Hoof_Prints
Well-Known Member
Hello, I've been helping a friend on and off for a while with her 16 year old pony. He's suffered slight laminitis in the past but nothing for the past few years, apart from that no lameness issues. He is in frequent work at the moment (well, up until the lameness) and seems fit and healthy. He has started resting one hind leg a lot, and then after standing still for a while on it, he really limps on it for a few steps, then carries on totally sound after - literally goes from very lame to completely sound in all paces within 3 or 4 steps. He has fronts on, but backs were taken off about 8 months ago and he adapted very well. The owner has noticed it getting worse, and when ridden she can't really stand him still for very long or else he really stiffens up on the leg- as long as he is kept moving it is not an issue. I know she's been looking to buy a younger and bigger horse, so I think she is considering just leaving him as a field ornament and seeing how it goes, but I wanted to see if anyone had any ideas what it could be? the vet had a look a while ago when he came to do his jabs, but the horse was sound and the stiffening up was only very minor and infrequent then so he said just to keep an eye on it as it could have just been a slip in the field, but now its getting more obvious. I've got a few ideas but ive seen similar before on a RS horse many years ago, so I'm intrigued to know what the cause may be