Lameness on hard surface - pony

[Birker2020]

I said I'd put this post on for my friend who is not very computer savvy. She has a 14.1 welsh pony gelding who is 12 years of age and she is worried about her horse because although he is sound on a surface whilst ridden and/or lunged he is not sound on a hard surface. He trots up fine in a straight line on tarmac but he is unlevel on a circle on a hard surface. He does the odd bit of unaff dressage, affiliated jumping and he is shared with another girl who just hacks out on him.

I am simply guessing but would have thought that a problem with lameness on hard ground was to do with navicular or coffin joints, i.e a foot problem, whereas lameness on a soft surface would more likely be muscular/tendon problems.

She is going to speak to her vet about it but I just wondered if anyone had any ideas?

 

[Equi]

Without a video it is impossible to say based on a description.

 

[BethH]

Usually skeletal - mine was more lame on hard ground and had KS but could just as easily be feet, might also consider hocks at that age, mine has just suffered this with no obvious symptoms or swellings but became increasingly mechanically lame. It did show on soft ground too though, he went round corners with his back end square if that makes sense - no bend & haunches in especially in canter, it was easier for someone else to see from behind with me riding, very intermittant initially, although he did feel a bit higher one side than the other at times .......

Hope she finds the answer - sounds like a vet lameness work up to me and poss nerve blocks.

 

[MissMistletoe]

I would suspect bone.

Has it just happened? I would rest for two weeks then re-assess.

If it's been niggling for a while, then I'd suggest a full work up from the Vet.

Wishing friend and pony all the best.

 

[Birker2020]

Hi forgot to add that its just happened over the last few days. The pony has been belting around its paddock a bit so I wondered if it was the hard ground that had contributed to the problem. Its weird that its only unlevel on the hard ground. It turns okay on a very tight circle in hand on a hard surface, (like vets ask you to do when doing a workup) i.e legs tracking correctly/crossing properly, just when on a larger circle on hard ground its visibly not right. It had its coffin joints injected about 2 1/2 years ago so these might need topping up. My own horse went eleven years on three steroid injections so I know they can go a while on these, particuarly if they are not too bad at the time.

Also meant to say its definetely front leg lameness not hind.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Queenbee]

I said I'd put this post on for my friend who is not very computer savvy. She has a 14.1 welsh pony gelding who is 12 years of age and she is worried about her horse because although he is sound on a surface whilst ridden and/or lunged he is not sound on a hard surface. He trots up fine in a straight line on tarmac but he is unlevel on a circle on a hard surface. He does the odd bit of unaff dressage, affiliated jumping and he is shared with another girl who just hacks out on him.

I am simply guessing but would have thought that a problem with lameness on hard ground was to do with navicular or coffin joints, i.e a foot problem, whereas lameness on a soft surface would more likely be muscular/tendon problems.

She is going to speak to her vet about it but I just wondered if anyone had any ideas?

cant really comment as it could be a variety of issues... however, this sounds very similar to a friends pony who after xrays and nerve blocks has been diagnosed with bony changes in both hocks.... I believe she is also going to look into xrays of the hoof too. I hope that your friend can reach a diagnosis and good treatment plan.

 

[BethH]

Just a thought that front end could be lame as back end not working properly. This was my horse, vet said fronts but it was because he was so knackered from using his front end to balance himself, and oddly, wasn't on the forehand through the bit, still very light to ride in front. After many months of disagreement, I paid up for a bone scan, which showed heat in the hocks, vet apologised!