LAMENESS - Horse sound in straight Line, Lame in a circle?

horsegirl101

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MY PONY IS LAME!! ARGH!:mad:
Weirdly though, when he first went lame he came in from the field hopping lame, yet three days later the lameness was nearly all gone, in fact he was totally sound in walk and trot on hard ground, but lame when turning/on circle (and only to left side). Had farrier out, she said possibly a bruised sole...
There is no heat or swelling in the leg, though the foot is hot. Could it be the shoulder, or is it something in the foot?
Any ideas anyone?
Help much appreciated, thanks in advance :);)
 
You've waited long enough, could be an abscess, did farrier have no comment on this?
Did she suggest removing the shoe and testing the hoof?
Not sure you have actually done anything to help him in any way!
Time will heal certain things but it is best to get a vet if all is not right, and all is NOT right.
 
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You've waited long enough, could be an abscess, did farrier have no comment on this?
Did she suggest removing the shoe and testing the hoof?
He is unshod, and she has tested the hoof (if you mean with the pincers). No abscess, she says, definitely not. She says it could be a bruised sole, but the fact that he is lame on a circle and not on the straight seems a bit weird to me...
Any ideas what it could be?
 
Have you tried asking the fairies at the bottom of the garden, I hear they can be pretty useful.

Or, maybe, call the vet?

It could be anything, ligaments, tendons, or just a bruise
 
He is unshod, and she has tested the hoof (if you mean with the pincers). No abscess, she says, definitely not. She says it could be a bruised sole, but the fact that he is lame on a circle and not on the straight seems a bit weird to me...
Any ideas what it could be?

No idea: I have looked in to my crystal ball, but there is a swirling mist surrounding your stableyard.

Maybe ask someone local who can examine the horse, maybe a specialist, is there someone who has trained for five or six years in all things equine, and has loads of diagnostic tools, perhaps also a Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons?
 
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She says it could be a bruised sole, but the fact that he is lame on a circle and not on the straight seems a bit weird to me...
Any ideas what it could be?

Not strange at all, on a circle weight distribution is not entirely even and so lameness shows up more. A vet will examine and advise further action. The examination and call out will not cause that much but you will have an idea about what you are dealing with.
 
Well I just slaughtered a chicken and spread out the entrails and cast magic herbs about and the answers the same anything could be wrong win your horses leg if you don't know and you have seen it ,what do you think we on HHO can do?
Yes calling the vet costs money but it's your DUTY OF CARE to call one when your horse is lame horses injure themselves all the time you need a plan for affording it when it happens.
 
This is not strange, lameness does show up more on a circle because of weight distribution.
The horse is still lame in the straight line but its not as obvious.

Saying you don't want to call the vet because its expensive is totally discusting.
You have a horse so had to except the cost involved.

Imagine we didn't have the nhs, would you say sorry gran, you cant get your broken leg fixed or pain killers because its expensive.

Do the right thing, or you don't deserve a horse.
 
I have already had the farrier out, she saw him trotted up, checked his foot with the pincer things and used a heat sensitive scanner, she said it is not an abscess, probably a bruised sole and that I should rest it until it goes or contact her if it worsens.
What more can a vet do??!!
I was simply posting on horse and hound to ask if anyone had similar experiences, or thought that it was something other than a bruised sole, I don't want a rant about what I should and shouldn't do with my horse!!!
 
I have already had the farrier out, she saw him trotted up, checked his foot with the pincer things and used a heat sensitive scanner, she said it is not an abscess, probably a bruised sole and that I should rest it until it goes or contact her if it worsens.
What more can a vet do??!!
I was simply posting on horse and hound to ask if anyone had similar experiences, or thought that it was something other than a bruised sole, I don't want a rant about what I should and shouldn't do with my horse!!!

Vet can nerve block so you can isolate the lameness - shoulder or hoof
Vet can X-ray
Vet can ultrasound
Vet can bonescan
Plus much more!
 
I have already had the farrier out, she saw him trotted up, checked his foot with the pincer things and used a heat sensitive scanner, she said it is not an abscess, probably a bruised sole and that I should rest it until it goes or contact her if it worsens.
What more can a vet do??!!
I was simply posting on horse and hound to ask if anyone had similar experiences, or thought that it was something other than a bruised sole, I don't want a rant about what I should and shouldn't do with my horse!!!

You really need to wise up quickly .
A farrier cannot diagnose what wrong with a horse they are not trained to do so .
A equine vet is trained to assess and diagnose lameness.
I am flabbergasted that you can be so ignorant of the correct way to approach such things.
The law says its part your duty of care to provide your horse with veterinary care you are breaking the law by not doing so.
 
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Beginning to wish I'd never asked...
I shall go with the farrier's advice, see what happens, if it worsens I'll call the vet but for now I'll wait... see what happens. There is really no point in going on about this, I get all your points and have taken them onboard, thank you very much.
 
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Beginning to wish I'd never asked...
I shall go with the farrier's advice, see what happens, if it worsens I'll call the vet but for now I'll wait... see what happens. There is really no point in going on about this, I get all your points and have taken them onboard, thank you very much.

You're welcome .
 
I hate these kind of threads where everyone gets on their soap box but this one deserves it! Do you seriously think that a vet could do no more diagnosis than a farrier? My farrier is excellent, seriously good and works alongside a well recommended equine practice and refuses to be led in to diagnosis conversations but will work with the vet to come up with solutions and discuss his thoughts on feet. Why do you think vets bother to train if they are simply following the diagnosis from vets and owners.....sigh.!
 
I think everyone is over reacting here, I do not call the vet out every time my horse is lame, hopping lame with no obvious cause then I would, which may have been the op case originally, however it is not now!
The horse is obviously getting better, a few days on the chances are it willbe sound, if not then you call the vet.
Op for your information, lame on a tight circle on the hard, but sound on straight and soft is indicative of a hoof related problem.
Could well have been an abscess that has burst, and nearly better.
My own vet on a Saturday has even advised me, with a lame horse ( again not hopping lame) to box rest horse for 24 hours and if not better by Monday or any worsening or worries to ring them and then they will visit .
 
I think everyone is over reacting here, I do not call the vet out every time my horse is lame, hopping lame with no obvious cause then I would, which may have been the op case originally, however it is not now!
The horse is obviously getting better, a few days on the chances are it willbe sound, if not then you call the vet.
Op for your information, lame on a tight circle on the hard, but sound on straight and soft is indicative of a hoof related problem.
Could well have been an abscess that has burst, and nearly better.
My own vet on a Saturday has even advised me, with a lame horse ( again not hopping lame) to box rest horse for 24 hours and if not better by Monday or any worsening or worries to ring them and then they will visit .

Very nice to see that someone isn't chopping my head off for not wanting to call the vet!
He is hardly lame, I see little reason to call a vet unless something actually needs to be seen to - which, I hope their isn't! The farier said it's a bruised sole, I don't want to spend loads of money on calling a vet out, only to hear that a) it's a bruised sole b) just give it rest!
 
I think everyone is over reacting here, I do not call the vet out every time my horse is lame, hopping lame with no obvious cause then I would, which may have been the op case originally, however it is not now!
The horse is obviously getting better, a few days on the chances are it willbe sound, if not then you call the vet.
Op for your information, lame on a tight circle on the hard, but sound on straight and soft is indicative of a hoof related problem.
Could well have been an abscess that has burst, and nearly better.
My own vet on a Saturday has even advised me, with a lame horse ( again not hopping lame) to box rest horse for 24 hours and if not better by Monday or any worsening or worries to ring them and then they will visit .

Christ, I don't call the vet for every lameness either, if I did that he'd be an incredibly rich man. But equally I wouldn't post on an Internet forum asking what it was either, I would leave it a week or two to resolve, then call the vet. Field rest can solve a lot, but it seems the op is asking for us to diagnose/fix her horse o she can ride it.

Perhaps advice should be call a vet,or leave a week or two, then call a vet if still lame. My last lameness was tendonitis, on/off lame I tried to fix with box rest etc with it un diagnosed, but in reality lost five weeks doing this because I didn't want to call the cet. There was no heat or swelling with that either!
 
I think everyone is over reacting here, I do not call the vet out every time my horse is lame, hopping lame with no obvious cause then I would, which may have been the op case originally, however it is not now!
The horse is obviously getting better, a few days on the chances are it willbe sound, if not then you call the vet.
Op for your information, lame on a tight circle on the hard, but sound on straight and soft is indicative of a hoof related problem.
Could well have been an abscess that has burst, and nearly better.
My own vet on a Saturday has even advised me, with a lame horse ( again not hopping lame) to box rest horse for 24 hours and if not better by Monday or any worsening or worries to ring them and then they will visit .


I do not think it is so much that the OP will not call the vet out, it is more the OP's attitude and previous threads show a similar attitude of wanting to sort things as cheap as possible - which is a nice thought but horses are a lifestyle and are expensive, that is unavoidable if you wish to look after your horses to the best of your ability.

OP - I would suggest that you at least ring your vet and let them know the situation and get advice. A phone call costs nothing.
 
Maybe I phrased my questions incorrectly, I never wanted anyone to fix or diagnose my horse, I just wanted to see what people thought/hear their experiences because I thought the fact that he appeared sound on the straight but was lame on the flat was a little weird.
 
Maybe I phrased my questions incorrectly, I never wanted anyone to fix or diagnose my horse, I just wanted to see what people thought/hear their experiences because I thought the fact that he appeared sound on the straight but was lame on the flat was a little weird.

I am not being nasty but this post just shows how little you know .
It's normal for many types if injuries to be more noticeable on a circle .
Usually they are lamer when the lame leg in on the inside of the circle but some injuries cause them to be lamer when the injured leg is on the outside .
Where did you trot the horse in a straight line ?and where did you lunge him or go in circle with him.
 
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