Last chance saloon for my mare - anyone experienced this before?

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Switchthehorse

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Hi

This is very much last grasp of hope time for various reasons.

My mare one day at a dressage competition suddenly out of nowhere went hopping lame on a left 10m circle. Was only a novice test. Obviously got off worried and called vet.

Vet came - horse sound in straight line, after flexion etc. Horse sound on a lunge soft and hard. Horse sound left and right rein with loose rein. Horse sound on right rein in contact straight and bend. Horse sound in straight line in contact on left. Horse 9/10ths lame in trot on a circle in a contact left rein. (interestingly not obviously lame in walk or canter)

Vet diagnosed neck issue, X-ray showed nothing. Gamma scan showed arthritis in neck c3,4 and 5..although not terrible.. treated with steroid injections was told pretty sure she would be fine and come sound.

This was early December. Since then all of the above maintains. you can hack her in rollkur (clearly I don't but you get the point) and she is sound on a straight line. She's tanking me round the countryside and very happy on a loose rein or in a contact. She is going SO sweetly (nicer than ever tbh) on the right rein in a contact - but still 9/10ths lame as soon as you even flex left.

Obviously I am no longer riding her in the school. I have given her time off, brought her back into work as a hacker. Vet advised I could ride her on a loose rein and hack her in straight lines (!) and she seems really happy with both options.

Now lets face it arthritis doesn't come overnight - so I am not convinced. I wonder about trapped nerve? I wonder about shoulder problem? I wonder if I admit defeat and have her PTS (she isn't a great hacker - she needs to do more, gets naughty and is very sharp solo - and its not what I want to do). I wonder if I should refer her for a very expensive all over work up. Its clearly not going to come right on its own (been 7 months now).

Ive had her since a 3yo - she's now 14, so its not an 'easy' decision.

Just wondering if ANYONE had ever heard of anything like this.. good or bad. Its soooo frustrating!!

Thanks All
 
I would try Rob Jackson, the horse back vet. It may be that a manipulation straightens something out and he's one of the best for that
 
One of our local vets does accupuncture on horses, worked wonderfully on my old Appymare with a problem with her poll, which showed as slight (very slight) unlevelness on her right fore in trot. Might be worth a try if you can find someone local to you.
 
^^^^ Try a chiropractor vet, there are a few about. I have recently used Dr Angela Holland, she is brilliant. She is an experienced equine vet who formerly worked at Leahurst, and has now retrained as a chiropractor. She does acupuncture etc as well if she thinks it necessary. You can take the horse to her (just into N.Wales) if you are out of her area, she has the use of good trial facilities so she can see the horse ridden.

https://www.equineveterinarywellnessclinic.co.uk/
 
I was thinking chiro while reading your post too - my mare will often come up lame in her right fore when her hind end is sore
 
Tiddlypom said:
^^^^ Try a chiropractor vet, there are a few about. I have recently used Dr Angela Holland, she is brilliant. She is an experienced equine vet who formerly worked at Leahurst, and has now retrained as a chiropractor. She does acupuncture etc as well if she thinks it necessary. You can take the horse to her (just into N.Wales) if you are out of her area, she has the use of good trial facilities so she can see the horse ridden.

https://www.equineveterinarywellnessclinic.co.uk/
Click to expand...

Angela is incredible. She was my vet years ago at leahurst and I recently called her to Polly and I have never seen such a difference in an animal before after she treated her.

Seriously, she is absolutely amazing.
 
Have you had her teeth done? if she's sound to the left on a loose rein then very lame when you pick up a contact it may be worth getting a second opinion there too.
 
Hi, yes had teeth done in last 3 months. Also tried her bitless, in a Stubben Freedom and even ridden in headcollar in case it was mouth or poll related but no difference

Thanks so much for all the recommendations. I am in the south east just west of London so any recommendations in this area gratefully received.
 
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