Marmaduke
Member
Just thought I'd post in case this helps someone else.
Lame horse this year on hard and soft surface. Prior to this over previous two years no lameness but started stopping at fences not always though. Would jump sometimes fine then would just say no at the last minute. I fell off quite a few times! Also sometimes would walk away from having saddle put on. No bucking or bolting. Had usual checks including vet for x Rays for kissing spines which were inconclusive after referral. (So glad I didn't pursue further and end up having surgery!) Scoped and showed bad stomach ulcers so treated with Gastrogard last year, given an easy year but still not really happy jumping.
Fast forward to this year, had full lameness work up with nerve blocking which showed front feet as problem area. On x Ray showed navicular bone changes and almost fused spavin in one hock(possibly both but not x-rayed). After paddock rest egg bar shoes and osphos injection horse sound behind but still sore turning and on circle on a hard surface. Decided to have MRI, wouldn't necessarily change anything but covered by insurance.
This has shown compromised coffin joints as the primary problem. These looked fine on X Ray according to first vet and navicular bone stable so damage is historic.
There was conflicting shoeing advice, heart bars with wedge or no wedge, but on my suggestion (instinct) we have settled on having the horse back in plastic heart bar shoes (he was always happiest in these shoes (epona)in the past). He has also has steroid /hyluronic acid injections into the joint.
He is happily galloping around the field and I have tentatively started riding him. I won't be jumping him again as effectively he has arthritis in his feet, but he will be ridden for as long as he lets me know he is ok. I am not sure if I will continue injecting or not.
All I can say is in my case I am so glad I pursued the MRI, it was definitely worth it as the x Rays aren't always showing a full picture or indeed a current source of inflammation. Also it is worth trotting or lunging our horse on a circle on a hard surface to try and identify lameness. I only had a straight line of hard surface to test mine on.
I have posted this under navicular and kissing spines as I am sure an MRI would help in both and prevent unnecessary surgery in some cases. My horse was probably showing slight kissing spines on one side to do with twisting or holding himself as a result of the spavin or front feet problems.
Also trust your instincts you know your horse better than anyone!
Lame horse this year on hard and soft surface. Prior to this over previous two years no lameness but started stopping at fences not always though. Would jump sometimes fine then would just say no at the last minute. I fell off quite a few times! Also sometimes would walk away from having saddle put on. No bucking or bolting. Had usual checks including vet for x Rays for kissing spines which were inconclusive after referral. (So glad I didn't pursue further and end up having surgery!) Scoped and showed bad stomach ulcers so treated with Gastrogard last year, given an easy year but still not really happy jumping.
Fast forward to this year, had full lameness work up with nerve blocking which showed front feet as problem area. On x Ray showed navicular bone changes and almost fused spavin in one hock(possibly both but not x-rayed). After paddock rest egg bar shoes and osphos injection horse sound behind but still sore turning and on circle on a hard surface. Decided to have MRI, wouldn't necessarily change anything but covered by insurance.
This has shown compromised coffin joints as the primary problem. These looked fine on X Ray according to first vet and navicular bone stable so damage is historic.
There was conflicting shoeing advice, heart bars with wedge or no wedge, but on my suggestion (instinct) we have settled on having the horse back in plastic heart bar shoes (he was always happiest in these shoes (epona)in the past). He has also has steroid /hyluronic acid injections into the joint.
He is happily galloping around the field and I have tentatively started riding him. I won't be jumping him again as effectively he has arthritis in his feet, but he will be ridden for as long as he lets me know he is ok. I am not sure if I will continue injecting or not.
All I can say is in my case I am so glad I pursued the MRI, it was definitely worth it as the x Rays aren't always showing a full picture or indeed a current source of inflammation. Also it is worth trotting or lunging our horse on a circle on a hard surface to try and identify lameness. I only had a straight line of hard surface to test mine on.
I have posted this under navicular and kissing spines as I am sure an MRI would help in both and prevent unnecessary surgery in some cases. My horse was probably showing slight kissing spines on one side to do with twisting or holding himself as a result of the spavin or front feet problems.
Also trust your instincts you know your horse better than anyone!