Please help me pin-point the problem - video.

Fools Motto

Fools Motto

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12.2
18 yr old
Normally a whizzy PC pony, generally a very good all-rounder.

Now, reluctant to 'go'. Owner still wants him worked, ie lunged, led out or on the h/w. (little jockey lined up for next year). Theory being to work through the 'problem', but several weeks down the line I can't see any hint of improvement.
The owner 'thinks' she knows where the problem is, but I disagree, and was curious to know what 'other opinions' are?

Appologies for REAL CR4P lunging, lack of correct equipment-- just look at the pony!:eek:

(quality isn't great)




Looking at the videos it isn't the greatest example, but will have another go at the weekend.
 
how much is he being worked? im not 100% sure, but i know some fab ponies who were normally whizzy and jumped clear everytime but recently have begun to refuse to jump the course at all because they are fed up with it. Just a thought but he looked fine otherwise.
 
He doesn't normally jump, but plays polo. Saying that he has hunted and had done a few PC activities a few years ago.

He just isn't a chirpy chap anymore - which usually he is!
He was being worked almost every day, hacking with a few 'chukkas' a month. But, hasn't been ridden since End March now.
 
Nothing major jumping out. Maybe a bit stilted with his front legs and short striding (but equally so on both legs). Can't say he looks full if the joys but hard to tell from a few seconds on a video. What's your opinion?
 
He looks a little odd in front, could decide a leg though.

My mare went from bouncy to reluctant to move, she had a virus and became anaemic trying to fight it off. Put her on red cell and she perked up over a few weeks. Are the gums pale and the coat dull? They were my only signs other than the lack of go.
 
Is there something wrong with his back legs?

I really can't see much. The video is terrible and choppy and jumping all over the place.
 
I think he looks very uncomfortable behind, very short striding, tense and nowhere near tracking up, poss worse on near hind, which he possibly is swinging out rather than moving straight/not flexing hock although issue poss higher up.
 
To me he looked to be acting a bit gingerly on his hinds. I don't know if the video is meant to look that slow but he just looked very laboured in his movements as though lacking energy.
He was also coughing on the first video.
Does he have any allergies or COPD issues?
Has he had any discharge from nostrils recently, or been off his food/drink.
Has anything changed recently in his day to day management?
Is he out 24/7 and has there been any change in his fields. Could he have had access to any toxic plants and are any other horses acting similar?
A lot of questions I know but it does seem odd that a normal sprightly pony looks as though he doesn't want to put one foot in front of the other.
Strange :/
 
Agree about the stiffness behind, could be related to a back issue? would also be suspecting possible cushings at his age.
 
as others have said, I think he looks rather uncomfortable behind. He almost looks a little tucked up? but it is quite hard to tell form the vid.
Has his back been checked?
 
Interesting replies.
He is stabled at night, out in a small paddock daily.
He has cortaflex in his feed, which is otherwise pony nuts and hi-fi light with an added drop of oil.
He doesn't normally cough! But is currently stabled on straw. No discharge from either nostril.
Coat does look dull, and personally I think he is a little lean.
The owner thinks the problem is N/H hock... I think the problem is higher up. Even got to the point I was originally thinking stifle, then thinking muscular - as to me it looks like he tucks in his hind end, not going forward and no swing.

I doubt his back has ever been checked! Certainly not in the last few years anyway.
 
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FM, if he was mine he would be seeing the vet for a work up, it could be hock or that could be a bit of a red herring and there be something else going on..

You have been working him, he hasn't improved much so I don't see how more work would help even if it is hock!
 
whisp&willow said:
its hard to tell as the videos are a bit jerky/grainy, bu he looked like he wasn't tracking up behind, more noticably on his near hind.

i would check his stifle, as he looked a bit stiff there?
Click to expand...

ester said:
I think he looks very uncomfortable behind, very short striding, tense and nowhere near tracking up, poss worse on near hind, which he possibly is swinging out rather than moving straight/not flexing hock although issue poss higher up.
Click to expand...

This ^^ Near hind to me was shouting out to me as being sore in some form - or very stiff. both hind legs looked stiff but more so in the left.

In the second vid i also thought the right fore looked like there was a bit of a nod - that would be a diagonal pair so chicken and egg as to whether the fore is causing pain in the hind or other way round.

Fools Motto said:
Interesting replies.
He is stabled at night, out in a small paddock daily.
He has cortaflex in his feed, which is otherwise pony nuts and hi-fi light with an added drop of oil.
He doesn't normally cough! But is currently stabled on straw. No discharge from either nostril.
Coat does look dull, and personally I think he is a little lean.
The owner thinks the problem is N/H hock... I think the problem is higher up. Even got to the point I was originally thinking stifle, then thinking muscular - as to me it looks like he tucks in his hind end, not going forward and no swing.

I doubt his back has ever been checked! Certainly not in the last few years anyway.
Click to expand...

I thought the flexion looked weak throughout the leg which to me would be higher than the hock also
 
I'd agree with you about it being a little higher than the hock. It looks similar to what my youngster used to look like with locking stifle. His would only last a couple of minutes though and then he'd be fine.
 
coss said:
In the second vid i also thought the right fore looked like there was a bit of a nod - that would be a diagonal pair so chicken and egg as to whether the fore is causing pain in the hind or other way round.
Click to expand...

This is what I am looking at. From experience with my own horse I would like to suggest in front, though I agree he is stiff behind (age) I do think the 'issue' is in front.
 
Fools Motto said:
Interesting replies.
He is stabled at night, out in a small paddock daily.
He has cortaflex in his feed, which is otherwise pony nuts and hi-fi light with an added drop of oil.
He doesn't normally cough! But is currently stabled on straw. No discharge from either nostril.
Coat does look dull, and personally I think he is a little lean.
The owner thinks the problem is N/H hock... I think the problem is higher up. Even got to the point I was originally thinking stifle, then thinking muscular - as to me it looks like he tucks in his hind end, not going forward and no swing.

I doubt his back has ever been checked! Certainly not in the last few years anyway.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. I am no expert but I don't think it is just the hock either. He looks stiff from further up and tracking downwards to me.
Perhaps dusty straw is causing the coughing? Although he has no discharge.
Has the owner had the vet out? If it was me I would be getting them out for a general mot to be honest. Perhaps even bloods done if he is looking a bit lean and coat is dull too.
I know the weather has been changeable of late but all my horses and anyone's I have seen have not had dull coats.
I presume his worming is up to date.
Does he seem well in himself apart from him coughing and was the coughing only present when he was being worked?
If the owner has not already had the vet out I would be getting them out to check his overall health and the issues showing when he is being lunged.
Has he been trotted up on hard and soft surfaces too and showed the same gait or unwillingness to go forward or has it just been when lunged in circles.
I know a lot of questions and like I said I am no expert.
It could be age related although to me 18 is not old for a pony, a horse maybe but not ponies.
I would just be getting veterinary advice if it was me to be honest.
Please let us know how he gets on x
 
No expert by any means, but I think he doesn't look right behind at all . . . in walk he is "waddling" and very tight and in trot just seems to swing that left hind out rather than through and under. I can't tell if it's pelvis, SI, stifle or something else but pony just doesn't look physically happy or comfortable. He also looks just sort of "dull" in himself . . . coat not great, demeanor a little muted/resigned.

If it was my pony, I'd get the vet out to assess the lameness and take some bloods to check for some other underlying conditions.

P
 
Pelvis? Looks high up and if it is out this can be causing the back muscles contract causing the front to be tied in over the shoulders (this happend to my mare).
 
What a lovely pony and poor chap he is very uncomfortable and in pain in his pelvis.

I do hope his owners get the vet and physio to look at him, surely they can't expect the little man to continue working when he is unsound.

Do let us know what happens.
 
I couldn't see all of the video (or read the whole thread!), but to me from the little I saw, I think near hind issue, though off hind doesn't look fab either.
 
I agree with the others that say get the vet out. TBH the pony looks in a really bad way. I would suspect a pelvic hairline fracture or sacroilliac problem. I would not be working this pony!
 
The vet HAS seen this pony, but I'm unaware of any outcome apart from that an xray was taken of his hock and an injection given. ??

Communication doesn't happen much down here!
I will try and find out more....

Today my instructions were to lunge him in walk/trot for 15 mins. I filmed this, add on another min of walk and knew I could do no more. I thought he was worse today than I've seen before. I still keep going back to his pelvis/hips, after originally thinking it was stifle.

After video was taken he rolled and I popped him out in the paddock.
 
just had a quick look and he dosnt look happy at all especially behind, pretty much what others have said really, may be worth getting him checked out. x
 
one would presume that a problem (arthritis?) was therefore found in the hock and treated (steroids/HA maybe?) how long ago was that? It would probably make me think more that there is also something else going on and the hock is secondary.
 
ester said:
one would presume that a problem (arthritis?) was therefore found in the hock and treated (steroids/HA maybe?) how long ago was that? It would probably make me think more that there is also something else going on and the hock is secondary.
Click to expand...

My thinkings too! (Vet saw him last week I believe, but not 100% sure as I wasn't there).
 
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