Stifle lameness / growing pains?

[Halfpass]

I know this should be in vets but thought I'd get more response here.......

Alee had her first visit from the saddler today to fit the second hand Isabel I have just bought her. I always now try to give her e little lunge before I get on just to take the wind out of her sales a little.

I lunged her today and someone elses instructor came up to me and said she thought she was lame. She then lunged her for me and I could see that she seemed to have a strange action on her offside hind as though she was swinging her leg out away from her body it also looked worse on the left rein (ie bad leg on the outside of the cricle)

She had the saddle fitted anyway with me just sitting on her really although I did ask for a small amount of walk and she felt stuffy and not particularly off the leg as she would normally be.

My friend had their farrier up so I trotted her up for him and he said 2/10ths lame higher up leg maybe stifle but that as she is only 3 was probably gowing pains and to give her a couple of weeks off. I then watch her trotted up couldn't really see the lameness but could spot the slight funny action (leg swinging out thing).

Now she is only worked lightly, long reained or lunged 2/3 times per week using the whole school and not in small circles and then I hop on afterwards to cool her off for 15 mins at walk. She has done nothing all week and has been out 24/7 and does seem to have shot up behind again quite a lot. Could it just be that she is struggling with a growth spurt or should I be worried and booking her in at the vets next week?

 

[Shilasdair]

I'd just give her some time off...one or two weeks...and periodically trot her up. If she isn't sound after a couple of weeks field rest, then I'd get the vet (or if there was some obvious injury/deterioration).
Hope she gets better soon.
S

 

[Halfpass]

Thanks thats my initial decision. She really isn't that lame so little so that you would have to really look to see it especially on the straight. She has the farrier on Friday next week so i think i'll trot her up again then.
Just wondered really if horses do struggle when they have growth spurts. I know children can but wasn't sure with horses!

 

[SAMgirl]

Yeh if she's only 3 don't worry about it too much - i've seen it quite often in young horses - particularly the taller horses (with the longer limbs) it's something to do with (i'm sure someone better qualified can clarify) the ligament running down the hind leg "catching" and not sliding over smoothly. If it was a major problem there is an operation the horses can have to stop them doing it. But i think its not unusual or abnormal in a very young horse. It is also good to turn them out when they are very young i think

 

[Halfpass]

Thanks that puts my mind at rest a little. She is turned out 22/7 so only comes in for grub and a little light work. She will now be out till friday when the farrier is due so will trot her up again then.