Tell we what you see , besides a lame pony

[oldie48]

Your horse is lucky to have found you and I sincerely hope that you find the cause of his problems and that it is "sortable".

 

[AdorableAlice]

Very best of luck. A practical tip from me, as i would never have a guess at what is ailing him, leave that to the experts and their machines. Take the feathers off him, present him to the vets clean legged and cut his tail level with the hocks. With the feather and hair out of the way you will be able to see the movement, break over and way of going so much more easily.

 

[flying_high]

I think your understanding is a bit limited.

Bone scans use a radioactive tracer that identifies areas of bone turnover. They don’t detect heat, but on the scans any active areas are called hotspots so can understand your confusion. They are not a scan that can diagnose soft tissue damage, they are for bone. You really get a very limited ‘image’. That said if you have a hotspot it can sometimes direct you to image surrounding soft tissue using different diagnostics - eg high suspensories at point of insertion can sometimes show some localised bone turnover.

Sorry think I abbreviated badly. I’m aware bone scan mainly shows you were to look further. But my understanding is whilst won’t show you anything specific re soft tissue injury would normally show increased uptake in the surrounding area, giving you and indication there is something there. Particularly if uptake isn’t symmetrical left to right.

I thought typically you bone scan if don’t know where issue is and can’t narrow it down to ultrasound scan / X-ray / MRI usefully. And use bone scan to direct where go next.

 

[Leo Walker]

Very best of luck. A practical tip from me, as i would never have a guess at what is ailing him, leave that to the experts and their machines. Take the feathers off him, present him to the vets clean legged and cut his tail level with the hocks. With the feather and hair out of the way you will be able to see the movement, break over and way of going so much more easily.

You can just plait the bottom of the tail and fold it up out of the way if you dont want to cut it.

 

[Trouper]

I'm glad you have decided on a course of action and here's hoping for some answers. I have just spotted Tom Beech's post of 12 July on his FB page explaining how getting to the bottom of what ails horses is often not quick or a question of something having recently developed. It is well worth a read to understand how he and others like him look at cases - just don't get depressed about your boy!! I am sure the answer is out there.

 

[Annagain]

Best of luck HK - really hope it's something fixable.

 

[ponyparty]

I've been following since you started posting about your horse, HK. Just wanted to say I think you're doing the right thing getting him fully checked out. As always lots of good advice given here. I'll be crossing my fingers that it's something that can be sorted. Best of luck x

 

[Horsekaren]

Just after a little bit more guidence, I am based in Essex so not a millions miles away from many places, I spoke to my vet and asked if I could have him reffered to rossdales, it was suggested that he would be better off going to Bell equine in Kent. I had to push a bit to get him referred.
Does anyone know much about Bell equine?
Can I override this decision? I just want him at the best place with all the equipment and knowledgable vets.

I don’t know if I’m being a push over, mri’s were mentioned but I’m not sure if this will be a side track off of the big issue which is everything, not just hocks

 

[Auslander]

I'm quite surprised, although I don't know Bell. Rossdales is where my vet (who has serious dressage horses) chooses to send hers, so that's more than good enough for me!

 

[ihatework]

That’s quite weird - you have 2 big Newmarket vets just up the road. Any reason given for Bell (not that I know them) - I’ve taken horses halfway across the country for Rossdales. You completely have the right to choose your own vets. It sounds like your vets are haemorrhaging your insurance money. And wtf are they planning on MRI’ing?

 

[Slightlyconfused]

You can chose where to send your horse.

Ask for a reason for going to Bell, sometimes it's as simple as they have always done it.

 

[Horsekaren]

I had it in my head I wanted him to go there, I don’t want to ignore the hocks but I don’t want them to just be focused on. They said they could come and work him and and scan his neck ect but I said no I need him in one place where they can find the answer.

As they have started the investigations can I just say I want him to go there and that’s that.

 

[TPO]

I had it in my head I wanted him to go there, I don’t want to ignore the hocks but I don’t want them to just be focused on. They said they could come and work him and and scan his neck ect but I said no I need him in one place where they can find the answer.

As they have started the investigations can I just say I want him to go there and that’s that.

Yes you can. You can phone your vet and ask for a referral specifically to Rossdales. You dont need to explain yourself any further; you've already said that you want a full work up, including ridden, in one place

 

[cobgoblin]

I had it in my head I wanted him to go there, I don’t want to ignore the hocks but I don’t want them to just be focused on. They said they could come and work him and and scan his neck ect but I said no I need him in one place where they can find the answer.

As they have started the investigations can I just say I want him to go there and that’s that.

You are the customer and the one paying the bills, so of course you can dictate where your horse goes.

 

[milliepops]

Yes you can. You can phone your vet and ask for a referral specifically to Rossdales. You dont need to explain yourself any further; you've already said that you want a full work up, including ridden, in one place

This.
It's not like human NHS healthcare, you're paying the bills so you can decide who and where you want to look at him.

 

[charterline]

I've had a horse in Bell Equine before. It was only a scope for ulcers, however I'd not used them before, and was working away from home, so had to co-ordinate everything from hundreds of miles away.

I was impressed at the service they gave, very helpful and professional

 

[Horsekaren]

I've had a horse in Bell Equine before. It was only a scope for ulcers, however I'd not used them before, and was working away from home, so had to co-ordinate everything from hundreds of miles away.

I was impressed at the service they gave, very helpful and professional

It’s not that I don’t think they are good, I know nothing about them but where he is showing soooo many things I want a place that will have seen it all.

 

[Sussexbythesea]

Just after a little bit more guidence, I am based in Essex so not a millions miles away from many places, I spoke to my vet and asked if I could have him reffered to rossdales, it was suggested that he would be better off going to Bell equine in Kent. I had to push a bit to get him referred.
Does anyone know much about Bell equine?
Can I override this decision? I just want him at the best place with all the equipment and knowledgable vets.

I don’t know if I’m being a push over, mri’s were mentioned but I’m not sure if this will be a side track off of the big issue which is everything, not just hocks

Bell have a good reputation but when I lived in Kent my vets were Bell and I actually had mine referred to the AHT in Newmarket for a second opinion as Sue Dyson is one of the top respected orthopaedic specialists. I felt her expertise would give me a definitive answer. Subsequently living in Sussex I got referred to the AHT again when I felt my local vets didn’t take me seriously when I suspected a SI injury. I didn’t want to pay twice and waste insurance so I bypassed them. Again I felt I got a definitive answer and advice on treatment and therapies for my now still rideable 24yr old. Sadly I’ve just read that she’s retired but I expect they’ve employed someone of her calibre to replace her.

It’s worth looking into the CV of actual vet that would be leading any investigation as opposed to the practice itself.

 

[milliepops]

It’s worth looking into the CV of actual vet that would be leading any investigation as opposed to the practice itself.

agreed, I am registered direct with a referral practice but I still know who would be their specialist for various things and request an appointment with them for anything other than routine stuff.

 

[splashgirl45]

why on earth would you travel a horse to kent when rossdales are up the road in newmarket. i would want my horse as close to home as possible as long as the vet hospital was excellent, which as far as i know rossdales is. stand your ground if you dont want him to go to bell equine....i am finding your vet a bit odd in his outlook from what you have said...

 

[HobleytheTB]

Might it be that there's a specific vet at Bell that your vet had in mind to do the investigations? If not it seems pointless to travel further if you're happy to go with Rossdales!

 

[tristar]

your horse, your money, you do the sayin and the payin, and if you feel something has already happened to him when he was away before why risk a longer journey,

unless another vet is proved to you to be as good

 

[JFTDWS]

To be fair, Bell Equine may be closer than Rossdales to the OP.

I'd still go to Rossdales, tbh.

 

[rara007]

Bell is closer than Rossdales I think? Im in Essex and closer to Bell than Newmarket. Bell has almost all the facilities of rossdales (MRI, CT, European and American specialist both medics and surgeons) and less of a racehorse bias too. I’d trust your vets advice, they have experience of more centres than us lot with experience of the odd case here or there. If you’ve set your heart on rossdales get it changed (and ask why they don’t usually use there!), but I do think the vets will know who’s best for what sort of case!

 

[Lois Lame]

Maybe Horsekaren's vet has a vet-friend at Bell's.

I don't know any of these places (I'm on the other side of the globe) but I think I'd be wanting Rossdales due to what many have written here.

 

[TwyfordM]

I would be very suspicious of neck involvement...a change in head/neck position caused a significant gait change in that video.

Was the neck X-rayed, and if so was it a specialist equine practice ....as neck x-rays can be difficult to interpret, and positioning is critical.

This, pony is now retired but we went backwards and forwards. Neurological, feet, back, stifle etc. Had neck xrayed and eventually when they did an xray from a very bizarre angle found a suspect vertebrae that was misshapen, bits chipped off etc. Never quite nailed down what it was but after a year she's still not right but comfortable enough to gallop around the field like a loon.
Horse in video looks pretty similar to my mare

Also this was at Bell equine so they will do their best to find problem i can vouch for that!

 

[Horsekaren]

Ok, so a good review for bell goes a long way
I’ve checked and they do seem to have the facilities , ie bone scan ect. Perhaps a smaller practice might be as good as rossdales. My vet has agreed he doesn’t look right behind ( he doesn’t always do this so during the work up before he obviously didn’t show this but the new videos are so clear thank goodness! )

Having slept on it, I think I’m happy with sending him to bell, they have all the facilities and the comment above re a similar horse helps. I want him ridden so they can see it with their own eyes and a better rider can explain when he reacts and feel what he can and can’t do.

 

[splashgirl45]

good luck

 

[twiggy2]

Just wanted to say good luck op, hope you get a good outcome.

 

[ihatework]

Good luck!
In retrospect maybe your vet feels Rossdales/AHT are so elite focused that you might get better support at Bell?

I hope you get the answers you are seeking, but would just add a word of warning not to take that for granted, sometimes even after spending ££££ the answers aren’t clear cut