My hunter is lame and has been for 4 days, HELP!

[lramsden1]

So I went hunting on Saturday, as I do every weekend at this time of year, as do many riders...

I had been previously worried about my horse due to not going on the correct lead and when he did it was not comfortable (although this applied to his left side), as a bit of history. Now though, I am worried about lameness in his hind-right leg that has been there since he went lame on Saturday out on the field.

We were cantering slowly up a hedge-row and I felt him slip and he broke back into trot of his own accord. On the road just before this he didn't feel quite right (i.e. went lame for a short while) and then he corrected it, just to double check I asked the girl trotting behind me and she said he looked fine as well. Then we entered the next field and cantered up carefully. He was slowing down gradually and then suddenly slipped and that was it, he was lame quite badly on that back leg and we went home.

4 days on, I've been cold-hosing it and trotted him up a few times to look for progress on it. The first day after hunting there was a significant improvement, but it hasn't improved from that. He's still short on it so obviously it is still causing him discomfort, but 1) there is no excess heat 2) there is no swelling and 3) I can't find a specific 'pressure point' anymore, although initially I thought the problem was above the hock. I feel as though that just makes it all the more suspicious.

Has my poor lad pulled a tendon? A muscle? A ligament? I feel totally responsible and terrible about it so no unfriendlies please - just advice. He's fine in himself, and he walks on it absolutely normally, just not in trot and beyond. Of course if he wasn't ok in himself I'd call the vet straight away, but in his current state it's a last resort for me. If it's not better by the weekend I will get the vet.

Any prognosis?

Many thanks in advance!

 

[tasteofchristmaschaos]

I would get the vet out asap, its pretty much impossble for us to say what it is on here, and if it is something serious the longer you leave it, the worse the prognosis is. Hope he is feeling better soon though!

 

[rhino]

Has my poor lad pulled a tendon? A muscle? A ligament?

Quite possibly could be any of these things, or about a hundred more! I'm afraid that is what a vet is for.

<<healing vibes>> and hope you get back to your hunting soon

 

[Ella19]

He's not ok in himself I'm afraid, just because he can't talk, by being lame in trot he's,telling you it hurts. vet before the weekend or its double call out I'm afraid. You could try a chiro but to be honest they will want vet to see him first anyway.

 

[doonrocket]

4 days is no time - if it's any of the things you fear he'll not be hunting for a few months. My chap went lame on off hind, no heat or swelling, just a knot in his hamstring you could feel if you pushed inbetween the muscles at the back of the leg (under sedation). just coming sound now after 8 weeks.

Vet will be able to tell you if box rest in needed or restricted turnout will be OK. The longer you delay calling them the longer the recovery is my experience.

 

[Wagtail]

He's not ok in himself I'm afraid, just because he can't talk, by being lame in trot he's,telling you it hurts. vet before the weekend or its double call out I'm afraid. You could try a chiro but to be honest they will want vet to see him first anyway.

Totally agree with this. Get the vet out. I don't understand why you are waiting. I would be especially worried as he was not quite right before he went lame. He needs investigating. No one on here can offer advice other than to get the vet because we cannot see your horse or how he moves. I hope you get him sorted, but sounds like he won't be hunting for a few weeks.

 

[JenHunt]

the old adage is that 90% of lameness is in the foot, so it's probably a concussion or a little gravel, but if he's had a slip or two then he's possibly tweaked something, but I would get the vet out at this stage if he's not improving.

 

[rockysmum]

but in his current state it's a last resort for me. If it's not better by the weekend I will get the vet.

Why is a last resort? If he was improving that would be fine, but he isn't. Why wait till weekend, then it becomes an emergency.

 

[Oberon]

Get the vet out - at the moment you are just driving yourself crazy.

 

[lramsden1]

Why is a last resort? If he was improving that would be fine, but he isn't. Why wait till weekend, then it becomes an emergency.

Because I'm not made of money...I'm 17 and in full-time education with a job that pays £4.50 an hour. I know what you're all saying about the vet and obviously given the amount of opinion focused on the vet I will call them out. I just tend to put faith in his own healing process as he doesn't have a history of going lame. The answer I was looking for is something more in the direction of him possibly having something building up over time that I didn't know about, or if it is just one of those things that happens - a better peace of mind, a pre-veterinary second opinion. Not the third degree!

 

[rockysmum]

Because I'm not made of money...I'm 17 and in full-time education with a job that pays £4.50 an hour. I know what you're all saying about the vet and obviously given the amount of opinion focused on the vet I will call them out. I just tend to put faith in his own healing process as he doesn't have a history of going lame. The answer I was looking for is something more in the direction of him possibly having something building up over time that I didn't know about, or if it is just one of those things that happens - a better peace of mind, a pre-veterinary second opinion. Not the third degree!

LOL, if you think thats the third degree you want to read some of the other threads.

But if you want an honest opinion to what you have just posted. Just miss a couple of weekends hunting to pay the vets bill.

 

[dunkley]

Years ago I had a little mare who hopped a ditch out hunting and popped up lame. Fortunately it was outside the farm of a very experienced horsewoman and (small animal!) vet. She iced the leg, strapped it up and told me that, without fail, the leg needed scanning the next day. I did think it was a little OTT - what was wrong with a week's rest, and cold hosing? As she had been so helpful, I did my 'bit' and trucked off to the vet's the next day. Quick US scan revealed a serious check ligament rupture. Mare was off for ten months before she started walk work again. The vet told me that, yes, I could have done the rest and cold hosing, and within a week there would probably have been no noticeable heat or swelling (there actually was hardly anything at the start), and she would have been worked as normal. This would have completely wrecked her leg beyond all repair, and the only poultice would have more than likely been a 'lead' one I am so glad I listened to advice and wouldn't hesitate to have that type of injury scanned now. I know vet bills are a PITA, but in the grand scheme of things a scan is not horrific. If there is a serious injury (hope not!) it is better to cough up for the scan, than risk losing the ability to ride/hunt your horse. Good Luck.

 

[BillyBob-Sleigh]

as someone has already said, without seeing him it's impossible to tell, even with seeing him we are not vets. Also, if he slipped and went lame could he possibly have pulled something in his back and the lameness could be secondary? Just a thought.

 

[Laafet]

Is he insured?

 

[Hedgewitch13]

You can afford to hunt but not call the vet out? Shame on you... 17 or not you need to learn what is important and what isn't. Your horse needs looking at by a vet so get one out. Poor horse

 

[Marydoll]

False economy waiting till the weekend, youll get a bigger callout fee.
Agree with the other posters, it sounds like he needs seen now

 

[Luci07]

You can afford to hunt but not call the vet out? Shame on you... 17 or not you need to learn what is important and what isn't. Your horse needs looking at by a vet so get one out. Poor horse

Don't be quite so hard - she was placing value on this boards opinion. I agree she should call the vet but no need to be quite so strong about it!

 

[Ranyhyn]

Have been in your boat, christmas is coming up - provided you have some family, ask for the vets fee as a present and get them out

 

[Toffee_monster]

You can afford to hunt but not call the vet out? Shame on you... 17 or not you need to learn what is important and what isn't. Your horse needs looking at by a vet so get one out. Poor horse

Agree with this i'm afraid, im sure if you go more than a few times you have to subscribe so if you can afford this then you should be putting money away to afford a vet !
Not getting it checked could do him more harm than good, sorry its not what you want to hear hun but the vet should have been our first port of call, not the forum

Hope he comes right for you soon x

 

[tasteofchristmaschaos]

Can't afford vet = can't afford horse in my book I'm afraid. Sorry if it sounds blunt but it's how I feel. If this had happened to my horse the vet would have been out Monday. I know money isn't easy to find, I'm a student, but you have to when an animals welfare is concerned. That is the responsibility you have by getting a horse, or any other animal for that matter.

 

[Grey_Eventer]

As a 17 year old (so i get the cost malarky) Id call the vets out, most vets can set up a plan for you so you don't have to pay in one big whack.
Could just be a small muscle strain, but it could be anything! The vet will tell you

You'll have the hunting money (i assume you pay weekly young persons rate) to pay the vets with anyway so you should be ok!
Good Luck!

 

[Darkly_Dreaming_Dex]

If you can get the horse to the vet then you can get a workup considerably cheaper..my boy had a suspected tendon/ligament injury and we popped to the vets who had all their diagnostics to hand and my total bill was £90 inc scanning- bargain! FWIW they couldnt find anything wrong with him but its his one white foot so we think its just sensitive from our flinty hacking most vets do a free call out day now which can also help with costs but please dont delay getting him looked at.

 

[Goldenstar]

17 years old or 70 if your horse is lame 4 days after hunting and you have not called the vet shame on you.

 

[dunkley]

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=498939 ........... slightly contradictory?

 

[be positive]

If he had not done anything for 6 years, only started work in September and has now been hunting several times he is likely to be showing the strain of not being fit enough.
He needs to see a vet and even if he is ok cut back the hunting and get him fitter if you want him to stay sound.

 

[jeeve]

I do not always call the vet immediately horse is lame. After many years of calling them out for the slightest thing, i realised that if there was nothing obvious to me,( heat/swelling/cuts etc) then generally the vet cannot tll me anything either (say about 8/10 times, they will say not sure need this test or that test). After all the testing, they say not sure or/and needs rest. So i end up with a big bill and they do nothing any way.

So now I make a decision, if it is likely to be an abcess I may call farrier. If it is hot swollen cut etc or horse not able to bear weight I call vet. Otherwise I may wait. it either gets better (most the the time of own accord) or it does not. then I may get vet, but usually I have found that these kind of injuries are often better treated by acupuncture or alternative therapists. (Do like the vet to look at it first before starting down this path).

 

[jeeve]

If you can get the horse to the vet then you can get a workup considerably cheaper..my boy had a suspected tendon/ligament injury and we popped to the vets who had all their diagnostics to hand and my total bill was £90 inc scanning- bargain! FWIW they couldnt find anything wrong with him but its his one white foot so we think its just sensitive from our flinty hacking most vets do a free call out day now which can also help with costs but please dont delay getting him looked at.

agree a lot cheaper to go to vet than have them come to you

 

[wattamus]

aww i feel for you i really do, but my horse was like this and then she just went lame out of nowhere, i left it for a month as she was only slightly off. Got the vet out when no improvement and tirned out she had arthritis! The same thing happened this time around when she got ringbone. Not trying to sacre you but it sounds like he's been coping with a problem for a whil and he's just his breaking point. I would get the vet next week maybe? if he still hasn't improved.
I do feel for you though our insurance has just run out and we've got to pay of a £600 bill- im a student too im lucky in the fact that my mum and dad are really helping out (which i feel so bad about). But yeah vets can set up a monthly payment scheme, they'd rather have you pay off the bill in small chunks than not be able to pay at all. Fingers crossed that it's nothing too serious xx

 

[Slinkyunicorn]

You can afford to hunt but not call the vet out? Shame on you... 17 or not you need to learn what is important and what isn't. Your horse needs looking at by a vet so get one out. Poor horse

This /\/\

 

[debsflo]

This /\/\

Have to agree,my daughter is 17 but i would expect her to do this. if youre in full time ed do your parents help financially. You have a duty of care and dont assume you can see or feel anything for major lameness.