PiggyB
Well-Known Member
I have had my new horse for 10 weeks. She is 6 years old was bought from the field, barefoot and unfit and has done very little work in the past. She has been turned out with the intention to start light hacking in walk, building up to schooling by the time winter comes.
After 4 weeks (without riding), she was lame most notably to the left. My vet and farrier suggested bruising of the sole, especially since she had been hairing around a little as she got used to her new home. She was rested and came sound within a week or so.
We started ridden walking every other day. Whilst observing her in the field one morning I noticed that she seemed pottery and unwilling to move freely down hill. The onset of this was fairly sudden (fine the day before).
The vet came the next day, she trotted up 2/10ths lame and the vet confirmed that the lameness looked footy, not laminitic and applied hoof testers (which gave no reaction). There was also no visible bruising to the sole (yet), although the vet advised to work on the assumption that this was the problem for now.
My farrier put two front shoes and pads on, again no reaction from the hoof testers.
She is turned out in a restricted, level paddock. When trotted up, she displays the same degree of lameness as she has for the past week, although when getting a bit excited in the field last night, she looked sound as anything, after trotting for a few minutes she went back to looking incredibly lame. She is worse when turning and gives the impression that her feet are tender. My farrier has been to look at her quite a few times since the onset of the lameness, commenting that although it is usually the near fore that looks affected, the off fore occassionally looks worse.
My question is, what are the (more serious) alternatives to it being bruising? The lameness can be described as intermittent. Although there is no swelling or heat in the leg, the feet are cool, on a couple of occassions she has had a slight puffiness around the fetlock of her near fore (which is gone the next day).
Obviously I am concerned that there is some more sinister ligament damage or similar. Since it took her a while to settle, she has spent some time flying around the field at top speed. With her lack of condition, I worry that she has done some serious damage.
Any one have any ideas???? I know it's a ridiculous question, and could be absolutely anything.
It is worth stating that she was 5 stage vetted before purchase. She came with badly balanced feet, but had not been lame at her previous home in this way (I am confident of her history).
After 4 weeks (without riding), she was lame most notably to the left. My vet and farrier suggested bruising of the sole, especially since she had been hairing around a little as she got used to her new home. She was rested and came sound within a week or so.
We started ridden walking every other day. Whilst observing her in the field one morning I noticed that she seemed pottery and unwilling to move freely down hill. The onset of this was fairly sudden (fine the day before).
The vet came the next day, she trotted up 2/10ths lame and the vet confirmed that the lameness looked footy, not laminitic and applied hoof testers (which gave no reaction). There was also no visible bruising to the sole (yet), although the vet advised to work on the assumption that this was the problem for now.
My farrier put two front shoes and pads on, again no reaction from the hoof testers.
She is turned out in a restricted, level paddock. When trotted up, she displays the same degree of lameness as she has for the past week, although when getting a bit excited in the field last night, she looked sound as anything, after trotting for a few minutes she went back to looking incredibly lame. She is worse when turning and gives the impression that her feet are tender. My farrier has been to look at her quite a few times since the onset of the lameness, commenting that although it is usually the near fore that looks affected, the off fore occassionally looks worse.
My question is, what are the (more serious) alternatives to it being bruising? The lameness can be described as intermittent. Although there is no swelling or heat in the leg, the feet are cool, on a couple of occassions she has had a slight puffiness around the fetlock of her near fore (which is gone the next day).
Obviously I am concerned that there is some more sinister ligament damage or similar. Since it took her a while to settle, she has spent some time flying around the field at top speed. With her lack of condition, I worry that she has done some serious damage.
Any one have any ideas???? I know it's a ridiculous question, and could be absolutely anything.
It is worth stating that she was 5 stage vetted before purchase. She came with badly balanced feet, but had not been lame at her previous home in this way (I am confident of her history).
