Thoughts on lameness please

[pistolpete]

A friends mare who is on loan is really lame behind in slow trot. Seems sound in walk fast trot and canter. Never bucks will gallop if asked. Is mainly used for walk and odd trot. I keep hinting she could do with a work up but owners not interested in paying so my friend would need permission and not given it. Bit odd. What could cause this? Guessing it’s likely SI or stifle maybe? She’s the nicest horse.

 

[Zoeypxo]

How old is the horse ?
my first guess would be hocks but it could be anything. Is there no way of getting a vet to have a look?

 

[AmyMay]

Is the horse on full loan?

 

[pistolpete]

I really hope so soon. I cringe. She’s not old. Maybe 12

 

[sbloom]

Faster work helps mask issues in so many cases. Slow work builds balance and strength, though I confess I have no idea what sort of lameness may be more likely to show in slow work. It almost certainly indicates a compensatory movement patterns that will be tied up with balance eh dropped in the thoracic sling, downhill etc.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

The horse probably is lame full stop in the trot but it's just not as noticeable when the horse is more forward and it's probably bilateral which makes it harder to notice, if you blocked one leg she will probably look quite lame on the other leg.

Poor horse she needs a vet.

 

[w1bbler]

Reading she never bucks & does what she's asked, followed by she's the nicest horse makes me want to cry.
So many horses will work through pain without complaining because that's their nature. I've sadly been in the position where I ignored my mare whispering she was uncomfortable (sometimes stopped out jumping). She had to shout at me ( started being grumpy when being handled) before I took any notice. Please keep being the horses advocate & to get a vet involved.
As a minimum, being on full loan, she should be prepared to pay for a vet visit, or failing that a body worker, who may be able to pinpoint the issue. Treatment then would be down to the owner, but knowing what you are dealing with is a start.
Starting a good groundwork program may help, but I'd want to know the issue first so nothing is exacerbated.

 

[pistolpete]

I am so frustrated by the situation. Friend wants to buy mare as she’s an angel. Just wish she’d go ahead and get her checked. She was going to last week but we had that dump of snow so vet came did teeth and left! No chance to chat as had her sedated before car door shut! That’s a lovely big corporate vet of course! Grr. I’ll keep chipping away. I mention it every time I see her! We might not be friends much longer!

 

[w1bbler]

Well done for persevering. If she's wanting to buy can you suggest she gets a 5 stage vetting ( pointing out she'll need that in order to insure the mare)
Then make sure you happen to be around when the vet appears & just happen to mention your concerns .

 

[Birker2020]

My vet said Bailey had a form of mechanical lameness due to calcification on the suspensory branch. Vet said to crack on.

She would do a funny hop in a fast trot but when it was slowed down she would be a lot better to the point it was much less visible. It was never remarked on during any of our dressage tests. It could have been mistaken for bridle lameness when ridden in fast trot but dissapeared when she was more collected. She was worse on a right circle as the injury was on the left fore and she pushed off more when that limb was on the outside of the circle.

Bute never made any difference hence the vet saying it was a mechanical issue.

 

[SEL]

Could be anything!

My PSSM mare looks horrendous in a slow trot even after having her hocks injected. Once she's warmed up its a lot better although her problematic suspensory definitely draws your eye to a quirky left hind action. Flying around the field with the youngster she looks great. Always got tight hamstrings and I've been convinced there's a lumbar issue the vets just couldn't track down.

Poor horse. They do try their best for us don't they

 

[sbloom]

Always got tight hamstrings and I've been convinced there's a lumbar issue the vets just couldn't track down.

The sort of recurrent issue that should be ringing alarm bells for vets and bodyworkers, hopefully that's changing!

 

[pistolpete]

I gave her a bit of massage on Sunday night right hamstring also around right top of rump. Felt rock hard!

 

[sbloom]

I gave her a bit of massage on Sunday night right hamstring also around right top of rump. Felt rock hard!

I think I'm right in saying they can be tight for two broad reasons - they're involved in the pelvis being tilted, either elongated from the pelvis tipping forwards, or they're short and tight for pulling it into backwards tilt. I'm sure a bodyworker could explain better, but they're heavily involved in postural type issues.

Has she not even had a bodyworker to the horse? What's the deal on that? It's awful a horse gets stuck like this because of a loan agreement, she's the only one suffering.

 

[pistolpete]

Totally agree. I raised it again today as gently as I could. Reply was she seems happy in her (fairly light) work! She’s ridden six days a week! Often only walk but even still! I’ve said about physio time and time again. Reply I got for that was when she’s hers she wants Max Maxwell to go over her.

 

[tallyho!]

Goodness me, poor girl.

You need an honest opinion. 6 days a week work and she's lame? I would not do a thing until you know for sure.

Who said horses were cheap, eh...

 

[tristar]

poor little sod.

if you will be massaging her again could you get hold of a percussion massager? you know a hand held human one, or any sort, i would rug the area first and lead her round, to get her warm, then a 20 minute on the area, then rug it and a while all over.

i do this to myself when stiff lame, makes a huge difference to comfort.

it could help short term specially if they insist on riding the poor creature.

perhaps you need to be blunt and say she is in PAIN.

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

Poor thing, my mare was exactly the same. Slightly lame but never put a perfect little hoof wrong. I sadly wasn't experienced enough to spot the subtle lameness and tbh even when I did start to think something was wrong I thought it was me (I'd just come back from having a baby so thought I was wonky and weak). But soon as someone suggested having her looked at I did.

In her case it was hock arthritis, sore SI and KS. I'd put a lot of money on it being one of those 3! Problem is once something goes a bit iffy they end up doing more damage compensating for it.

All you can do is carry on as you are and hope your friend sees sense.

 

[pistolpete]

I’m not seeing her this weekend which I’m relieved about as I feel so sorry for the mare. Just hope she sees sense soon.

 

[pistolpete]

UPDATE
She’s being returned to her owner. Loan agreement ended and owner wants her back. Hope they sort her but apparently they’re not very horsey :-(