Lameness until warmed up

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holly.91

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As title, anyone ever had experience with an older horse being slightly lame on one foreleg until warmed up, then completely not lame? I’m thinking perhaps Arthritis
 
Very possibly arthritis, I’d get the vet to have a look. Could be that something relatively simple and inexpensive like medicating a joint could resolve it.

Could also be more complex, but I’d want to know I wasn’t causing further damage.
 
Yes, I had this with one of mine. Turned out to be coffin joint arthritis. Medicated and got a while longer , but I have now retired him at 17.
 
holly.91 said:
As title, anyone ever had experience with an older horse being slightly lame on one foreleg until warmed up, then completely not lame? I’m thinking perhaps Arthritis
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I really don't want to sound like the crabby old git I'm going to sound like here but if your horse is routinely coming out of the field lame, I don't understand why the vet hasn't seen him yet. Arthritis is likely but it could be anything, including things where exercise will make it worse. I hope you find it's easily treatable.
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holly.91 said:
As title, anyone ever had experience with an older horse being slightly lame on one foreleg until warmed up, then completely not lame? I’m thinking perhaps Arthritis
Click to expand...
Most likely arthritis but you won't know until you investigate.
Bailey had hock arthritis which was treated with remedial farriery, steroid injections, joint supplement. When those failed to work she had Tildren. When that failed to work she had chemical arthrodesis, went back competiting, vet said to give her half a bute when doing anything strenuous which I did. But she was sound by this point due to all the treatment she'd had.

With her foreleg she had shockwave followed by PRP. You need to get a full investigation and be prepared to spend some serious money if necessary, and incorporate lifestyle changes to help the horse.

There's no point guessing and some injuries can be made by worse by sweeping it under the carpet.
 
I'm struggling to understand why you would keep working a lame horse? It’s irrelevant that it improves with time, it's lame, it needs time off and veterinary investigation.
 
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