Ok - Pony update on lameness.

[Marble Arch]

Update on pony.

In short, just after I bought Pony he got into the habit of buckarooing as soon as I sat back on the saddle after I mounted. I got the saddler out and got him a new saddle. The Saddler said his old saddle was too narrow. Pony continued to buck so I have been working through it. I now lean over first of all whilst he walks around then I gently swing my leg over and we walk on nicely. Not ideal.

Last night I spotted that he was lame.

Vet came today.

1. Did a back check. Everything ok. So the bucking is probably not related to that.

2. Did a flexion test on all fours and then trotted pony up and down. Slightly lame on near hind (back left).

3. Lunged on concrete, pony slightly lame on off fore (front right).

4. Did a hoof check using a metal thingy on off fore, he has a sore foot. He is not shod.

5. His off fore fetlock is slighlty filled (feels spongey) which could be down to the lameness on that side.

6. Vet then did a nerve block thingy with an injection in his off fore hoof. Waited 10mins and lunged. Pony still lame although not so noticable this time round.

7. Vet confirmed its not laminitis or navicular.

Vet gave me the following options:

1. Do nothing (not advisable)
2. Check him into Pony hospital for more tests.
3. Course of bute for 2 weeks to see if he still bucks when the pain is taken away. i.e. it could be behavioural.
4. Get Physio out before the bute starts to rule out muscle issues.

I have decided:

1. Get shoes put on the fronts.
2. Put him on course of bute
3. If that doesnt work call physio
4 If that doesnt work Pony hospital.

Good decision? Any other ideas if not.

Thanks once again folks!

 

[misst]

Glad the vet is getting to the bottom of things for you. I hope he comes right very soon. I think so long as vet, farrier, and physio all work together your decision sounds good. Good luck x

 

[Marble Arch]

I have only had pony 3 months. Sometimes i think I should just give him back!?

 

[jhoward]

Not a physio but an osteo. i would go this route anyway, it never hurts to get a check done, just because they were ok a month or so ago does not meen they havnt tweaked something in the meen time.

also if lamness is still there after a nerve block it could be indicating body area rather than hoof/leg area.

good luck and well done for seeking advise and acting on it.

 

[Miss L Toe]

Yes, give him back
Why front shoes?

 

[LaurenBay]

Glad to hear you are getting to the bottom of it. Was the pony sound when you first got him? If so u cannot just give the pony back as its your responbility. I know its fustrating though. I have only had my horse for 5 months and havent been able to ride for the last month however she is my responsilbilty so wont just hand her back.

 

[SusieT]

If pony is lame I would forgo faffing around and just take him down to the vet for further nerve blocks.

 

[rhino]

Is he insured for vets fees? If he was I'd go for the full lameness workup, if not I probably would do as you have decided and then reassess. Do you know much history on the horse - age/previous injuries etc.. To be honest I wouldn't be worrying about his back at the moment and try and get the lameness sorted.

Good luck x

 

[Emilieu]

Bute and rest solved my boy's lameness on the same leg although they didn't find any pain in hoof for him.

Will front shoes not mask rather than fix pain? I'm by no means an expert but remember reading that somewhere.
I'd be tempted to do it in the other order and see if he comes sound before putting shoes on x

 

[martlin]

TBH I would go the route of full diagnosis, thus send the pony to horsepital for full lameness work up and all test they deem appropriate. Then you can decide on course of treatment - when you know (hopefully) what you are treating.

 

[Marble Arch]

Bute and rest solved my boy's lameness on the same leg although they didn't find any pain in hoof for him.

Will front shoes not mask rather than fix pain? I'm by no means an expert but remember reading that somewhere.
I'd be tempted to do it in the other order and see if he comes sound before putting shoes on x

He did flinch allot when the vet did the metal hoof thingy. Vet said getting front shoes on would be perfect.

 

[Emilieu]

He did flinch allot when the vet did the metal hoof thingy. Vet said getting front shoes on would be perfect.

Well for me vet = gospel so I would do just as you are doing. Get well vibes to ponio xx

 

[Marble Arch]

TBH I would go the route of full diagnosis, thus send the pony to horsepital for full lameness work up and all test they deem appropriate. Then you can decide on course of treatment - when you know (hopefully) what you are treating.

You see this is also very good advice. I just dont know.

 

[jojo5]

On any yard ( and even on this virtual one!) you will get loads of totally different advice about your horse in all sorts of situations. You just have to pick the solution/person that you respect most/has most experience (e.g. vet)/think is best/your heart wants to follow and then stick to it. A plus point from what you have been doing is that you have spent loads of time looking at how your horse moves so that is a good comparison to keep in mind for the future - your own experience has developed through this incident.
Are you the same as Smallhorses? just noticed the OP changed on the other thread....

 

[Circe]

I would concentrate on sorting out the lameness first, when he is comfortable in his feet then worry about his back.
Did the vet say his feet were bruised? Is that why he's going to be shod on fronts? Has he always been unshod, or since you've owned him?
Kx

 

[Smallhorses]

On any yard ( and even on this virtual one!) you will get loads of totally different advice about your horse in all sorts of situations. You just have to pick the solution/person that you respect most/has most experience (e.g. vet)/think is best/your heart wants to follow and then stick to it. A plus point from what you have been doing is that you have spent loads of time looking at how your horse moves so that is a good comparison to keep in mind for the future - your own experience has developed through this incident.
Are you the same as Smallhorses? just noticed the OP changed on the other thread....

Thanks for pointing that out. My sister is Marble Arch and was still logged in on my PC. I didn't even notice as i never usually log out. Back now! sorry for the confusion Lol!

Yes you're right with receiving volumes of advice. Its a tricky one to call. I am going to stick with my plan of action. If he stays lame whilst on bute at least i will know that its a mechanical issue rather than a pain one. Process of elimination.

 

[Smallhorses]

I would concentrate on sorting out the lameness first, when he is comfortable in his feet then worry about his back.
Did the vet say his feet were bruised? Is that why he's going to be shod on fronts? Has he always been unshod, or since you've owned him?
Kx

He has been shod but unshod when I first met him. He was a bit of a rougue when I borught him to the new yard so I thought I woudl keep them off until he was settled in more.

 

[JFTDWS]

If it were me, I would want to know what was causing the lameness in front - if your vet thinks shoes are necessary I presume he's thinking the pony is foot sore from standing on a stone or something? - which doesn't really explain the fetlock, and I would want to be sure that was the case before putting shoes on and complicating the issue. I would probably go for full lameness investigations personally too. I would also (ehem, waits to be shot down) check that you have the most experienced equine vet available in your practice...

 

[Dancing Queen]

He did flinch allot when the vet did the metal hoof thingy. Vet said getting front shoes on would be perfect.

my horse was touchy with the hoof testers - the vet ordered immediate xrays which highlighted pedal bone rotation - treatment = remedial farriery and heartbars.

Like JFTD I would get a second opinion from another vets.

 

[ester]

I think you posted previously that he was being stressy bugger because you had changed him to a paddock on his own due to kicking at other horses. Is it therefore possible that he has been charging round and done himself some damage.

Did you still have the square sheep netting on his paddock? he may also have caught a foot (presumable off fore) and wrenched it on that.

If he were mine with swelling and a reaction to hoof testers he would be having more a of a full work up.

eta I am not sure how the vet could categorically rule out navicular or lami from the tests done.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

He did flinch allot when the vet did the metal hoof thingy

Has an abscess been ruled out?

I know that he has a swollen fetlock, but several times I have seen lame horses suddenly popping an abscess when eveyone (Vet included) was sure that it definately wasn't one.

 

[neddynesbitt]

Just be warned that if you are insured that now the vet has seen him both legs will be excluded after a year. Don't be fooled in thinking that if you don't inform them you won't be excluded. Even if your pony comes right after a while, if you haven't had it properly investigated by a vet (not physio or osteo) then you will not be able to claim for ANYTHING for the affected legs in the future.

If in for example 3 years time the pony goes lame on either of those legs the insurance company will insist on having a print out of the clinical history from all vets you have been with. As soon as they see that your pony has had these problems they will NOT pay out unless it's been investigated and for example it's found to be a tendon problem you would only be excluded in that leg for tendon injuries. However, if you don't do all tests now insurance will exclude everything including bones,joints etc.

I can't recommend how important it is to get it investigated if you are insured.

Hope it makes sense to you what I'm saying

 

[Smallhorses]

Just be warned that if you are insured that now the vet has seen him both legs will be excluded after a year. Don't be fooled in thinking that if you don't inform them you won't be excluded. Even if your pony comes right after a while, if you haven't had it properly investigated by a vet (not physio or osteo) then you will not be able to claim for ANYTHING for the affected legs in the future.

If in for example 3 years time the pony goes lame on either of those legs the insurance company will insist on having a print out of the clinical history from all vets you have been with. As soon as they see that your pony has had these problems they will NOT pay out unless it's been investigated and for example it's found to be a tendon problem you would only be excluded in that leg for tendon injuries. However, if you don't do all tests now insurance will exclude everything including bones,joints etc.

I can't recommend how important it is to get it investigated if you are insured.

Hope it makes sense to you what I'm saying

Thanks NN. I am hoping to get this fixed within the next month or so. The next two weeks he will be on bute, then Pony hospital. My parnter is an insurance underwriter so I am aware of the small print. Thanks for looking out for me. I really appreciate it

 

[Miss L Toe]

I will be honest, I don't understand why the horse should be shod, with no explanation, if soles bruised then it might help in short term, but really I think it might mask a problem, to me, further questions need to be asked, I always consider lameness should be taken seriously.
Flinches when hoof tester are used, ...... that is one indication of possible abcess. i would ask farrier to call, ask him for his opinion, if he can give you a good reason for shoe ing rather than remaining unshod, and it is the same reasoning as your vet, then go with that advice, otherwise get a second opinion from a senior vet [ie a partner]