Lame??

[JosieSmith]

Ok so I'm a tad overprotective and a bit of a worry wart

, but when I was riding last night Belle felt a bit stuffy, isn't the first time

. She was quite reluctant in the first couple of trot strides, every time we trotted, not just first time, though she is lazy, but her ears went back a bit and it didn't seem to be just laziness. I warmed her up properly so don't think it was that, and when we started jumping she got quite enthusiastic and seemed fine. She tripped a couple of times too and seemed to leave a back leg behind on a couple of occassions.

Her legs don't seem stiff to pick up but sometimes she clicks, which I'm sure is probably quite normal, I click all the time

, but I've noticed her legs can be quite warm (this is when standing in the yard, not after work) but other times they're cold. Can't figure out if it's just me or there really is something not quite right.

Think I'll ask someone at the yard to have a look when I trot her up, but do you think it's also worth having the vet out just in case?

Thanks in advance

 

[angela_l_b]

From what you know so far it really could be anything... have you tried the usual tests?

Lunging on a circle, both on soft and hard; trotting up in a straight line; is there any warmth in her feet and specifically anywhere in the legs or all over?

I would say my horse had the same symptoms (reluctance, tripping, stiffness) and seemed slightly lame in front though couldn't tell which leg. Turned out to be a hind suspensory complicated by severe stiffness in his back through compensating for the injury, which made him appear lame in 3 legs on vet examination.

Not saying yours is the same but lameness is a complicated game...

How long has it been going on? If it hasn't got better in a week or so I'd be inclined to consult a vet, though slight lameness is hard to diagnose and she may have to go in for proper nerve blocks and scans. Many people would have a vet straight out; I am just too tight and tend to give it a few days first.

 

[JosieSmith]

Yeah I tend to give it a few days too. Forgot to mention she's 20 so maybe the start of arthritis too. You're right though, lamenss can be so complicated. I was thinking of having vet do a general MOT

on her anyway so think I might just do that and mention the stuffiness.

I've trotted her up and she felt fine, a bit reluctant but she's always like that on hacks out alone as she's nappy and spooky. Lunged her in a circle in the sand school and I though she was possibly nodding a teensy bit but OH said no, and I do tend to over-react and look for things that aren't there

so I'm more inclined to go with his judgement than mine.

 

[Annagain]

As you've admitted to being a worrier, I'd get someone else at your yard to have a look. Don't tell them anything about your suspicions, just ask them to have a look over her, and watch her trot up. That way they will be looking with an open mind and won't be specifically looking for something wrong. If they don't think there's anything wrong, chances are you're just being paranoid, but if you feel there's no change in a week or so it might be worth getting the vet for your peace of mind more than anything.