Sudden lameness after pole work -ideas?

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acw295

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Disclaimer-not using this post as a replacement to veterinary advice. Will be speaking to vet, this post is just me passing the time until then.

Did some trot poles with my pony this lunchtime. She did a funny stride at the end of the line of poles and pulled up suddenly, holding near fore. She didn't hit a pole and they are lightweight plastic ones.

She can walk on it, have cold hosed it and left her in (she us in by day anyway). Will go back up in a few hrs and re-assess. There was no heat or obvious swelling earlier but hoping there might be something to see later.

Anyone experienced similar? Just mot sure what specifically to be looking for.

Other than a hind splint fracture some years ago we have no experience of injuries!
 
Could be twisted something, pulled something, overreached/brushed so bruised something, or trodden on something.

I think only time and the vet on Tuesday if he is still lame will tell.

OH's Charlie horse would hold a leg up as if he had broken it if he knocked himself. If you got off and gave it a rub he would be fine. Having said that a horse I was riding had completed a full event season with no issues, and 2 weeks later had a similar occurrence, had damaged a ligament and was off for months. Fingers crossed for the former!
 
Thanks, I hope so too! She's almost 18, usually sound as a pound. Very forward, pulling my arms out testerday. But she is very stoic, takes a lot for her to show pain so a bit worried really.
 
So today, after night in field I can find no heat or swelling. She has windgalls so always some puffiness around fetlocks but I can't feel any difference between either front. Trotted up sound to my uneducated eye-although I have very little lameness experience so that doesn't mean I've not missed it. But not hopping or nodding anyway.
Will repeat tonight and then I guess the only thing to do is gradually work her and see if any issue shows up? Seems a bit unnecessary to get vet until there is something to see?
Arrgghhh! Would almost be easier if there was something to see. I find the lack if symptoms more worrying than reassuring tbh.
 
Take heart, she's sound :clap::clap::clap:

Better than lame ;)

Yes, I would start with walking out, and bring back into work and hopefully that will be the end of it. If she is not sound I would get the vet.
 
Some swelling found after standing in today. Still sound, no heat but definitely a small swollen area on outside of leg above fetlock joint. Tendon looks fine though. Definitely something going on, hopefully just a sprain?!
Current plan of rest for the week, then vet next week if no change or earlier if lame. Going to try a daily bute until Fri to see if reduces swelling then stop a few days before vet if needed. Doh!! Just as the weather perks up too :/
 
just a bit of advice- I would rest her in a stable or stable sized paddock - if she has done a ligament then she doesn't want to be walking on it - cold hose, rest, bute, vet in 7 days to check even if swelling has gone imo
 
SusieT said:
just a bit of advice- I would rest her in a stable or stable sized paddock - if she has done a ligament then she doesn't want to be walking on it - cold hose, rest, bute, vet in 7 days to check even if swelling has gone imo
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Thank you - if she has done a ligament she'll be field rested rather than box rested. At her age and given she has some arthritic changes in a hock box rest isn't in her best interests. I'm aware this may limit recovery and certainly take longer, but I have vowed not to do any long term box rest with her again.
 
acw295 said:
Thank you - if she has done a ligament she'll be field rested rather than box rested. At her age and given she has some arthritic changes in a hock box rest isn't in her best interests. I'm aware this may limit recovery and certainly take longer, but I have vowed not to do any long term box rest with her again.
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A sensible approach, having to do the same with my horse who is on two hourly turnout in a sandpit, not a field. Friends horse on the same yard as mine has also done her suspensory branch and was told exactly the same with her horse who has arthritis. Her horse is in a runway (path leading down to ménage which is gravel/dirt surface).

It doesn't necessarily mean that recovery would take longer. It depends what you do with the injury in its early stages that is more beneficial to a successful outcome.
 
I imagine she bashed it, I wouldn't worry just yet, just monitor.
I too wouldn't be inclined to box rest just turn them out and let it resolve. Applecart 2 hourly turnout is not field rest.
 
ester said:
I imagine she bashed it, I wouldn't worry just yet, just monitor.
I too wouldn't be inclined to box rest just turn them out and let it resolve. Applecart 2 hourly turnout is not field rest.
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Thank you, good to hear. I know box rest is often the default but I'm not convinced. She had box rest following a nasty splint fracture surgery in 2012 but that was obviously needed as she had a cast-like bandage, stitches and a drain in, but with this I don't see the need for it. She's a much loved and for life leisure pony (hacking, distance rides, local dressage occasionally and the odd local day hunting once in a while) so quality of life much more important than speed of recovery to me.

As she is a massive fatty if not managed carefully she is out at night now until October (muzzled most of the time), in by day with soaked hay. So field rest for her would probably be the same routine, so actually 50/50 stable and turnout. It's what she knows and is very relaxed about it. If she would keep the muzzle on then I could get away without bringing in, but alas she is a houdini despite my various contraptions. She is out in a large field with a lovely herd of mares - they have the odd canter about now and again but generally very relaxed so for me I think keeping her on her usual routine is safest. If she were not a fatty then I'd have her out 24/7 and let nature sort it, but the lami risk is too great for that. It's always a compromise! She also won't turn out alone, so a small turnout area will stress her and make her neigh her head off and pace (or worse jump out -she is rather scopey for 14.2hh).
 
Lol yes, F is out firmly muzzled atm.
There are absolutely some things box rest is imperative for and we did with Mum's mare for a bit as she was surprisingly relaxed about it but go her on yard rest asap. The most ours ever do is canter up the hill, once is plenty of effort!
 
applecart14 said:
A sensible approach, having to do the same with my horse who is on two hourly turnout in a sandpit, not a field. Friends horse on the same yard as mine has also done her suspensory branch and was told exactly the same with her horse who has arthritis. Her horse is in a runway (path leading down to ménage which is gravel/dirt surface).

It doesn't necessarily mean that recovery would take longer. It depends what you do with the injury in its early stages that is more beneficial to a successful outcome.
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Molly would last about 5 mins in a sandpit - she won't go out alone and it would wind her up completely. We had one at my old yard for injuries but she preferred her stable to that. She only goes out in herds otherwise she panics unfortunately. I guess it is just like people, what works for one doesn't necessarily work for all but I think gentle movement seems to be best for most things - stitches and broken bones being obvious exceptions. I would just rather leave her alone for 12 months than box rest and try and have her back in work in 3 months - not that I am saying that is what she needs now (hope not!).
 
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