Stiffness in hind left

A

AnnaandStella

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 January 2008
Messages
456
Visit site
My mare has a stiffness in her left hind leg when she's moving slowly in trot or canter.

I've had her for two months & have noticed it a few times, but there's never any heat in it & nothing shows when we trot her up.

She passed a 5-stage for RC activities & was wondering if it's likely to be as a result of an old injury (hence she is now a schoolmistress rather than a competition horse) or if I should get a vet out?

The more work you do, the less it shows so perhaps I should just lunge before I ride her or warm her up for longer?

Any help/advice on possible problems etc would be useful.

Thanks!
 
Well, usually if it goes away after warm up type exercise it is a form of arthritis, which you ought to be sure about before treating, no urgency though but give a joint supplement and exercise little and often with lots of turnout, may be give oil too.

That is in my opinion, I am not a vet! Don't take this as gospel.

(If it were a tendon for example, you would be locking her in for a couple of months and then walking quietly only. )
 
Working through stiffness is often a sign of osteoarthritis, possibly either in hock or stifle. But this could be very normal in an older horse. However, you mention an old injury - do you know anything more about this injury?

Vets would probably want to do x-rays/scans to see if there is any evidence of arthritis, and then would consider injecting the area to help the joint lubrication and slow down the damage. Are you insured? If so, get the vet and make a claim. If not, perhaps put the horse on a good joint supplement and see if this makes any difference.
 
Forgot to mention - the paddocks are in a right state so she only gets about an hour a day turnout - could it be that she is simply stiff from having been in a box all day as it doesn't seem to be a problem if she's been in the field?
 
[ QUOTE ]
Working through stiffness is often a sign of osteoarthritis, possibly either in hock or stifle. But this could be very normal in an older horse. However, you mention an old injury - do you know anything more about this injury?

Vets would probably want to do x-rays/scans to see if there is any evidence of arthritis, and then would consider injecting the area to help the joint lubrication and slow down the damage. Are you insured? If so, get the vet and make a claim. If not, perhaps put the horse on a good joint supplement and see if this makes any difference.

[/ QUOTE ]

She's just turning ten & has been imported from Germany where she was competed in SJ. Don't know much other than this but it would logically follow that she was sold as an RC Schoolmistress as she's no longer suitable to compete at the level she did - hence my guess at an old injury.


Didn't think it would be arthritis as it's become more pronounced now that she's being ridden gently 5/6 times a week rather than the previous ridden 3 times a week for a longer period routine that she was on last month.

She is insured but most people on the yard didn't think it was anythign to worry about, just something to keep an eye on...
 
My mare was a bit like this, bit stiff on hind and not tracking up right and now complete lack of performance. Turns out she has the start of spavin in her right hind, she is turning 11 this year...

Could be a number of things - id put her on a good joint supplement to begin with, see what difference that makes...
 
If its arthritis she needs as much turnout as possible and a joint supplement.There are lots of different ways to treat it.My horse had surgery 8 weeks ago he is only young so wanted to give him a good chance of recovery.I had exactly the same symptoms as you but when we started serious work he broke down and was very lame.The vet can do a flexation test which will show postive if its arthritis.If it turns out to be spavins there are lots of ways to control or treat it.If you only had vetting two months ago I would call the vet straight away for check up.
 
Started her on Glucosamine sulphate until I can get the funds to have a vet out in a week or so.
Thanks for your advice, any ideas how much the check up will cost?
 
I would call the vet out and have it investigated ASAP. If she is better after work it could be so many things not just arthritus, that is also a classic PSD response to work.

I wouldn't waste your money on supplements etc until you know what is wrong with her and how to treat her.
 
I have to totaly agree with DieselDog, my pony started out stiff on the right hind last May, no heat/swelling got vet out, told to rest for two weeks. I was not happy, took him for a second opinion, he was scanned and diagnosed with PSD , Hind legs are difficult to diagnose, I would get it scanned
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Started her on Glucosamine sulphate until I can get the funds to have a vet out in a week or so.
Thanks for your advice, any ideas how much the check up will cost?

[/ QUOTE ]

If she is insured why are you saving up to get the vet out - it doesn't matter how much it will cost you aren't paying.
confused.gif
 
Every vet is different but mine charges £32 for call out and £55 for scans and examination.I f you have had vetting done recently and they have missed something then they might do it for free.Personally I would want the correct diagnosis before you start supplements.I had a good chat with my vet today regarding supplements he said that there are so many that are full of chalk that it is important to use the higher spec such as newmarket joint supplement which have been tested by the industry and are guaranteed as pure.Its disgusting that they can add bulk ingredients that dont aid joints to these supplements they prey on our conscience .Do you have insurance .If it turns out to be osteoarthritis you can pm me and Ill give you a run down on treatment and costs.Although your horse shows similiar traits to mine I think its vital that you get her checked incase its something different . If you havent sorted your insurance I would sort it asap .Good Luck
 
I had this with my lad, stiffness in left hind that went when warmed up. I called the vet out who did flexion testing and saw him ridden etc (was only £48 inc call out) then advised joint supplement. (He is now on Cortavet and better than he has ever been)

I would get the vet out first and get the leg checked out, for the sake of £40 -£50 it would give you piece of mind if it is nothing or help to see if anything more serious is going on.
 
Typically arthritic conditions will ease with work so this may be what your horse has. you would ned to get x rays to confirm it though. Stiffness is very common and I wouldn't panic, it can be managed very successfully. You should turn her out as much as possible as this will promote the production of synovial fluid so will ease stiffness. you shuold also put her on a good joint supplement which should make a marked difference, and help to slow the degenerative process down.
 
Unless I'm reading this wrong you've said the stiffness/lameness is getting worse now she's in more regular work? Call the vet! It really doesn't matter that she passed a 5 stage vetting two months ago - all the vetting does is tell you how the horse is on THAT day, not yesterday, and can't guarantee it for tomorrow. She could have pulled somethign and the increased work load could be aggravating it, it could be anything. There's no point trying to diagnose it yourself when you're not a vet.

I presume she's insured so why are you worrying about the call out? She passed a 5 stage vetting so your insurance co. can't claim it was a pre-existing conditions, which means they will pay up. Also, your vet will invoice you at the end of their fiscal month, you don't pay then and there.
 
UPDATE -

Vet will be on yard in a couple of days, they will take a look then so she's being seen to.

Trotted her up today straight from her box & absolutely nothing wrong at all; rode her without any stiffness too - it was suggested that it might just be the combination of hard ground & no hind shoes but vet will be able to tell.

Thanks for all your advice - it is just a very slight stiffness that has shown up about 4 or 5 times since i've had her but judging by your responses it's likely to be something rather than nothing!

(also - her workload hasn't been increased, just become spread over more days for shorter time periods)

Thanks again, hopefully whatever it is won't be too awful! :s
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top