Shoulder lameness?

[KingCharles]

Friends gelding went out into field on saturday morning, he was sound with no problems, and is competition fit. Friend brings him in early afternoon, he comes in fine. He was ment to go showjumping on sunday, so friend decided to lunge him. He shows lame on the near fore, looks to be high up. he is bobbing very slighty , looks to be his shoulder. Only in trot in a circle. He trots up sound on a straight line both in the school and on the yard. He is shod and his feet are good. There is no heat or any sign of swelling or an injury. He is happy to have both fore's stretched out and responds equally. Friend has asked for advice. She has decided to turn out as normal and not work him. She is going to try lungeing him again tomorrow to see if he is still lame. If he is then she is wondering what best to do next. I have told her that i would get a vet out, especially as i have heard true shoulder injuries are rare. There is always a small chance he has been lame like this for a bit longer, as he has not been lunged for a while. You really can only see the lameness in a tight circle in trot. Friend is planning on resting him and see hwo he goes, but to keep him turned out. She hasnt given bute becasue she dosnt want him to run about on it, as he wont be able to feel the pain. I have heard all sorts of horror stories that it can be something more sinister. I dont want to scare them , they are really worried. However it woudl seem no worried enougth to get the vet out just yet...

Any ideas??

 

[L&M]

If it was my horse I would rest it for a week, then if still lame, would get the farrier in first, and then the vet if the farrier couldn't find anything. You are right that true shoulder lamness is rare, and the vast majority of lamness is in the foot, although it can be hard to tell!
Good luck for your friend!

 

[Gingerwitch]

Signs of lameness on a circle rather on the straight would to me indicate a tendon injury - DDFT or the like - hope i am wrong here. I would get vet out asap if he is especailly for a comp horse as time is of the essance in these kind of injuries.

Good luck - hope i am wrong but my lad was showing back then shoulder lameness and he was only lame on a circle - albiet slightly lame... he is now into his 3rd week of box rest and i am just hopefull that he will recover !

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

My chap had mild true shoulder lameness a few years back. It recovered after rest, recurred a couple more times and then for six years he hasnt had a twinge. So dont panic, it might not be the disaster!

 

[ThePony]

just going through the same with both of mine (too unlucky!). It turns out they were both unlevel in the foot. This led to them being tight and sore in the sholder and looked like a shoulder lameness. Worth a check of the foot incase, and get your farrier out for his opinion if you are concerend. Both of mine are now leveled up and feeling better, little bit of bute in tea is taking the edge off soreness and are back in gentle work too.
Good luck, hope it's something simple!