Lame on the Lunge

[Snapshot2016]

Hi guys just wondered if anyone had some advice/input on my headscratcher of a issue...
So In april I sent my 6/7yr old WB to my instructors for some schooling, he is a big horse 17hh and still growing, he is as laid back as they come but she really struggled with him being argumentative, I trust this instructor 10000% she has known this horse since a 3/4yr old. She persevered for a week but said something wasn't right she then lunged him...LAME
Off he went to Halifax vets to see Peter Schofield who scanned both hinds legs and diagnosed Stifle arthritis, medicated them and gave me a rehab regime, fast forward a few weeks he was still unsound on the lunge but looked to be coming from his fore legs off we went back to the lameness specialist and he nerve blocked both of his fronts, he was then 100% much more comfortable, X-rays didn't really show anything significant but Distal border navicular bone irregular was noted, both of his navicular bursa were medicated, vet did say he had a lot of fluid which is abnormal but he was confident we had found the problem and off we went, He is field sound and looks/feels sound when ridden, lunging on a surface is 100% but lunging on a "hard" surface he is still not right, every few strides and more so when going downhill he is uncomfortable. He has thrown a hard splint on his near fore leg and also when he was shod last his sole was very badly bruised on the near fore. Im going round in circles with the vet and he is booked to go back in potentially for an mri but I cant see the light at the end of tunnel. I still dont have an actual diagnosis. Has anyone had anything similar, if I wasnt to get an mri what else would you suggest? Obviously will be consulting the vet

 

[ycbm]

Symptoms are spot on for collateral ligament strain but you would need an MRI to confirm it.

Is he shod? Is he insured?

If he's insured I'd do the scan, and insured or not I'd do a barefoot rehab.

Were there any comments on his foot balance? Can you show us the x rays?

So many questions, sorry!
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[PinkvSantaboots]

Ycbm is right same thing happened to mine he also has navicular, I took his shoes off and after nearly 4 months field rest he came sound, and his been barefoot ever since and has stayed sound.

 

[Snapshot2016]

Symptoms are spot on for collateral ligament strain but you would need an MRI to confirm it.

Is he shod? Is he insured?

If he's insured I'd do the scan, and insured or not I'd do a barefoot rehab.

Were there any comments on his foot balance? Can you show us the x rays?

So many questions, sorry!
.

He was barefoot until 2 years ago and is now shod allround, he is insured, Im still waiting for the vet to send me the xrays He saw a physio who commented he rolls in on right fore but the vet has not made a comment on this.

 

[ycbm]

If he isn't landing with both heels at the same time in the front feet, then you've probably found the root of the problem.
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[Snapshot2016]

I have totally lost confidence in the vets treating him and I am not sure I want to send him for an mri as iv already racked a big bill up! I had thought about just taking his shoes off, hes just had a growth spurt and I do not mind giving him the time off

 

[ycbm]

When you bring him back into work you should consider whether you need to change farriers. Collateral ligament strains are often a foot balance issue.
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[Snapshot2016]

He has had the same farrier from age 2-6 and we have Just changed farriers (only shod him once) I will get his xrays and have a chat with current farrier

 

[AdorableAlice]

If you have an open claim for the lameness you might as well get every sort of diagnosis you can. MRI is expensive to fund without insurance. Check they will pay first though.

 

[SEL]

We only managed to make my mare's on/off foreleg lameness show in a circle to the right. Damage to navicular bone on x ray possibly from DDFT damage - but I can't afford the MRI to know for certain. If insurance would cover your MRI then I'd do it so you know what you're dealing with.

Time is the biggest healer if it is a ligament, along with really good hoofcare. Mine wouldn't be sound on the lunge but she's sound on straight lines in walk so that's what we're doing.

 

[Snapshot2016]

Any thoughts on these xrays? Im going to take some slow mo videos of him walking to see how hes landing

 

[Gloi]

I am absolutely no expert on these things but the first thing that I noticed was there is more of a tilt at the junction at the top of P2 on the right than left fore

 

[ycbm]

What is your vet saying about them?
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[Snapshot2016]

What is your vet saying about them?
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His exact words were nothing really showed up other than the navicular bursa