Shoulder lameness?

[WackyWelsh]

Some of you may have a seen my ‘my horse is acting odd!!’ posts but we may have found the reason why.
I was trying a saddle today that seemed to be a pretty decent fit, but my horse wasn’t bending (which isn’t unusual for him) and had quite a short stride. When I pushed him forward he seemed to be ever so slightly lame on his front left, it’s not super noticeable but there is a slight head bob and I can feel that he’s off. I took him on a short walk hack and he was still reluctant to stretch and I could see he was taking shorter strides with his left than with his right. Also, when you ‘pushed’ into his left shoulder he was obviously very tight and in a bit of discomfort.
We had the physio out not very long ago and she said that he was very sore on his left side, but it seems to have got worse since then. He’s also seemed to get worse with his schooling the more work he was in. Falling in/out through his left shoulder.
We had the farrier yesterday and he didn’t comment on anything seeming off.
We’re getting a chiro out, then the vet if it comes to it, but any ideas on what it could be?
I have a feeling it’s an underlying issue that has only properly come to light since he’s had physio and been in more work.

 

[Leo Walker]

You need the vet first. The vet has to give permission for the chiro to treat him and they wont given that your horse is lame.

 

[WackyWelsh]

You need the vet first. The vet has to give permission for the chiro to treat him and they wont given that your horse is lame.

We’ve asked the vet for permission. Like I said, he’s always been slightly ‘off’ but had no obvious lameness, more muscle soreness/tightness which will obviously be worse with more work.

 

[be positive]

You need the vet first. The vet has to give permission for the chiro to treat him and they wont given that your horse is lame.

Having seen your other recent threads I would strongly suggest getting the vet first, you have not ridden him much recently, he has relatively long term uneven muscle build up, the physio blamed the saddle and it seems has not come back to see if the horse responded to the initial treatment which is not a good sign, this saddler is pointing towards the shoulder, the farrier was not looking for anything "off" as such if you had not told him the horse was lame and does not have xray eyes anyway.

A vet can do proper work up and may be able to give you a diagnosis which a chiro/ physio/ saddler/ farrier cannot do, most lameness will be in the foot or joints, the shoulder being stiff is likely to be a symptom not the cause and the sooner you get to the cause you can start to treat him and may be able to start riding again.

 

[WackyWelsh]

Having seen your other recent threads I would strongly suggest getting the vet first, you have not ridden him much recently, he has relatively long term uneven muscle build up, the physio blamed the saddle and it seems has not come back to see if the horse responded to the initial treatment which is not a good sign, this saddler is pointing towards the shoulder, the farrier was not looking for anything "off" as such if you had not told him the horse was lame and does not have xray eyes anyway.

A vet can do proper work up and may be able to give you a diagnosis which a chiro/ physio/ saddler/ farrier cannot do, most lameness will be in the foot or joints, the shoulder being stiff is likely to be a symptom not the cause and the sooner you get to the cause you can start to treat him and may be able to start riding again.

Yes I know, sorry. It’s just all so frustrating and now I’m left wondering I will ever be able to have him being comfortably ridden again and at the moment (I know, bad horse owner) I don’t actually have the money for the vet to do a full check after having physio, saddle fitter and a massage therapist. Will get them out ASAP.

 

[Theocat]

A horse feeling "off" through a shoulder is often lame on the diagonal hindleg, and what you feel.is them compensating. Definitely a vet job.

 

[Gloi]

A horse feeling "off" through a shoulder is often lame on the diagonal hindleg, and what you feel.is them compensating. Definitely a vet job.

Yes. Here it was the because of the start of hock arthritis.

 

[SEL]

My mare can go obviously head-bob lane on her right fore when she has tightness in her right hind - to the extent that she will go sound post physio after some pretty intensive massage on that hindquarter. What is causing the tightness is proving more problematic to track down, so I would agree it's a vet work up I'm afraid.