Lame on small circle on hard ground?

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nomini

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My mare is completely sound in a straight line and on lunge in school. However, she is lame on left fore on circle on hard ground. I have spoken to several people and they have all said that 90% of horses will be lame on a small circle on the hard ground. Vet doesn't seem overly worried but has given her another load of bute (which she is not eating!) and a month of light work. Just wondering if anyone else has had any situation like this? And if anyone knows why she might be lame on circle on hard ground but not in school?
 
My pony has lately been the same

I blame the hard ground aswell
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The 90% of horses claim is a bit of a sweeping statement I'm afraid. It's true to say that you can find an element of lameness in a lot of horses if you test them fully enough (lunging on small circle on concrete certainly classes as a hard test), but if you can easily see it (as opposed to just the vet) under these conditions then the horse IS lame. Maybe ask the vet HOW lame - I would think if you're only talking 1/10 then a 'layman' would be hard pushed to see it, but it sounds as if it's more obvious than that.

I presume the horse is shod?

Sounds as if the rest is necessary I'm afraid. Are there other symptoms or clues as to the problem? Could it be something like throwing a splint?
 
Yea mine is atm, but I havent ignored it because he was lame & I could still tell he was a bit footy when I was asking him for mediums etc. A lot of horses are lame on a circle on hard ground, Ive been told this too, but they shouldnt be really... However if she's just coming back into work, I wouldnt be concerned as she has time to come right yet!
 
Sorry, meant to answer youe Q about why lame on hard ground but not artificial surface - obvious answer is because there's less shock absorbing qualities on the hard ground - i.e. more jarring, less forgiving, therefore hurts more. In theory, if the horse then became lame in the manege the problem would be getting worse...
 
Yeh 2 weeks ago when he came out she was most definately lame on the hard ground, i'm not very good at seeing lameness but could definately see she was lame!
Sorry forgot to put in original post, the vet knows the problem is in the coffin joint as she went to vet college for nerve blocking, but x-rays were normal. Yes she is shod
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Right, then she's definitely 'officially lame' then - don't let someone tell you that this level of lameness is normal, there's clearly a problem which hopefully a bit of rest will solve. If she's not eating the bute, try mixing it with molasses.
 
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Right, then she's definitely 'officially lame' then - don't let someone tell you that this level of lameness is normal, there's clearly a problem which hopefully a bit of rest will solve. If she's not eating the bute, try mixing it with molasses.

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Already mixing with molasses and she's still not eating it, going to try giving it to her for breakfast instead cos she always seems more hungry in the morning. Hoping when the vet comes out in 2 weeks she will be a lot better, haven't cantered her since his last visit and have barely trotted so hopefully i have kept the work light enough for her to be improving! (Can't remember in OP that vet has said she needs to be in light work just so no-one bites my head off about riding a lame horse!)
Thanks for your help
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Just a note on lameness - when the lameness is more apparent on a soft surface, it tends to be soft tissue related; when lameness is on hard surface, it usually points to bone or joint problems.

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Try giving him a black treacle sandwich (or jam) with the bute mixed in - this works for a fussy pony of ours. Worth a try.
 
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