What could be wrong

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Cobland

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Decided to loose lunge angel today, was shattered after riding gypsy and mae, i was really concerned with what i seen, tried to get her to trot but was so half hearted, i just thought typical angel. Asked her for a canter and things got worse, her canter wouldnt have been much faster than a fast walk, it was like her front legs were willing but her back legs werent.

Called my good friend out and she checked her back and its fine. Ive had a vet out to her before about her rear near side back leg, the hip used to click badly and she would refuse to put weight on that leg. Vet couldnt find a thing wrong, however gave me 2 weeks of bute and told me not to ride her for that time. Seemed to clear whatever it was up, now its got loads worse, there is no heat/swelling anywhere.

Tried to call a vet today but no answer, im going mad thinking there is something seriously wrong, shes only 8, still a baby lol. As i said she was always a slow horse but now its an effort to even trot, its like her back end is really stiff but her front isnt.

She wouldnt let me lift her back offside leg today, shes refusing to put much weight on that leg. Could it be arthritis this early?
 
Unfortunately, it could be a whole host of things so I'd be wary asking for diagnosis on a forum full of people who haven't seen the horse. It does SOUND as if it's related to this leg (as she's not wanting to full weight bear or lift the leg), however, it could still be something of a red herring & be something like ovaries...

I would certainly say do not work her until the vet has been, but personally I'd keep to her normal turnout routine unless she seems lame/uncomfortable just walking around the field.

It may be that she's put her back out & you just need a good (vet recommended) physio out. Or, it could be something in the foot, in the leg etc.

I would try not to worry too much at this stage - as you say, she's young & therefore whatever it is could very probably have a good prognosis.
 
Could be a lot of things so try not to worry too much and see what the vet says. This is good coming from me as I spend most of my time worrying about what is wrong with my horse so I know from experience it really doesn't help (hard not to though).
I hope its nothing too serious.
 
is she lame? or just very unwilling to go forward?
i saw a video of a vet examining a young event horse which schooled beautifully for about 10 mins and then became very reluctant to go fwd. luckily it was with someone sympathetic and so wasn't beaten when i did this, they got the vet to check it out. it had a problem with the blood supply to its hind legs, after a bit of work enough blood wasn't getting through (the veins in its hindlegs, instead of bulging, looked flat) so it needed a bit of a rest, then was fine again. obviously very very rare, but sounds like similar symptoms. might be worth doing a little bit today with a different horse and looking at its veins after 5 mins on the lunge, then gently doing the same with her and comparing them.
it's a very very long shot, but it's the only comparable thing i've ever seen.
hope it's nothing of the sort, that it's something simple and she's fine soon!
 
I cant get her to go forward at all, this morning she was lame on that leg, if you lift that leg up she takes ages putting it back down again. Its similar to the way it was before, except worse.

Standing behind her she does look even, last time the vet was up he moved that leg all shapes and couldnt find one thing wrong, she also let him lift the other rear leg.

The only way to describe it, is when she trots and canters, its like she compacting her back end, like its stiff. Shes not getting rode, shes still getting her turn out, although i dont think she enjoys it.
 
It's not necessarily IN the leg, it's just that that's where it manifests itself in terms of what you can see - i.e. the leg is attached to wherever the problem is. Could be back, HQ's, stifle etc.

Personally, I'd consider it 'serious' enough to not try any amateur investigations (i.e. 'try trotting up/lunging/whatever & see if...') - complete rest until the vet arrives.

Hope you get it sorted.
 
(((Hugs))).

You say she doesn't seem to be enjoying her turnout, if she was mine & that was the case I think I'd keep her in tonight. With the symptoms you describe I can't see a night in making her worse & if it does make her slightly stiffer then that just means it'll be more marked when the vet comes. I'd also sleep a lot better tonight because I'm such a worrier I'd be concerned about something happening in the field
blush.gif
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Like Sal_E I wouldn't try doing anything, I'd just call the vet first thing tomorrow & get them out ASAP. Something definately sounds wrong, that isn't just lazy cob behaviour, but I really wouldn't want to guess what it is.

When I was really really worried about Jim but couldn't put my finger on quite what was wrong (except for crashing falls in the field!) I wrote a list of everything that didn't seem right or worried me & gave it to the vet because I was in such a state I knew I'd forget things. It might be worth watching her for a while this afternoon & see if you notice anything else & if so jot it down, sometimes a little thing can give you a whole new idea.

Take care of yourself & good luck with the vet.
 
I phoned the vet today, he said himself it could be a wide range of things. Shes now in one of the large mare and foal stables, so she has room to walk about.

Put her out in the arena for an hour to let her walk about and all she seemed to want to do is lie down. Temperature etc is ok, back is fine.

Called at the vets to get bute, he said he cant get out until wednesday, to keep her in until then. Havent exercised her today and i wont be until the vets been.

I really worry about my lot, they are my babies. Describing it all to the vet, he said it does sound like shes in pain somewhere. I really think its coming from the near side hip, its been nagging me for a while but 2 other vets have said its fine, ive changed to a different vet, i just know there is something wrong, after all who knows our horses as well as we do!

The guy seems to be taking me more seriously, he was recommended by my friend, but hes real hard to get hold of. He breeds cobs himself, and is more a horsey vet than a dog vet.

I will keep yous updated.
 
To be quite honest, if a vet agreed that the mare is in pain but wouldn't come out till Wednesday I wouldn't be very happy. Can you not try and push him to come out tomorrow.
 
No she isnt in season, that was one thing the vet asked.

Vet said hes fully booked up tomorrow and tuesday, its really hard to get a vet out here. Im not happy that its going to take until wednesday for her to be checked over, trust me i did try my hardest to get him out sooner.

We are quite limited here what vets will come out to horses, makes me wish i went and trained as a veterinary nurse myself.
 
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