Mild lameness wwyd - box or field rest?

[Love]

My boy (16yo Connie) is showing mild lameness on his right fore - no heat swelling or pulses anywhere. Noticed the very occasional lame step towards the end (literally one or 2) when last schooled on Wednesday. Called it a day and left until Friday and trotted up in the school - slight head nod. Has been turned out 24/7 since Friday. Trotted up today and would say he looks the same or only very marginally better. Still no heat swelling etc (happy to send video to anyone for a second opinion if they had a spare few mins).

Would you continue to field rest or switch to box rest? (Or in at night and out in day? Luckily able to do any combination. He is happy wherever he is as long as there is food which is nice and easy). I was hoping it was a tweak but worrying it’s been a bit long to see no major improvement yet? Or am I jumping the gun? Next plan is to call vets and/or send video tomorrow I think

Touching all wood in sight, have been very lucky to not have had lameness issues with him before so questioning myself.

 

[Birker2020]

I'd field rest but call the vet out at this stage.

 

[AmyMay]

I'd field rest but call the vet out at this stage.

I agree.

 

[Love]

Thanks both. Will be giving them a call tomorrow

 

[Barton Bounty]

Agree with the ladies

 

[Love]

Brief update - vet and farrier called. Farrier was here last night for another horse and had a quick look but due to having been out in field with muddy feet we decided to leave in overnight and he’s coming back this am. Vets happy for farrier to look first before making a time for them to come see him.

Although still mild (and I’m no professional) I have a horrible horrible feeling this could be the start of lami Praying I’m wrong but treating as though it is until he’s been seen

 

[sportsmansB]

If you do think its lami then defo better to keep in
TBH thats about the only time I'd rather do in than out (unless its one who is a complete eejit when out)

 

[Love]

If you do think its lami then defo better to keep in
TBH thats about the only time I'd rather do in than out (unless its one who is a complete eejit when out)

I agree - he's in and nets soaking. Hoping very much I'm wrong as even though I've been paranoid about lami for the 12 years I've had him he's never actually had it.

 

[SO1]

If he is better on the hard than the soft it could be a soft tissue injury.

Though at 16 could also be the start of arthritis. Hopefully not laminitis though in a native always a possible risk is he overweight though it could caused by onset of Cushings. My vet recommends testing for Cushings yearly for horses from the age of 15.

Hopefully nothing serious it might just be something simple like a hoof bruise from standing on a stone.

 

[Love]

Thanks all really appreciate your views

Another brief update - farrier had watched videos before he came yesterday and agreed right fore looked to be the issue. Trotted up for him, fully expecting the same and low and behold..... next to nothing for him to see at all . Farrier checked everything all round, hoof tested, pulses, heat the lot and absolutely everything normal. (He also confirmed there is absolutely no signs of laminitis anywhere and that I was, again, being paranoid - one time I am more than happy to be proved wrong! Pony is kept on a lami approved diet anyway so nothing to change there other than soaking hay even if we were worried).

At this stage he is back out and we are sitting on it for a few days. Vets agreed no point coming out at this stage as nothing to see - trot up again after the weekend and see what we have there. If worse again we will start investigations (have also decided to have a Cushings test done either way given his age etc). Farrier is wagering on a tweak or stone bruise at this stage. Our fields are a horrible mix of deep soft and absolutely rock hard atm which doesn't help. YO is rolling as soon as the next few days of rain are out of the way so thankfully this will be solved too

 

[sportsmansB]

That's good news, always good when they make a liar out of you the right way!
Cushings tests used to be free apart from call out and postage, always worth getting anyway
Glad he's on the mend