask them the size of circle they would recommend lunging on...
 
I'd start on 20m & obviously not bother going any smaller if I could already see lameness. Assuming I couldn't see lameness though, I'd bring the circle down a bit depending on the surface & the horse's footing (which includes his 'confidence' & the state of his shoes).

I don't know that I can answer your question sat on the sofa out of context - I've never really thought about it but would know when in the situation. Off the top of my head, I can't imagine I'd go as small as 10m though...
 
Don't now if this will help but the first warning signs that we had a navicular problem with our horse was that he went short in the dressage arena on the turn off the centre line back to the outside track when the ground became on the firm side in the summer months - this would be equivalent to a 10 metre circle but please bear in mind that tarmac would be a lot crueler concussion wise then a grass dressage arena so a 15m cicle may be more appropriate. He had mild navicular changes and so we always tried to be extra careful with his foot balance. Had a number of farriers over the years and some needed pads to keep him comfortable in the summer on hard ground others kept him comfortable just by the way they trimmed the foot. For peace of mind it may be worth a quick check with the vet to see if he thought xrays to check foot balance and/or early signs of wear and tear would be worthwhile.
 
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