Lameness - a bit of a dilemma

[suestowford]

I look after a pony for a neighbour. He is 26, and retired. He has arthritis in both knees and is already on 1 Bute per day.
This morning he is lame on his off hind. That leg has been problematic for a long time as he has had a clicking stifle there since he arrived here 20 years ago, which may or may not be part of the problem.
I've had a good look & feel, there is no heat in the hoof and no stones lodged in there. The only place I can feel heat is in the fetlock joint, and just below it, on the inside of the leg. The fetlock joint also looks a little swollen although it's hard to tell when he is flexing it off the ground most of the time. He also has a bit of feather there so it's hard to tell by looking.
It has been very wet and the ground is slippery and I think he may have wrenched his leg, pratting about (because he still does despite his age). Usually I would treat this with box rest and cold packs but my dilemma is, this could make his front legs so stiff that he is unable to move at all. Last year he got a pony friend, having been alone for a while, and this has done wonders for his general mobility as he is moving around more, so I don't want to restrict him too much. I can put cold packs on him out in the field with no bother, if necessary.
On the other hand, this lame leg is restricting his mobility already, so maybe I should bring him in and risk his front legs seizing up.
I'm leaning towards bringing him in as at least then he will be on solid ground and not slopping about in a wet muddy field - what do you all think? I'm going to muck out the stable now so I won't be back in for a bit but I really would be grateful for your opinions.

 

[doodle]

How lame is lame? If he is holding the leg up off the ground I would be wanting a vet to look at it regardless of what the cause.

 

[suestowford]

When I first went out he was hopping. He could put it to the floor, and bear weight on it, but he didn't want to.
I had a cold pack on it while I was mucking out, just to see if it helped. While he was wearing that he lay down for a while, and had a sleep. Then he got up and walked away almost sound. He is still not right, but he is walking rather than hopping.

He is just outside my window so I will be watching him closely and re-applying the cold pack as that does seem to have helped. Our regular vet is not in today but I am waiting for a call back from one of the others.

 

[Widgeon]

Glad the cold pack has helped - no advice but I really feel for you, my horse (much younger than your neighbour's) seems to have pulled some muscles in his shoulders pratting about on the mud. But where else am I supposed to put him?! I wish it would stop raining. I hope yours comes right very quickly with cold packs and any help the vet can give.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Could it be an abcess after all this wet weather?

 

[meleeka]

If the ice is helping, just keep doing that and see what happens. Ice cold bandages, applied quite loosely for 20 minutes is something I’ve done with my old mare who wouldn’t be able to rest.