Slight lameness - any ideas?

[FionaMc]

(Also in NL - posted there first without really thinking, sorry!)

Since I've had my horse back from being out on loan I've noticed that when warming up she is slightly lame through the first few corners on her near fore, on the left rein only. Some days it's more noticeable than others and it always goes after a few laps of the school. Today was the first time I have been able to lunge her since having her back and she is definitely, very mildly lame on that foot whilst warming up. She is definitely also back to being 100% sound after just a few circles (or at least loses any noticeable lameness).

She has had laminitis in all 4 foot in the last 6 months, resulting in 5 degree rotation. When the vet last saw her he said she was completely sound, with no shoes, on concrete. I wasn't there though and don't believe he saw her on a circle.

She's generally a very, very sound horse and I can count the number of times I've seen her lame at all on one hand (Twice. Once with an abscess, once with an earlier bout of lami).

Anyway, she's 16, and given that the lameness is so mild and disappears after warming up, I figure it's probably just some joint stiffness, also checked her leg thoroughly and there's no heat/swelling and her hoof is the same heat/pulse as the other 3 - wondered if you lot had any other bright ideas?

I'll probably get the vet to have a more thorough look too, although have a feeling it might be one of those things where I could spend a lot of money looking for the cause and be none the wiser!

 

[Amigo]

Taking into consideration her age and history, if it isn't something related to her past laminitis case, she could easily be suffering stiffness either in her joints or muscles; especially if it shows on a circle as she will be using her muscles differently. Is she stabled? if so that could help induce it, and how long is she warmed up for before she stops being lame, eg is it after she has trotted or just after a period of time? is it the same on both reins?
Supplements such as Glucosamine (sp) or combinations such as Cortiflex could help alot if this is the case. However I would be inclined to get the vet to check her out as she has been out on loan (and you may not neccisarily know if something happened) and also because of her laminitis. Hope that may help a little bit!

 

[FionaMc]

Thanks for your response - good to know your thinking is along similar lines to mine.

She's only out 4 hours a day at the moment. She's only lame on the left rein and it's literally only through the first 2 or 3 corners, or a circle or so on the lunge. Apart from this she's still got a lovely big stride, tracks up in all paces and is starting to work well through her back, she's always been a bit on the lazy side, so she doesn't feel overly keen, but that's normal for her and she perks up hacking or jumping.

I will definitely have the vet out (I'd quite like a bit of a full MOT now she's back with me), but wasn't going to do so as a matter of extreme urgency unless anyone could think of anything I might have missed!

 

[Amigo]

If its only one rein and since she is in the stable so much, it does sound alot like she is getting stiff. One of our horses is 17, he is an exracehorse and still very fit (will happily go round the track for half an hour!) but if he is in his box he can get stiff coming out to start. I would try and increase her time out of the stable (as in the field she is moving more - being in a stable is a bit like being on an aeroplane) and see what mr. vet says , just warm her up slowly and I expect she will be fine, let me know how you get on.



* edit : If your not getting the vet out soon you could try her on a glucosamine supplement of some form for a few weeks. I can reccomend it as although it can be pricey, I used it on my old morgan and it worked wonders.