mare crossing front leg over & lame

[SNORKEY]

Hi,

Im wondering if anyone has idea as to what could be wrong with my mothers mare?
She is about 20 years old, and for the last year every now and again she'l come in from the field walking sideways and crossing her front leg over, and lame.
This only usually lasts a day then she's back to normal for another month or so, we dont ride her anymore as she goes lame quickly.
A vet has looked at her earlier this year but as she was'nt crossing her leg over on that day the vet could'nt be sure as to whats wrong with her.

Any ideas?

 

[kerilli]

could be what used to be called "ryegrass staggers". i think it's caused by a vitamin/mineral deficiency, i've had one get this, vet gave her a booster injection, fine from then on. if you try backing her up a few steps when she's like this, and she really struggles with her balance, that's another indicator i think - at least, that's what the vet got me to do with my mare. i'd have her bloods tested tbh, or put her on a good broad-spectrum oldies supplement, it may be that her forage is deficient in something perhaps.

 

[Minnies_Mum]

My TB used to show his lameness in this way, crossing over his front legs as if drunk. He turned out to have negative pedal bone angles and bruising of all the structures in his heels.