Passed 5 stage vetting now 2 months later having issues with rear hinds

[Lucy-S]

I had my 8 year old ISH mare 5 stage vetted 2 months ago she passed with flying colours, however in the passed month she hasnt seemed quite right so got the physio booked in as i was waiting on saddle fitting and teeth check etc, she wasnt happy with her so recommended i get the vet out. She came out today, she trots up sound in a straight line yet 'struggles' on the left rein and showing discomfort, she will not lunge etc even though she used to be absolutely fine. Vet is not sure whats wrong so we are going down the route of investigation to see whats up. Shes currently living on a hard standing so hasnt been out in the field to hurt herself and i have only been plodding round on her whilst i get to know her so she hasnt been jumped since i've had her. I had bloods taken on the vetting and i am now contemplating running them to see what comes back. If they do come back with something in regards to doping, has anyone had any experience with what to do next or where you stand? She is my first horse so this has been quite the learning curve.... I feel like i did everything possible when i viewed her to ensure this wouldnt happen now i potentially have some hefty bills coming my way. Hope someone can give some guidance.

 

[Equi]

Can’t help much until you get your investigations, but as things go you’ve done the right think re vetting and bloods! Did you buy from a dealer or privately?

 

[Lucy-S]

Can’t help much until you get your investigations, but as things go you’ve done the right think re vetting and bloods! Did you buy from a dealer or privately?

she’s was privately sold but through a quite a reputable yard and the reason for sale seemed very reasonable. Although anyone can lie through their teeth unfortunately!!

 

[nikicb]

Welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear your new girl is having issues. I think you are taking the right approach, but just wondering whether she could have slipped on the hard standing? What is the surface like?

 

[meleeka]

How long as she been “off’ for?

ETA - sorry just seen a month. Unfortunately whatever you do, any insurance is unlikely to cover this area in the future so I’d probably go for a work up now and see what that shows. Depending on that get the bloods run by all means.

 

[ycbm]

Sorry to hear about the issue, I would definitely test the bloods.

If they come back that the horse was medicated, your action then will be to demand your money back from the seller and return the horse. If you don't want to return the horse, then you could use the test result to negotiate a payment instead. And if the seller will do neither, then you can take a small claim, which is online and really easy and not expensive.
.

 

[Red-1]

I would certainly run the bloods, but as she was sound for a month I would doubt they would show anything (although that is not impossible).

I also think that a month sound before being 'off' is too long for you to presume she was lame on purchase, especially as you say she lunged etc 'absolutely fine' previously.

I am another who suspects the hard standing turnout may have caused a slip. I would be cautious of turning out on a hard standing area unless the horse is very laid back.

Are you still waiting for the saddle check? Is it the same saddle as previously?

 

[ester]

It is also my understanding that an initial blood screen for drugs isn't too expensive, getting a drug identified is a lot more money.

 

[paddi22]

she could very easily have had a slip on hardstanding, I've seen horses give themselves serious injuries messing and sliding on hardstanding

 

[Lucy-S]

She’s been on her own in the hard standing with a shelter and bed. She’s super laid back and very calm and has been from the start. I understand the thought process by everyone’s thinking though

 

[Lucy-S]

I

I would certainly run the bloods, but as she was sound for a month I would doubt they would show anything (although that is not impossible).

I also think that a month sound before being 'off' is too long for you to presume she was lame on purchase, especially as you say she lunged etc 'absolutely fine' previously.

I am another who suspects the hard standing turnout may have caused a slip. I would be cautious of turning out on a hard standing area unless the horse is very laid back.

Are you still waiting for the saddle check? Is it the same saddle as previously?

She’s been super laid back and calm on the hard standing although I do understand what your staying! Vet checked saddle today and from her perspective she’s happy with the fit to let me do light hacking with her so we don’t change a variable in my situation although does recommend obviously getting my own fitted by a saddle fitter.

 

[Lucy-S]

Welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear your new girl is having issues. I think you are taking the right approach, but just wondering whether she could have slipped on the hard standing? What is the surface like?

Its concrete, but she also has a shelter and bed. Shes super laid back and calm so shouldnt of had any need to be silly in there. I would rather her be in a field but due to the ground and introducing her to her new herd it has been put off so i am in a difficult predicament.

 

[paddi22]

it's often not a case of being silly even. I saw one horse just hear a sound and spin around too quickly and totally lose it's legs and fall badly. it's amazing how horses can injure themselves, especially on concrete. Hope she's on the mend soon!

 

[Translationsneeded1]

One of my horse absolutely can’t live on hard standing. Was lame after just a day. Back out on grass (well mud) the next day and totally fine. Probably something to do with joints??

 

[Lucy-S]

One of my horse absolutely can’t live on hard standing. Was lame after just a day. Back out on grass (well mud) the next day and totally fine. Probably something to do with joints??

Thats interesting! She trots up fine and is sound, she is by no means 'hopping' lame but i guess it doesnt mean its not taking its toll on her joints potentially

 

[ycbm]

One of my horse absolutely can’t live on hard standing. Was lame after just a day. Back out on grass (well mud) the next day and totally fine. Probably something to do with joints??

That's very interesting.

 

[Equi]

Is she shod or barefoot?

 

[Lucy-S]

Is she shod or barefoot?

She is shod on all feet but only had backs put on 2 weeks ago due to her feet being so low. Vet didnt seem too concerned about this for the minute though. I did question it as part of my problem

 

[AmyMay]

Is it the horse in your avatar?

 

[Lucy-S]

Is it the horse in your avatar?

Yes it is

 

[ester]

what do you mean by hind feet being low? worn? low heels?

She looks very straight behind in your avatar pic.

 

[SOS]

“I had my 8 year old ISH mare 5 stage vetted 2 months ago she passed with flying colours..., she will not lunge etc even though she used to be absolutely fine.”

These two sentences are what you need to focus on. A vetting is a snapshot in time that says at 3pm on a Tuesday in December the horse was fit for the purpose you intended to buy it. Unfortunately horses do go lame for no reasons or have underlying problems that perhaps even the past owners did not know about. It’s a rubbish part of horse ownership. Not many horses are drugged/doped. I’d focus your efforts on exploring this lameness and hopefully she is insured/you have some back up to do this. If something that’s long term is found and the seller was found to of consciously known this and not disclosed you may have a leg to stand on but two months is quite a long time after I’m afraid.

 

[Lucy-S]

what do you mean by hind feet being low? worn? low heels?

She looks very straight behind in your avatar pic.

This was the day i picked her up, her feet were worn low I believe when i had her shod 3 weeks ago

 

[Lucy-S]

“I had my 8 year old ISH mare 5 stage vetted 2 months ago she passed with flying colours..., she will not lunge etc even though she used to be absolutely fine.”

These two sentences are what you need to focus on. A vetting is a snapshot in time that says at 3pm on a Tuesday in December the horse was fit for the purpose you intended to buy it. Unfortunately horses do go lame for no reasons or have underlying problems that perhaps even the past owners did not know about. It’s a rubbish part of horse ownership. Not many horses are drugged/doped. I’d focus your efforts on exploring this lameness and hopefully she is insured/you have some back up to do this. If something that’s long term is found and the seller was found to of consciously known this and not disclosed you may have a leg to stand on but two months is quite a long time after I’m afraid.

I appreciate what you are saying and i am certainly am under no illusion that its just one of those things, i was just trying to understand opinions of others as I have hardly done anything with her in the grand scheme of things and i guess i am just a little disheartened. She is insured so if the worst comes to it i will claim and get her moving forward.

 

[ester]

This was the day i picked her up, her feet were worn low I believe when i had her shod 3 weeks ago

so she went wrong before you had her shod?

 

[SOS]

I appreciate what you are saying and i am certainly am under no illusion that its just one of those things, i was just trying to understand opinions of others as I have hardly done anything with her in the grand scheme of things and i guess i am just a little disheartened. She is insured so if the worst comes to it i will claim and get her moving forward.

I completely get that you’re disheartened. Trust me I’ve been there... multiple times unfortunately. With horses there doesn’t seem to be much ‘fairness’ sometimes. I know plenty of people who don’t use saddlers/physios, jump on their horses after weeks off and never think about the ground yet always have “sound” -some turn a blind eye- horses. Others are contentious, careful owners and never can keep a sound horse. I bought a horse I’ve known as sound and have ridden for 7 years last spring, flew through a vetting, did very little all summer and slowly into work and he went lame as soon as he was fit through no fault of anyone’s.

I’m ready to be corrected if the old owners of your girl are not innocent but perhaps you are chasing the old owners/testing bloods out of frustration rather than likelihood of doping?

 

[Lucy-S]

so she went wrong before you had her shod?

She had these issues before the shoeing i was hoping the shoeing may of improved think slightly

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I'm sure I read somewhere that straighter hocks made PSD more likely. Maybe worth considering?

 

[Lucy-S]

I completely get that you’re disheartened. Trust me I’ve been there... multiple times unfortunately. With horses there doesn’t seem to be much ‘fairness’ sometimes. I know plenty of people who don’t use saddlers/physios, jump on their horses after weeks off and never think about the ground yet always have “sound” -some turn a blind eye- horses. Others are contentious, careful owners and never can keep a sound horse. I bought a horse I’ve known as sound and have ridden for 7 years last spring, flew through a vetting, did very little all summer and slowly into work and he went lame as soon as he was fit through no fault of anyone’s.

I’m ready to be corrected if the old owners of your girl are not innocent but perhaps you are chasing the old owners/testing bloods out of frustration rather than likelihood of doping?

That is exactly how i feel, i am trying to do everything right and tick everything off the list just to have a horse who is happy and sound. I have friends on the yard who have bought horses from a dealer who isnt very trusting at all and they've turned out to be real corkers of horses and i feel like i tried to do the right thing and go elsewhere and this has happened.

If i am honest i am not sure, they have a good reputation and quite an empire of a business so i would like to think they havent done anything just to move her on but sometimes it can be hard to trust in the horse world especially as how the market is selling at the moment. It certainly is an option if i need to use it, but hopefully i dont need too.

 

[Lucy-S]

I'm sure I read somewhere that straighter hocks made PSD more likely. Maybe worth considering?

I just had a google of this and there are lots of similarities to what she is doing. I am definitely going to keep this in mind when i speak to the vet next, although makes me nervous about recovery!