Lameness, ideas?

[eventer28]

Brought my horses in from the paddock on Sunday morning and my 4yo gelding was walking slightly on his toe with his nearside hind, like he didnt want to put his heel down. He fronts are shod and hinds are bare. I have box-rested him and he is always resting his offside hind. He doesn't have any heat or swellings in any of his joints or tendons, no cuts or bumps. I have the farrier coming tomorro to check for an abscess. What do you think?

 

[AmyMay]

Abcess

 

[eventer28]

Can I ask why? In all my years of owning horses, I have never had one with an abscess..

 

[EllieK]

I would also guess at a possible abcess, with absence of anything else visible or palpable higher up through the leg I personally would get foot checked next as a matter of course, although I guess everyone has their own approach to non-discript lameness!

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
Can I ask why? In all my years of owning horses, I have never had one with an abscess..

[/ QUOTE ]

The not wanting to put the heal down is usually a dead give away.

 

[eventer28]

You were all correct! The farrier found a small abscess draining into his heel bulb. Phew!