Lame or a bit Stiff? Help please, =C

[floradora09]

I thought bramble was better, although he often feels a little stiff on some surfaces (such as the quite deep surfaced school, or on very hard ground). I've been getting him really fit and he is ridden 6 days a week. However, the other day me and my friends swapped horses and he looked a bit weird, as normally I'm the only one who rides him. My friend didn't think he was lame, just that he was a little stiff on the hard ground or something. The next day I took him in the school (which I haven't for a while as now it's summer we normally ride in the jumping field) and he felt a little weird, so I got my other friend to watch and she thought that maybe he was struggling a bit with the deep surface? (In October he pulled a shoulder ligament, so was out of work for a couple of months, and he's 20.) I really don't know what to do. He doesn't feel any different, but since watching him being ridden by my friend I'm wondering if he is sound after all... You see he's my only pony and I was hoping to do quite a bit with him!

Thanks!

 

[Bossanova]

If you're not sure then you need a vet visit.
Tbh stiffness is usually resolved after the horse has had a few mins to loosen up and you dont often see it varying according to surface, he sounds lame to me.

 

[MrsMozart]

As B says hun, call the vet out. The only things that I know of that react to different surfaces, and don't panic, I'm not a vet so there could be many others, is the suspensory ligaments, though they're usually worse on deep/soft surfaces.

Let us know what the vet says. Hugs.

 

[cronkmooar]

I have a 20 year old that is a bit arthritic and yes different surfaces make a difference to him.

Hard ground and very deep sand schools affect his movement. Schools heavy with rubber or (don't know the name of this one!) the one that is black and looks like an oasis that you stick flowers in - make a massive difference.

I would also have a word with the vet - it maybe he has gone a bit arthritic and needs a bit of help with his joints

Good Luck

 

[Annagain]

Mine was lame a few weeks ago and after two weeks of field rest and bute seemed better, except for on one rein in the school. Back to the vet and lots of xrays and money later we found he's got deep seated bruisng to his pedal bone (how a vet can see this on an xray I don't know but just happy that it's a diagnosis that will resolve itself with time) He's back on bute but vet says gentle hacking is good for him to get blood pumping to the area. Had he not been lame before I would have put it down to stiffness as it was only on one rein. I only took him back because it was so soon after the bout of proper lameness, so I'd say you need to get a vet to look at him.