ktj1891
Well-Known Member
What do you think?
Background
My boy is 9 year old ex racer, been out of racing 3 and half years and been barefoot behind since April 13 and September 13 in front therefore, still transitioning.
Was kicked in field about a month ago in chest had hematoma went down with bute, not ridden for a week, managed 1 hack as was kicked in his right hind so again off for another week with antibiotics. Rode for 2 days and he didnt feel right so decided to get the physio. When physio came he was lame on the initial trot off about 1/10 in RF. She then worked on him and trotted up again where he was even more lame about 3/10, physio stated he didnt look completely right in LF. He had sacroiliac injections about 2 months ago now due to history of no muscle build up and toe drag.
So decide to get vet, walk and trot up, 1/10 lame, hoof testers no reaction, flexion both RF and LH as vet agrees not completely 100% behind. Reacts to flexion so suggests something in joint so we then nerve block RF at the sesamoid which would cover pastern, coffin joint and navicular. Trots up better to nerve block but highlights the lameness behind about 1/10 again, also worse on turning.
Vet says could be any number of things, twist while kicked in field, arthritis and possibly to re-shoe him. Decide to box rest for a week then come back out, vet injected bute and gave advice to bute for next 2 days with 2 sachets, then 3 days of 1 sachet of bute which took us up to Saturday, then ride/walk out for 20 minutes on Tuesday and Wednesday, so from Sunday last week until today hes not had bute.
Vet comes back out today and we walk and trot up again, still lame no worse or better than before, worse on turn, has a strong pulse on outside of sesamoid in RF. Hoof test again no reaction. I suggest trotting him up in boots, marked difference in front and behind. However vet not sure if thats due to him picking up more from wearing the boots.
Therefore, suggests maybe trying back in front shoes again before x-rays, however, I said no would rather X-rays and see if its anything to do with bone. If nothing shows on x-rays she said maybe shoe in front to see if any improvement and if not go back barefoot again and maybe look further in ways of diagnostics on the ligaments etc around the bone in the hoof.
At the moment this all seems extreme for 1/10 lameness, Im just wondering if anyone could suggest what this might be, could it just be a blip in barefoot transitioning, could it just be a niggle from being kicked twice in 2 weeks, could it be something stemming from his back end issues and sacroiliac or could it be something thats now been highlighted since going barefoot, that would have shown its ugly face eventually but been delayed due to shoeing?
So fed up I just want to ride my horse and not have constant vet visits, investigations and bills!
Background
My boy is 9 year old ex racer, been out of racing 3 and half years and been barefoot behind since April 13 and September 13 in front therefore, still transitioning.
Was kicked in field about a month ago in chest had hematoma went down with bute, not ridden for a week, managed 1 hack as was kicked in his right hind so again off for another week with antibiotics. Rode for 2 days and he didnt feel right so decided to get the physio. When physio came he was lame on the initial trot off about 1/10 in RF. She then worked on him and trotted up again where he was even more lame about 3/10, physio stated he didnt look completely right in LF. He had sacroiliac injections about 2 months ago now due to history of no muscle build up and toe drag.
So decide to get vet, walk and trot up, 1/10 lame, hoof testers no reaction, flexion both RF and LH as vet agrees not completely 100% behind. Reacts to flexion so suggests something in joint so we then nerve block RF at the sesamoid which would cover pastern, coffin joint and navicular. Trots up better to nerve block but highlights the lameness behind about 1/10 again, also worse on turning.
Vet says could be any number of things, twist while kicked in field, arthritis and possibly to re-shoe him. Decide to box rest for a week then come back out, vet injected bute and gave advice to bute for next 2 days with 2 sachets, then 3 days of 1 sachet of bute which took us up to Saturday, then ride/walk out for 20 minutes on Tuesday and Wednesday, so from Sunday last week until today hes not had bute.
Vet comes back out today and we walk and trot up again, still lame no worse or better than before, worse on turn, has a strong pulse on outside of sesamoid in RF. Hoof test again no reaction. I suggest trotting him up in boots, marked difference in front and behind. However vet not sure if thats due to him picking up more from wearing the boots.
Therefore, suggests maybe trying back in front shoes again before x-rays, however, I said no would rather X-rays and see if its anything to do with bone. If nothing shows on x-rays she said maybe shoe in front to see if any improvement and if not go back barefoot again and maybe look further in ways of diagnostics on the ligaments etc around the bone in the hoof.
At the moment this all seems extreme for 1/10 lameness, Im just wondering if anyone could suggest what this might be, could it just be a blip in barefoot transitioning, could it just be a niggle from being kicked twice in 2 weeks, could it be something stemming from his back end issues and sacroiliac or could it be something thats now been highlighted since going barefoot, that would have shown its ugly face eventually but been delayed due to shoeing?
So fed up I just want to ride my horse and not have constant vet visits, investigations and bills!
