kirstie
Well-Known Member
Hi, sorry for the very long post. My horse has had a niggling lameness and I'm just not sure what my next step should be. I have had her for coming up 7 years and apart from one severe abcess over 4 years ago she's never had a lame step. 17h 11yr old trakehner. Slow to develop dressage horse just coming really good.
She first went lame on 30th October, left fore, about 2/10 after reportedly hoolying around in the field. Got vet out after 2 weeks when she was still not right after 2 weeks box rest. She had slight swelling of the left fetlock on the inside. Slight positive reaction to flexion test on that leg. Slightly lame on circle on soft and concrete both ways but not consistent. Worse going slightly uphill in straight line that downhill on concrete. No more than 1/10 lame inconsistently- so some strides sound. She was not lame enough to nerve block. He said he thought it was soft tissue strain in the fetlock joint, just needs time and rest- rest her until she comes sound and then gradually bring her back into work in a controlled way. Rested for 2-3 weeks, came sound. Started walking in hand. Few explosions on the yard (despite sedalin) and probably too much obsessive trotting up and she then went not quite right again in the beginning of December.
Decided to completely box rest her while I was on holiday over xmas, so she had about 3.5 weeks complete box rest. Trotted up on Jan 3rd completely sound. Gradually started walking her in hand and built it up, started riding and built the walk up over about 2.5 weeks until she bucked me off. She just exploded despite sedalin and draw reins, I had no hope. Still sound.
I cannot risk falling off badly, I broke my back 4 years ago from being bronced off a youngster. It's not a risk I'm willing to take again. Decided to let her explode in the arena and go from there.
Started free schooling, gently lunging and riding gently for short periods. She was in work for 5 weeks in total (inc the walking) no problem (apart from falling off) and was sound.
Against my better judgement I decided to turn her back out into the field. Turned out on 8th Feb and 9th Feb for 3 hrs each day. No major explosions, though it is muddy around the gate. 9th Feb PM trotted up lame. Vet booked for 13th Feb.
Rested from 9th-12th and trotted up on 12th Feb much better. Vet cancelled.
15th Feb pretty much sound. 18th Feb sound. 9th-18th Feb box rested totally. 19th Feb, 5 min walk, progressed to 15 mins by 22nd and then I went on holiday. She went on the walker most days I was away for approx 20-30 mins a day.
Got back on 1st March and she was not right when trotted up, vet booked. Box rested until 5th March when Vet came up. Less than 1/10 lame every 5-6 strides uphill concrete. Downhill sound. Circle soft sound. Circle hard sound. Told to bring back into full work as not lame ever so slightly unlevel and nothing really to see. Vet thought still soft tissue issue niggling on though pretty much better.
Has been free schooled every day since, walk, trot and canter. Some explosions but generally calm- just a chance for her to kick her heels up if she needs to. Ridden most days or put on the walker for 30 mins, so exercised 2x a day.
Started gradual trot under saddle on 12th March and building up very slowly.
Not right last night, a more consistent lameness. Probably 2/10 lame. Probably lame enough to nerve block. Trotted up this morning better, probably 1/10 ish every stride. Not lame enough to nerve block and see a difference.
My gut is saying 2 different things. I know with this type of injury the free schooling will not be helping. She is genuinely not safe to ride or lead out without it though. Even sedated. She is big and explosive at the best of times. I could possible walk rehab her via a lunge line in walk in the arena though.
I've tried to phone my vet and see what he thinks but no answer so will try again.
I'm just interested to see what other people would do in my situation.
Properly rest and try again in a controlled way? Ask for X-rays and poss MRI? Or something else? I'm tearing my hair out!
Sorry for the absolute essay- thanks so much if you've got this far!!
She first went lame on 30th October, left fore, about 2/10 after reportedly hoolying around in the field. Got vet out after 2 weeks when she was still not right after 2 weeks box rest. She had slight swelling of the left fetlock on the inside. Slight positive reaction to flexion test on that leg. Slightly lame on circle on soft and concrete both ways but not consistent. Worse going slightly uphill in straight line that downhill on concrete. No more than 1/10 lame inconsistently- so some strides sound. She was not lame enough to nerve block. He said he thought it was soft tissue strain in the fetlock joint, just needs time and rest- rest her until she comes sound and then gradually bring her back into work in a controlled way. Rested for 2-3 weeks, came sound. Started walking in hand. Few explosions on the yard (despite sedalin) and probably too much obsessive trotting up and she then went not quite right again in the beginning of December.
Decided to completely box rest her while I was on holiday over xmas, so she had about 3.5 weeks complete box rest. Trotted up on Jan 3rd completely sound. Gradually started walking her in hand and built it up, started riding and built the walk up over about 2.5 weeks until she bucked me off. She just exploded despite sedalin and draw reins, I had no hope. Still sound.
I cannot risk falling off badly, I broke my back 4 years ago from being bronced off a youngster. It's not a risk I'm willing to take again. Decided to let her explode in the arena and go from there.
Started free schooling, gently lunging and riding gently for short periods. She was in work for 5 weeks in total (inc the walking) no problem (apart from falling off) and was sound.
Against my better judgement I decided to turn her back out into the field. Turned out on 8th Feb and 9th Feb for 3 hrs each day. No major explosions, though it is muddy around the gate. 9th Feb PM trotted up lame. Vet booked for 13th Feb.
Rested from 9th-12th and trotted up on 12th Feb much better. Vet cancelled.
15th Feb pretty much sound. 18th Feb sound. 9th-18th Feb box rested totally. 19th Feb, 5 min walk, progressed to 15 mins by 22nd and then I went on holiday. She went on the walker most days I was away for approx 20-30 mins a day.
Got back on 1st March and she was not right when trotted up, vet booked. Box rested until 5th March when Vet came up. Less than 1/10 lame every 5-6 strides uphill concrete. Downhill sound. Circle soft sound. Circle hard sound. Told to bring back into full work as not lame ever so slightly unlevel and nothing really to see. Vet thought still soft tissue issue niggling on though pretty much better.
Has been free schooled every day since, walk, trot and canter. Some explosions but generally calm- just a chance for her to kick her heels up if she needs to. Ridden most days or put on the walker for 30 mins, so exercised 2x a day.
Started gradual trot under saddle on 12th March and building up very slowly.
Not right last night, a more consistent lameness. Probably 2/10 lame. Probably lame enough to nerve block. Trotted up this morning better, probably 1/10 ish every stride. Not lame enough to nerve block and see a difference.
My gut is saying 2 different things. I know with this type of injury the free schooling will not be helping. She is genuinely not safe to ride or lead out without it though. Even sedated. She is big and explosive at the best of times. I could possible walk rehab her via a lunge line in walk in the arena though.
I've tried to phone my vet and see what he thinks but no answer so will try again.
I'm just interested to see what other people would do in my situation.
Properly rest and try again in a controlled way? Ask for X-rays and poss MRI? Or something else? I'm tearing my hair out!
Sorry for the absolute essay- thanks so much if you've got this far!!