Lameness - what are the initial stages you take?

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AnnaandStella

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I'm a first time horse owner so I don't really know the protocol & everyone gives different advice!

Horse was lame in ridden trot yesterday, not when trotted in a straight line, but lame when trotted on the lunge.

Yesterday was out in field hoolying round with a horsey pal, came in happy as larry but when ridden an hour later looked lame in trot so got off her & trotted her up etc (as written above)

She's been in her box overnight (normally out) & when I took her out to lunge her this morning she tanked off in gallop while I was sorting myself out & galloped for a couple of circles on a very short lunge before I got her back under control. Then showed some head nodding on lunge.

She's back in box tonight.

If she's lame on lunge tommorrow (most likely she will be) I'll get the vet out.

No heat or swelling on her leg (offside fore) & we think it's coming from her shoulder as it's only on a circle, at a guess?

Should she be out in a field or in her box?

Last week she was diagnosed with very mild pssm/epsm so could it be muscle strain related to this?

Sigh. I'd like to know I was doing the right thing for horsey...
 
I think you're doing the right thing. When mine goes minimally lame (lame when ridden but weight bearing etc) and there is no obvious sign I tend to box rest him for three days to see if there is any improvement before getting out the vet. By keeping her in you're making sure she can't do any further damage by messing around in the field. Hopefully your vet will be able to shed some light on the lameness. I've tended to find that when my horse is lame on a circle but not in a straight line the problem tends to be in his foot - either bruised sole or pulled ligament in that region but that's just my experiences. Good luck.
 
I had our McTimoney lady out last week to my boy who was shoulder lame. Only apparent on the lunge in trot, he was sound in a straight line. Diagnosis as I suspected was a pulled muscle in his shoulder. Trouble is he was walking with his head turned to right, presumably because it was more comfy for him that way. McTim lady sorted him out and he's fine now, we just need to take it easy for a week or so, no lunging, no 20m circles if they can be avoided. He is so obviously happier in himself since he saw her.
 
I think I'll get the vet out first - hope it's not a ligament but I think it's probably likely to be muscular as she already has a neuromuscular disorder...

I feel very guilty for keeping her in though - she's turning into a bampot again & i'm having to keep her well rugged so her muscles don't get stiff
frown.gif


Bloody horsey.
 
If horse struggles with being in maybe you could fence off a small area of grass so she can move arounf without the space to hoon?! The movement may help stiff muscles seizing up totally.
But yes if no improvement in a couple of days and no sign of heat or swellign I would get vet to check over.
 
it might be she has pulled something thats why she is only showing it when on a circul and not on a straight rest cold hose give some arnica tablets try massaging the leg with witch hazel if no better by middle of week call a ostepath!
 
Vet's coming out tommorrow -

If it's going to be a case of box rest then we will fence of a v small paddock

I'm quite worried as she's shown absolutely no improvement since saturday - only lunged her for seconds today as it was obviously still there.
 
My girl was lame on a circle on sound in a straight line it was a tendon injury very mild but lots of box rest so your doing the right thing as others said cold hoseing and lots of bordom toys to keep her amused good luck.. at least you have caught it early xx
 
Vet thinks it's muscle damage in the shoulder (our guess) and she's on danilon & 2 weeks of box rest....

Then, if it's not better, it's something else.

*sigh*
 
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