Arkmiido
Well-Known Member
One of my driving ponies reared and went over backwards-long story why, but essentially landed on her left hip on concrete. Thought nothing of it and went out for a quiet drive, came home to find she had sanded off a small amount of her RIGHT toe. Vet came out, put on bute, he said she was 1/10 lame, pelvis angle slightly slanted and essentially not tracing up enough with left hind (but taking off toe on right still). 2 weeks rest - no change. Not visibly lame but when driven (on vet's advice to work lightly) would sand toe down further (had lost about 1cm by this point). Appeared to get worse when asked to do more work and would be noticeably male by the end of the drive. Second vet reassessed, noted that she backs up unevenly so only catches up to right hind with left. When turning tight circles she pivots on the left hind, almost falling over it, but steps under with right. Advised to turn away for 6 months as it was neurological damage and nerves take a long time to regrow/heal, if at all. At the same time, with vet's permission, Physio found tightness in hamstrings on one side (can't remember which side now), and we did exercises with chains on that leg, tapping with dressage whip leading in hand, massage, I have tried Reiki, chiropractor found "misalignment" in pelvis, and Gavin Schofield did something to her which made her no longer headshy and more chilled as a person, but all of the above did nothing for her gait , oh and a "psychic" said it was all in her mind from past trauma (she is a gypsy rescue). 6 months of B vitamins made no difference either. Bute has done nothing.
She has now had 2 years off, and appears sound to trot up, still swivels on leg and sands off right toe.
I have been driving her lightly - she is very forward and keen but when she gets tired, starts to look like she has a wooden left hind (although it's only me that really notices) and not track up as well.
She is only 7, and a wonderful driving pony, the only pony I have found to match my other pony as a pair, and she seems to really enjoy working.
Any ideas on her case, means to pinpoint what is wrong - bearing in mind she is not insured and I haven't got thousands to throw at this. My vet wonders about steroid injections, but being a pony, the laminitis risk seems to be a big problem. Imaging the pelvis is also a big issue to find out what is actually going on, and scintigraphy may be too expensive. I was thinking of taking her to Bell Equine for a 2nd (well 3rd) opinion....
I also want to be clear that I only want the best for her, I am not working her unfairly and as soon as she appears to be different in any way, we stop. She did a driving trial recently where the dressage judge saw no problem with her and she scored very well, and cantered round the obstacles - my vet also happy for her to be worked (and i stay within her limits) as he doesn't think she is in pain but is at risk of tripping and therefore hurting herself - potentially - hasn't happened in 2 years!
I suspect she will probably have to be retired or allowed to do very light work but never improve, but I'm just hoping there may be SOMETHING I can do! Any ideas/thoughts/suggestions?
She has now had 2 years off, and appears sound to trot up, still swivels on leg and sands off right toe.
I have been driving her lightly - she is very forward and keen but when she gets tired, starts to look like she has a wooden left hind (although it's only me that really notices) and not track up as well.
She is only 7, and a wonderful driving pony, the only pony I have found to match my other pony as a pair, and she seems to really enjoy working.
Any ideas on her case, means to pinpoint what is wrong - bearing in mind she is not insured and I haven't got thousands to throw at this. My vet wonders about steroid injections, but being a pony, the laminitis risk seems to be a big problem. Imaging the pelvis is also a big issue to find out what is actually going on, and scintigraphy may be too expensive. I was thinking of taking her to Bell Equine for a 2nd (well 3rd) opinion....
I also want to be clear that I only want the best for her, I am not working her unfairly and as soon as she appears to be different in any way, we stop. She did a driving trial recently where the dressage judge saw no problem with her and she scored very well, and cantered round the obstacles - my vet also happy for her to be worked (and i stay within her limits) as he doesn't think she is in pain but is at risk of tripping and therefore hurting herself - potentially - hasn't happened in 2 years!
I suspect she will probably have to be retired or allowed to do very light work but never improve, but I'm just hoping there may be SOMETHING I can do! Any ideas/thoughts/suggestions?