Please help settle a (friendly) argument ... lameness related

[Expo]

A stupid question about something which every horse owner should be knowledgable, has caused a (friendly) argument on my yard. I am reserving my own answer ....... but we have decided to let you wise and lovely lot settle it for once and for all, since the owner of the horse in question is doubting the collective wisdom of the rest of us ......

We have a horse which is clearly slightly lame, so, in the time honoured fashion, it has been trotted up on a hard surface to assess the situation. The lameness is evidenced by an obvious "nod" of the horse's head when its near/left fore hits the ground at trot. So ...

Here comes the stupid question ........ Is the horse lame on its near/left fore, or lame on its off/right fore?

... I know, I know ........ ...!!!

 

[minesadouble]

If lame in front the head comes up when lame leg hits the floor.

 

[scats]

As a rather general rule, we were always taught ‘down with the sound’. So an obvious nodding of head when the near fore hits the ground would mean lame on the off fore.

 

[ycbm]

Just to queer the pitch, it might be lame on the opposite hind!

 

[minesadouble]

Just to quiet the pitch, it might be lame on the opposite hind!

That crossed my mind too but didn't want to muddy the waters

 

[Roxylola]

Its never that simple lol, knee down I'd expect the head to come up on the lame leg, something higher up might be different though as they try to compensate depending on what actually hurts.

 

[TheresaW]

When Mac was nodding, I was convinced it was in front. It was the opposite hind.

 

[Red-1]

They nod to keep weight off the sore foot/leg.

Usually nodding is seen more when a front leg is lame. The head is low when the sound one is on the floor. They throw their heads up when the sore (lame) one is on the floor to lift the weight off the sore foot/leg.

If a back leg is the lame one, it can most commonly be seen by the hip being high on that side (trying to keep weight off). But, if very sore they will throw their weight forward to take weight off the sore hind leg, using their backs as a fulcrum. However, as trot is a diagonal pair, and they are throwing the weight forward, using their backs as a fulcrum, it is the opposite way round, they will be lifting the head as the sound leg is on the floor, and throwing their weight forward with a low head as the lame hind leg is on the floor.

 

[Tarragon]

They nod to keep weight off the sore foot/leg.

Usually nodding is seen more when a front leg is lame. The head is low when the sound one is on the floor. They throw their heads up when the sore (lame) one is on the floor to lift the weight off the sore foot/leg.

If a back leg is the lame one, it can most commonly be seen by the hip being high on that side (trying to keep weight off). But, if very sore they will throw their weight forward to take weight off the sore hind leg, using their backs as a fulcrum. However, as trot is a diagonal pair, and they are throwing the weight forward, using their backs as a fulcrum, it is the opposite way round, they will be lifting the head as the sound leg is on the floor, and throwing their weight forward with a low head as the lame hind leg is on the floor.

What a lovely clear explanation!

 

[Prancerpoos]

Just try it yourself - imagine you have hurt one foot (or kick a wall for full effect ?) then observe how you move. You go gingerly on the hurt foot, so head up, then fall onto the good foot, so head down. Issue of from v hind limb lameness not so simple!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Could be lame in both fronts my horse had a slight nod and was diagnosed as nearside front, when we nerve blocked it he was still nodding as he was lame on the off side as well.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

When my pony went badly lame with hock spavin he was literally giving way on the lame side so didn't carry that hip higher, instead it collapsed.

 

[Carrottom]

To settle the argument in a simplistic way, get the other person to put a stone in their shoe and see how it affects their run ?

 

[Expo]

Thank you for the replies and for convincing a sceptical owner! .

The horse is lame in his off fore, below the knee (vet been this morning). Owner would not be convinced that the "nod" happened on the good leg, not the bad leg!! We live and learn I guess.