New pony lame.. farrier thinks PTS :( Vibes please

Elsiecat

Elsiecat

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Had the farrier out for the girls today. Only had the welsh sec. A about 10 days. She seemed a little lame but we all thought it may just be that her feet were overdue and she was a little uncomfortable.
He trimmed her feet and I mentioned that she just wasn't 'flowing' to him. I know nothing about lameness etc. so I don't really know anything, just knew she didn't seem 100%. After doing her feet he got me to trot her and he just nodded and said 'yeah...' Like it was quite bad. It seemed to be her back left leg. He picked it up and kind of flexed it from the ankle and it barely moved more than 2/3cm. He then compared it to the other which moved freely. He thinks it may be an absess or a mixture of bad arthirutis or anything, but that either way she's badly lame. I said 'well quality of life wise, what would you reckon?" and he said something like "its your horse but...." and nodded.

Later I booked in for their next appointment and he wrote 2!!!! I corrected him that we had 3, and he said "well shall I leave it at 2 and if you have 3 then change it then?" He wasn't nasty at all he was just trying to make a point of how bad she is as he knew we don't know much when it comes to this.

I know farriers aren't qualified for this advise, but they know their share and advising on things like this there is no need for him to lie as he doesn't get personal gain from it like a vet would with money. I know he may be wrong but I trust his opinion.

Spoke to old owner and we're going 50/50 on getting the vet to come and have a look, but we've both agreed that if it comes to it we both want to put her quality of life first and our own emotions to one side. So sad :(

Hoping for a miracle with the vets but none of us can afford thousands of pounds.
Vibes please :o
 
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Did your farrier not do any tests for absess after saying that?
I would agree get vet, you are lucky old owner going 50/50 you bought a horse who wasn't right at time from sounds of it. Hope nothin serious.
How old is pony?
 
dizzydancer said:
Did your farrier not do any tests for absess after saying that?
I would agree get vet, you are lucky old owner going 50/50 you bought a horse who wasn't right at time from sounds of it. Hope nothin serious.
How old is pony?
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He tried but the second he tried to put any pressure anywhere she leaped right away from him. So in the end we agreed just to stop as she was clearly very uncomfortable with it.
Pony was given to us as a companion as the old owner is getting out of horses, very lucky in the circumstances that shes being supportive.
Pony is 17 but has gone from a small field where she couldn't move much to a big one where she can, as her movement was limited I think thats why it didn't show up.
 
Woah hold fire!

If she's a companion, then she's a companion for a reason, ie, due to injury or ailment, as I'm guessing her temperament is fine.

She doesn't sound 'crippled' from the likes of it, just unlevel/uncomfortable when left to her own devices [ie, not flexed, prodded around, etc].

If it's arthritis, then as a companion that isn't the end of the world! You've got the options of injections, food supplements [cortaflex, oils, etc] and various other things, even just a bute or devils claw etc a day to help her manage it and become comfy on it. Living out, will help it if is is also!

If it's an abscess, then again, hardly the end of the world!


Seriously, get the vet out, do a work up on her and find your definite answer before you jump the gun on this one! Its could be absolutely anything! For a normal work out with call out on top, you're looking at a one off £100-150 bill for that day, absolute max!
 
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Thank you, keep these sensible suggestions coming.
As I say I know nothing when it comes to this so I'm just panicking. Really helped reading that list of everything it could/probably is and that they're treatable :)
 
It is just as well that the old owner is paying some of the vets bill. They gave you a lame pony. They must have known what the problem was. If her feet needed to be done and were well over due then they should have got them done first.

A vet is better qualified to tell you what is wrong with the pony and will also be able to sedate.

Seventeen is not old and even if it is Arthritis there are many thing that can be done to help.

As she is not shod it could be an abscess ,which again is easy to deal with. If she was very touchy when he put pressure on the hoof again this sounds like an abscess.

I don't understand the "flowing to him" I wonder what he means.

Has she got worse in the last 10 days.
 
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There's loads of smaller injuries it could be. And even if its something more serious, given that she isn't worked anyway, the majority of possible causes would be manageable. Is it possible the farrier meant with her being new, you'd be sending her back, rather than meaning pts? I'd get vet Mon, but meantime don't panic.
 
paulineh said:
It is just as well that the old owner is paying some of the vets bill. They gave you a lame pony. They must have known what the problem was. If her feet needed to be done and were well over due then they should have got them done first.

A vet is better qualified to tell you what is wrong with the pony and will also be able to sedate.

Seventeen is not old and even if it is Arthritis there are many thing that can be done to help.

As she is not shod it could be an abscess ,which again is easy to deal with. If she was very touchy when he put pressure on the hoof again this sounds like an abscess.

I don't understand the "flowing to him" I wonder what he means.

Has she got worse in the last 10 days.
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Old owner said to me on the phone today that she was lame before but she thought that pony had recovered from it.

'Flowing' is the term I used because I didn't know how to describe what I meant to him. She just didn't look right when trotting and walking, the movement seems to 'flow' with the others where with her its almost restricted looking.
And I'm not sure about the past 10 days as they've been out 24/7 at the top field so I've only really seen her grazing and not so much trotting so I havn't really noticed :(
 
Faracat said:
Good advise CS. :)
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Haha I can be serious, occasionally!!!

Don't talk to me about abcesses at the moment! Got one of the big hunters doing his best dying duck impression due to an abcess in his front. Little bugger won't come out, going to have to get the farrier digging more if it doesn't soon, but don't want to do that if I can as it is going to be one big hole on his sole. Vet wants to leave it be a couple more days just poulticing it still and then dig some more if we have to. Honestly, you'd think he'd broken his pedal bone at the very least with how he acts at an abcess...but it's nothing major at all really, looks a whole lot worse than it is!


Don't be too worried Elsie :) Likelihood is, if you didn't notice anything 'major' with her movement, and only was just a little 'off', then it won't be anything too complicated. Flexions can get the best of most horses, I know my lad doesn't come up clean after flexions, but equally doesn't have anything bu age and past use going against him on that front and he's still got the all clear for general riding work, goes hunting occasionally, etc....for one that isn't in any work, I'm sure it's not serious long term for her.


Definitely not lami/sore feet from extra grazing?
 
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Hmmmm I would not take a diagnosis from the farrier in this instance - call the vet who is far more qualified to diagnose.
 
I had a farrier tell me a few times to get my retired horses Pts( I had had them for 20 years, broken, schooled competed with etc) . He would say " well they arent any use now they are retired, may as well get meat money for them"

It horrified me, but just kinda shows the attitude that some might have. :mad:
 
It could be anything if she wasn't keen on pressure i would think could be abscess.
I would get vet out to sedate and get a good farrier to have a prod about- a good farrier will know the foot much better than a vet. If it is an abscess if not vet will be there to look at other possibilities.
Like others said if only companion pony even if arthritis then a larger space and simple medication will be able to keep comfortable.
 
ChristmasSparkles said:
Woah hold fire!

If she's a companion, then she's a companion for a reason, ie, due to injury or ailment, as I'm guessing her temperament is fine.

She doesn't sound 'crippled' from the likes of it, just unlevel/uncomfortable when left to her own devices [ie, not flexed, prodded around, etc].

If it's arthritis, then as a companion that isn't the end of the world! You've got the options of injections, food supplements [cortaflex, oils, etc] and various other things, even just a bute or devils claw etc a day to help her manage it and become comfy on it. Living out, will help it if is is also!

If it's an abscess, then again, hardly the end of the world!


Seriously, get the vet out, do a work up on her and find your definite answer before you jump the gun on this one! Its could be absolutely anything! For a normal work out with call out on top, you're looking at a one off £100-150 bill for that day, absolute max!
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This /\ Excellent advise CS :)
 
I'm not sure why your farrier can't work out if you have an abscess. However if it turns out not to be an abscess I would get a chiropractor out before doing anything else. That would be a cost effective way of considering the lack of flexion in the ankle (fetlock) and seeing if it can be resolved. You may well find after a chiropractor's visit that the pony is moving completely differently. I have seen lots of improvements in our horses after their treatment.
 
Pale Rider said:
Bizarre, I'm suprised he didn't offer to take it off your hands for you, lol.
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I don't understand :(

Thanks for all the level headed input, I've calmed down now and I'm thinking properly without the panic again :D Vet out next week and going to see what they reckon. Hopefully some sort of painkiller will make her nice and comfortable or something, will have to see what they think.

Breathing again :rolleyes:
 
paddy555 said:
I'm not sure why your farrier can't work out if you have an abscess. However if it turns out not to be an abscess I would get a chiropractor out before doing anything else. That would be a cost effective way of considering the lack of flexion in the ankle (fetlock) and seeing if it can be resolved. You may well find after a chiropractor's visit that the pony is moving completely differently. I have seen lots of improvements in our horses after their treatment.
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What would you suggest first? Vet or chiropracter? :)
 
elsiecat said:
Thanks for all the level headed input, I've calmed down now and I'm thinking properly without the panic again :D Vet out next week and going to see what they reckon. Hopefully some sort of painkiller will make her nice and comfortable or something, will have to see what they think.

Breathing again :rolleyes:
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Good, we can all get a panic on sometimes. And I have to say your farrier only writing in two for next time is appalling!
 
Wait for the vet, she could have an abscess or even laminitis or she could of hurt her self in the field. It's really not for your farrier to say, he's not a vet.
 
Get the vet!
Did you have horse vetted?
surely vet should have picked up on something if farrier has?



Farrier probably means you might send horse back if its got major problems are a short time.
 
Also had the farrier today who basically rattled off what he thinks is wrong with the way the boy lands as he walks and pretty much repeated what the vet said. God knows why he has never mentioned this to me before! He says he will trim to help but back shoes are needed with a lateral support (vet and I agreed on there being an extra flare when he was out this week)

I think you need to call out your vet, get a decent diagnosis and go from there. Personally, I'm doing x rays on the hock as my first port of call. Don't panic. Whilst a farrier is very helpful, he's not a qualified vet. I wouldn't use a chiro/physio til you've had the vet out.
 
SNORKEY said:
Wait for the vet, she could have an abscess or even laminitis or she could of hurt her self in the field. It's really not for your farrier to say, he's not a vet.
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Agreed, a section A with good grazing and my first thought would be laminitis, have you got stables to bring her off the grass?
Hope the vet is more helpful for you:)
 
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