Supertrooper
Well-Known Member
A bit of history first, 16.3hh shire x cob, 13yrs old. We brought him from a riding school as he damaged his tendon, right fore (sorry I can't remember which tendon - I share him but will check with his owner. The riding school had been advised that he wasn't up to being used in school anymore and also he tended to tank around in field alot therefore never allowing it to heal. He first injured it June 2010.
When we got him in September he'd been ridden for approx six weeks, hacking out in walk only and was sound, he has been sound ever since we've had him with the odd day of looking slightly stiff on his right fore, mainly after being stabled overnight. The vet checked him before Xmas when he had teeth done and was very happy with progress and the fact he was loosing weight (he was very fat when we got him).
I rode him on Saturday on a hack and he felt slightly stilted on his right fore, I felt more stiff than lame so I decided to see how he felt after a few minutes and he improved so continued with hack, I had a good feel of his leg when we returned and all felt fine ie no heat, swelling etc etc. The only thing was that when I ran my hand down his leg he immediately picked it up as though it was tender, also he was and always has been reluctant to stand on his right fore when you pick his left fore up - he has been like this ever since we've had him and is also not good for farrier when he does this leg.
He has looked 100% sound in field since Saturday, I've not seen him trot but have seen him walk and canter and he was sound so I rode him in field this afternoon and although better than he was initially on Saturday he still for the first couple of mins didn't feel right, he felt stiff, he tripped a couple of times and when standing was placing his right fore out to the side as though trying not to fully weight bear. Jumped off and again had a good look/feel but could only find the same ie when I run my hand down he was lifting leg up.
Also when I put him back in stable I was running my hand down his back and by his left hip he squeled and bucked, I touched it again and no reaction!
I'm not sure if it's tendon again, back pain, arthritis or something else? Going to get physio out as a first step to check back etc, also I wonder if it's shoulder? Got farrier coming thurs and also instructor Friday who knew him in last but one home so will get him to look too and then go down the vet route. He is a big lad and it wouldn't suprise me if he has got some arthritis somewhere and he is also incredibly woosy about pain.
Any thoughts or ideas?
When we got him in September he'd been ridden for approx six weeks, hacking out in walk only and was sound, he has been sound ever since we've had him with the odd day of looking slightly stiff on his right fore, mainly after being stabled overnight. The vet checked him before Xmas when he had teeth done and was very happy with progress and the fact he was loosing weight (he was very fat when we got him).
I rode him on Saturday on a hack and he felt slightly stilted on his right fore, I felt more stiff than lame so I decided to see how he felt after a few minutes and he improved so continued with hack, I had a good feel of his leg when we returned and all felt fine ie no heat, swelling etc etc. The only thing was that when I ran my hand down his leg he immediately picked it up as though it was tender, also he was and always has been reluctant to stand on his right fore when you pick his left fore up - he has been like this ever since we've had him and is also not good for farrier when he does this leg.
He has looked 100% sound in field since Saturday, I've not seen him trot but have seen him walk and canter and he was sound so I rode him in field this afternoon and although better than he was initially on Saturday he still for the first couple of mins didn't feel right, he felt stiff, he tripped a couple of times and when standing was placing his right fore out to the side as though trying not to fully weight bear. Jumped off and again had a good look/feel but could only find the same ie when I run my hand down he was lifting leg up.
Also when I put him back in stable I was running my hand down his back and by his left hip he squeled and bucked, I touched it again and no reaction!
I'm not sure if it's tendon again, back pain, arthritis or something else? Going to get physio out as a first step to check back etc, also I wonder if it's shoulder? Got farrier coming thurs and also instructor Friday who knew him in last but one home so will get him to look too and then go down the vet route. He is a big lad and it wouldn't suprise me if he has got some arthritis somewhere and he is also incredibly woosy about pain.
Any thoughts or ideas?
