unsound - not lame. Foot/back/knee?? HELP

[tinker88]

HI,

Im an experinced BHSAI.

And my horse (had him 10yrs) who is 13yrs old is showing some lameness

He is not really lame and its not noticable but i can feel it when i ride him he feels like he is not striding out properly, and it eases after 1/2hr work. he is fine then and is more than happy to gallop etc!

Im having his back checked next week.
He has had some foot problems but that is getting better, and got laminitus 3 yrs ago due to shock (not over eating!)

But he used to love jumping he now dosn't want to jump any higher than 3ft. and only likes to jump say 10 times then starts to refuse.
My farrier suggested that he may be having some athritic changes in his knee which is effetcting the cushioning whilst troting on roads/jumping etc.

Any suggestions.


I was going to try some cushioning hoof pads between his shoes next time hes shod.

 

[Morrigan_Lady]

Sounds abit similar to my old boy. He had arthitus and was jumpging fine, then he would just stop! Shame really coz we'd just started to affiliate, but he just couldnt cope with the height anymore.
I hope your horsey gets better, it might be worth getting the vet out, he may need some x-rays. xx

 

[SpruceRI]

Does sound like the classic startings of arthritis.

If it was the height of summer I'd say hard ground, and what you've described is how my mare goes: 'pottery' - not striding out etc.

Not sure where you'd go from here. Presumably your vet would do flexion tests to begin with to try to identify the region of pain. It's almost more difficult to suss the problem when they're only a little 'odd' than it is when they're properly lame.

You could try one of the Glucosamine/Chondroitin type products on the market first to see if that makes a difference to his way of going, or it could be a problem with his feet. I think I'd get the vet out first

 

[tinker88]

yeah,

going to try cortaflex and some shoe pads to take some concusion and see how that helps.
Hopefully next time hes shod his feet will be an even better shape (he last a shoe around new year and it really cracked his hoof up bad!)

It hard becuase hes not realy lame just slighty unsound hes happy to go out riding etc just want a good gentle warm up before any serious work.

Its strange because ive always hought he would have a problem in his leg/knee because for about 7yrs now about once a week he would not 'lock' his knee properly whilst hacking and stumble on it. It never bothered him so never took it any further.

 

[Evenstar]

My pony has fibrotic myopathy in a hindlimb which means that she limps at walk (although it is not painful for her) but not a trot or canter.

It is an ossification within one of her muscles which is the result of a kick.