Lameness work up - what to expect?

[Jericho]

My boy appears sound and has been checked superficially by a vet (trot up, simple exam) and by a physio and had saddle checked but I am unconvinced he is right...somewhere. Have done a local dressage and noone said anything, he jumps beautifully, doenst buck, nap or rear. The only time he looks uncomfortable is when my sharer whi is very nervous tries to school him and he humps his back and wont move forward (never does it with me). She bought a friend with her to help this week and she said he went fine for 20 mins but then he felt really uncomfortable and lame. I lunged him this morning and he was short striding in front and at one point really lost his backend from him but I was unsure whether this was because the ground/ grass was slippy (rain fall over night after 2 weeks of no rain = iceskating paddock!)

Anyway I have booked him in to go to the vets for a full lameness work up which apparently will take an hour. Could anyone give me an idea of what happens, what I should be asking, what I should expect to happen? I know that there is unlikely going to be a definitive answer but we need to start the process.....

but lots of those famous HHO vibes for wednesday please and just maybe they will find absolutely nothing and its just a case of my boy being very good for me and testing my sharer!

 

[Eira]

When Sol has a lameness workup we

Trotted her up x 2
Lunged on a hard surface on both reins
Lunged on a soft (arena) surface on both reins
Then was lunged with tack and ridden (w,t and c)

 

[cellie]

When Ollie had his he was trotted in straight line hard surface.Lunged on soft surface but not ridden.His lameness is still aparrent in trot although he can hack out in walk to strengthen fibres and keep supple.Could you ask for flexation tests if lameness doesnt show on ridden or lunge work.You could also ask for hoof test although you could ask your farrier for this.Its all process of elimination.
I would work along the lines of what you would look for with 5 star vetting.
Short striding could be problem in the hoof or front leg.(it was for us)Good luck for wednesday let us know how you get on.

 

[misst]

Usually consists of a trot up on a hard surface, flexion tests, lunge on hard and soft surface on both reins. If a leg is shown to be specifically lame then nerve blocks to establish exact area of lameness. Follow up will include xray, scans, scintigraphy, poss MRI - don't panic yet

Good luck

 

[Jane_Lou]

My grey boy had one this week.
Walked and trotted in straight line
Flexion tests on both hinds
Lunged on both reins on soft surface
Lunged on both reins on hard surface
He then had nerve block, 4 in total, the process was repeated after each block.
Unfortunatley in my case the blocks did not make any improvement so now on 2 weeks total box rest to see if there is any improvement. He had got worse in 6 days between initial vet visit and this investigation on field rest. Vet quite confused as was convinced the problem was hock related.

 

[bushbaby28]

as above really. don't worry, the vet will talk you through each process and what they will do IF they find anything wrong. best of luck and hope everythings ok.

IMO if the owner feels like theres something wrong, there usually is something, however small. you know your horse best and you know when something is up. Even if nothing is found, don't feel like it was a waste of time or anything as its always best to check.