Lameness- not really sure whats going on?

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poiuytrewq

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My horse retired in November and he's been in at night until recently as at the time he was clipped and working and it wasn't feasible to suddenly chuck him out!
I didn't think id be able too keep a retired horse and my ridden horse but have cut costs a bit- had his shoes removed being one of them.
He was sore the first day but has gone shoeless in the past when off injured (which was very often!) and got used to it.
Last year he badly damaged his knee but eventually recovered and was sound the day the vets made their last visit too that problem.
I bring him in now in the morning mainly because he's TB and lives with a fat pony on sparse grazing so it gives him a chance to get a decent feed and hay net. Some days by lunch its like he's seized up- He appears very footy sometimes then lame on the bad leg others. He's then perfectly sound again.
I can tell in the stable if he's going too look bad because he stands ever so slightly rocked back (lami stance almost) There is no heat or anything and my farrier said his feet are fine.
There is a vet down the lane and if he's about I trot him up quick- always sound!
Not sure whats going in or I suppose even if it matters? He's happy mooching round the field with his friend
 
nb- He'd be stiff/lame every morning almost to turn out when he was in over night and I put it down too his knee stiffening up where he stands still for so long over night.
He's always sound coming in or in the field its just going back out.
 
It does sound like standing in for several hours is not really doing him any favours.

Can you keep him out, and hay and feed him in the field when 'fatty' comes in??
 
Is it arthritic changes in his knee at all? In any case, I agree with amymay, keep him out, it seems best :) bring the other one in
 
Fatty is a companion as this one really cant be left alone (think going through fence hysteria!)
Hard feed wise I can just bring him the other side of the gate and hold him to eat I guess.
The pony isn't really too fussed by hay so I could probably chuck him a pile out.
I know its an impossible "online Q" but do you think as its only on being stabled its the knee rather than a foot issue?
 
I would say that, if he then goes lame on that leg at times, it would be the knee. if he was 'footy' it would be all the time, surely? Have you tried a flexion test with the vet around?

From experience of a horse with bone spavin, being out is much better than being in :)
 
Yes I can do, I guess there is no real huge need for him too be in as long as he gets fed! especially now the field's dried up so much, he seems happier to stay out longer now! (he was miserable and a sod to turn out through out winter/wet weather)
 
poiuytrewq said:
I don't know- Could a vet confirm arthritic changes even though the little monster is always 100% when a vet turns up!
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Yes, they can, but it could take x-rays and all that, mine wasn't lame at all, just kept stopping at jumps. X-rays showed bone spavin. If he is retired, then why not just change your routine instead of all of the extra expense, until it's really bad?
 
Amy567 said:
I would say that, if he then goes lame on that leg at times, it would be the knee. if he was 'footy' it would be all the time, surely? Have you tried a flexion test with the vet around?

From experience of a horse with bone spavin, being out is much better than being in :)
Click to expand...

This is whats confusing me! somedays it looks definite footiness others its more.
No not tried a flexion test- not since the last proper knee check when they said all was ok. His knee isn't the cause of his retirement. It was thought to have healed ok.
 
I'll toughen up and leave him out from today on and see what happens ;)
Hopefully he will do ok. If not will make a proper appointment with my vet I guess. Thanks
 
I have seen one footy horse who was worse after standing in .he would walk out the stable some days looking awful two mins later he was fine .
He had contracted heels .
 
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