Lameness...well, sort of

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Marilyn

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my 13 y old cob mare seems to be a bit stiff/lame. I went out for a ride two weeks ago- she felt amazing in walk- ask to trot- lame behind. walked her on- felt brilliant. Asked her to trot again- fabulous. Final short trot on that hack- lame again. Feet picked out, small stone removed, walked home. Ride her sunday- amazing in walk- bad in trot like weekend before. Asked her to trot again and pushed on- she very quickly went sound. Defo lame/unsound/stiff behind.

She lives out 24/7 in a rather slippy/muddy paddock. She has always had trouble extending behind for farrier unless she's been ridden first- farrier says it is a cob thing. Any ideas?
 
Just ridden her again- she does feel better- still good in walk, fine in trot on one rein and not so good on the other- but more of a shortening. Could it be something like her back being out? Could it be arthritis or a conformation created condition?
 
Hard to know without seeing her but I'd be looking at whether it may be arthritis, whether she has tweaked herself in the field slipping somehow or whether it could be her back.

I'd get the vet out personally to have a look.
 
I've had something similar with my little cob the last week. Our field is like very deep sticky toffee at the moment but I also had a lesson a week ago when our sand school was deep and wet and hard work. We were doing cantering over poles and we got our striding wrong a couple of times and he would either launch himself or bunny hop. And across the last week he's fine in walk and fine in trot on grass verges and bridleway but on road is a bit hesistant in his movement and then feels like he's short in front but showing no sign of lameness. He's also fine in the school too as it's dried out and is lighter surface now.

I am putting it down to a possible pulled shoulder/muscle from either the lesson or the field as the geldings hurtle round some days and that mud is no fun and he's not the most agile of ponies. I'm wondering if he's jarred it. There's also a lot of fighting in the field at the moment too as they gather to come in as not much grass and plunge about at each other. I've been giving him days off this week and I'm seeing how he goes this weekend - and then if it continues will first get physio out as he's about 2 months off his normal 6 monthly appt anyway.
 
I've been looking at a few back people/ physios. My gut feeling is that something is pulled or twisted or just a bit 'out'. She lives with a jolly 5 year old who insists on her playing with him and with the cold, mud etc, it might be it. If she was hopping lame, I would get the vet in a heartbeat, it's just i don't want the symptom to be treated and not the actual problem. If something hurts her, i'd rather she was a bit short on that leg until it is fixed, in contrast to having something to mask the pain...if you know what I mean?
Thank you!
 
Sounds like you are having same problems as me.I had vet out felt that she wasnt right and she is very lame on small circle on hard ground but sound in straight lines and flexation.Mine went lame after hack I dismounted and felt she had stood on stone. Vet said 2 weeks off no riding try her on soft ground in school.He feels it could be concussion /deep bruising /poss stifle probs /arthritis.Rather than go for extensive treatment we are doing restricted turnout and stabling with danilon for anti inflamm.Farrier is out tuesday as one of her heels/frogs low and might be concussion.
I hope that helps
 
Ive got EXACTLY the same problem. My old fella is 17 years old. Has suffered from bad feet/stiff hocks since he turned 10. Went suddenly lame out hacking 2 weeks agao. Let him walk a bit then trotted on sound. Then on Thursday this week, he did it again. Trotting along quite happily then lame. Stopped to check for stones. Got back on... sound again. No ryhme or reason to it.

Farrier is coming this Tuesday so hoping hes just brewing a bruise. Good luck everyone. Its never easy handling lamenesses that wont show up when the vet comes !
 
Im thinking along the lines of bad weather causing alot of our problems.Frozen ground which is hard on soles then mud that softens their hoof wall.It all adds up to bruised feet legs or bad sprains.
confused.gif

Lets hope our farriers finds problem on tuesday.
 
My horse has the same symptoms. She went lame Tues night, brought her in to stable (she lives out), she was sound next day, but not quite right walking in deep mud to her field. Hacked her out Thurs night she was walking as if she had trodden on a stone, then was fine, then when trotting on path at side of road was a bit lame. I got vet out Friday, when she walked and trotted up sound. He said its most likely that she's pulled something as he felt her tendons and they were fine. I couldnt find any sore points on both front feet. I did some light work with her yesterday, just walk and trot hacking out. She was fine then walked as if she had trodden on a stone but next stride was fine but this happened only about 3 times. Not sure what best option is now. She seems happy and sound in field. Altho saying that this morning trotted up lame then was fine.

Arggh horses.
 
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