HufflyPuffly
Well-Known Member
Now I know, I know I need to call an expert but I'm just wondering if anyone can offer suggestions?
Doodle is 21 now and has arthritis in both front fetlocks caused by a medial lateral imbalance in her front feet, diagnosed by x-rays about 5(ish) years ago. She is now shod accordingly in-front and is worked over appropriate ground and managed as best we can and has so far been sound (*touching all available wood*), if she has ever been very stiff or pottery (eg a bit unwilling to stride out if the grounds gone very hard) she is treated with Danilon and rested as and when she needs it.
So background done, I'm having a niggling feeling something is amiss
. She is only in light work now and goes to the odd show so she isn't really schooled any more, we pop in every now and then just to check everything is in order and remind her what she's suppose to be doing 
in preparation for shows. This has worked well so far but in the last few weeks, well actually stemming from Tod show where she struggled in a small ring, she hasn't felt 'right' in right canter. Now it's not a lameness as such more of a lack suppleness and balance, so she feels less able to maintain a nice steady canter? She is turning her haunches in (which she is prone to on both reins) but more than would really be the norm? Left canter is spot on still, smooth, balanced, we can lengthen and shorten easily and she is much straighter, it's only on the right.
She's happy to canter and circle, it just feels like its much more of an effort for her. She's sound in walk and trot, though I doubt she'd ever pass a flexion test now.
I'm just a bit stumped really where to turn first?
Could it be a lack of work causing one-sidedness, her left shoulder is slightly larger than the right? So should I get a physio out first (with agreement from the vet)? Or try some more supplying work, maybe pop her on the lunge to really see her move (don't tend to ever lunge her any more)?
Could it be saddle fit, this seems less likely as it looks good, she hasn't changed shape especially from her last check, no sore spots and sweat marks are all even.
Teeth are probably coming up for doing, as she gets seen every six months now, but her usual symptoms for teeth are quidding and trying to shake the contact off me, neither of which she is displaying currently.
Or call the vet and do a lameness work up?
My only slight reluctance is that she is 21 and arthritic so would they be able to find anything beyond this if you see what I mean? As I'm sure that if pushed (so trotted up and down on hard ground or for flexion tests) she would probably show some unevenness, or maybe I'm being too protective of her legs and maybe she should be pushed to see how compromised her joints now are?
I could give her a trial on Danilon (we have a box full to treat any arthritic problems) and see if she improves, but should I do this before the vet, in agreement with the vet, or???
The only thing that has made me think it could be a lameness issue rather than a general lack of schooling work is that when I asked my mum to hop on so I could take a look, when she came down to trot from right canter she gave an exaggerated stride with her outside hind,. Now my mum hadn't asked for her to stay in an outline or perhaps balanced her loads for the transition so it could just have been a general unbalanced-ness, but then is this showing me that there is more to it, as she didn't do this with me but I was holding her in an outline and prepared the transition to make it quiet and slow...
I must also add she's been out to a few shows recently with ride judges and I've not noticed anything odd there.
She still is quite active behind and not so far had any trouble, so not sure if this is something or not? Arrgg why must it be so vague! If she was obviously lame or reluctant it would be so much easier to have a plan of action, whereas I'm so undecided what to do for the best?
I'm a big believer in work (within reason) keeps older horses going but I don't want to work her if there's something not right?
Really I think I need to speak this through with the vet and go from there, but if anyone does want to add to my ramblings I would be very grateful!!!
Cake and coffee if anyone gets through all my waffle...
x x x
Doodle is 21 now and has arthritis in both front fetlocks caused by a medial lateral imbalance in her front feet, diagnosed by x-rays about 5(ish) years ago. She is now shod accordingly in-front and is worked over appropriate ground and managed as best we can and has so far been sound (*touching all available wood*), if she has ever been very stiff or pottery (eg a bit unwilling to stride out if the grounds gone very hard) she is treated with Danilon and rested as and when she needs it.
So background done, I'm having a niggling feeling something is amiss
. She is only in light work now and goes to the odd show so she isn't really schooled any more, we pop in every now and then just to check everything is in order and remind her what she's suppose to be doing in preparation for shows. This has worked well so far but in the last few weeks, well actually stemming from Tod show where she struggled in a small ring, she hasn't felt 'right' in right canter. Now it's not a lameness as such more of a lack suppleness and balance, so she feels less able to maintain a nice steady canter? She is turning her haunches in (which she is prone to on both reins) but more than would really be the norm? Left canter is spot on still, smooth, balanced, we can lengthen and shorten easily and she is much straighter, it's only on the right.She's happy to canter and circle, it just feels like its much more of an effort for her. She's sound in walk and trot, though I doubt she'd ever pass a flexion test now
.I'm just a bit stumped really where to turn first?
Could it be a lack of work causing one-sidedness, her left shoulder is slightly larger than the right? So should I get a physio out first (with agreement from the vet)? Or try some more supplying work, maybe pop her on the lunge to really see her move (don't tend to ever lunge her any more)?
Could it be saddle fit, this seems less likely as it looks good, she hasn't changed shape especially from her last check, no sore spots and sweat marks are all even.
Teeth are probably coming up for doing, as she gets seen every six months now, but her usual symptoms for teeth are quidding and trying to shake the contact off me, neither of which she is displaying currently.
Or call the vet and do a lameness work up?
My only slight reluctance is that she is 21 and arthritic so would they be able to find anything beyond this if you see what I mean? As I'm sure that if pushed (so trotted up and down on hard ground or for flexion tests) she would probably show some unevenness, or maybe I'm being too protective of her legs and maybe she should be pushed to see how compromised her joints now are?
I could give her a trial on Danilon (we have a box full to treat any arthritic problems) and see if she improves, but should I do this before the vet, in agreement with the vet, or???
The only thing that has made me think it could be a lameness issue rather than a general lack of schooling work is that when I asked my mum to hop on so I could take a look, when she came down to trot from right canter she gave an exaggerated stride with her outside hind,. Now my mum hadn't asked for her to stay in an outline or perhaps balanced her loads for the transition so it could just have been a general unbalanced-ness, but then is this showing me that there is more to it, as she didn't do this with me but I was holding her in an outline and prepared the transition to make it quiet and slow...
I must also add she's been out to a few shows recently with ride judges and I've not noticed anything odd there.
She still is quite active behind and not so far had any trouble, so not sure if this is something or not? Arrgg why must it be so vague! If she was obviously lame or reluctant it would be so much easier to have a plan of action, whereas I'm so undecided what to do for the best?
I'm a big believer in work (within reason) keeps older horses going but I don't want to work her if there's something not right?
Really I think I need to speak this through with the vet and go from there, but if anyone does want to add to my ramblings I would be very grateful!!!
Cake and coffee if anyone gets through all my waffle...
x x x
, after all this can be the starting point if she thinks it's lameness rather than anything she can see I can always then get the vet out as well!