Lame on a hard surface, but sound in the school

[MGG]

Daughter's pony has been lame for about ten days now. Called the vet after a few days as he wasn't improving and she quickly trotted him up in the yard and he looked pretty good and so we lunged him in the school on both reins and he was completely fine. She said she wasn't too worried as whatever it had been seemed to be better and to start working him in walk. We did that, but after a few days we trotted him on a hard surface (we had only been walking out and did a little trotting in the school and he was fine) and he was lame in trot. Over the weekend he was suddenly in a bad way not eating etc very reluctant to walk at all and really down (he seemed to just be in a lot of pain) so we called vet and she gave him some Metacam for 2 days. He perked up straight away.

The metacam should have just about worn off now and he is looking much better - really perky and jolly. We took him for a walk in the school and he went for a little trot on both reins and was completely sound, but trotting him up the yard he was just as lame as he was when he first went lame.

Vet says it isn't lami. They are coming again tomorow. But what could it be? Abcess perhaps?

 

[Luci07]

The school will offer a softer surface so you can't assess if a horse is unsound in there. The only way to do it is to trot up on a hard surface. In terms of what is causing the lameness - it could be so many things - I suspect if your vet had thought it was an abesss though your vet would have asked you to get your farrier out to take off the shoe (or done it herself). Good luck when the vet comes back.