What does this sound like to you?

[Lorian]

Hi
To cut a long story short I went to school my horse this evening

In trot when I try to bend him to the left on a circle he shortens his stride on his inside front leg and takes a few sort of short lame steps. However not every step is short/lame.
Hes:
* ok in straight lines
* ok bending to the right
* its more obvious in the school but you can see it on concrete too
* there no heat or swelling in either of his front legs or in his feet

Does anyone have any idea what could be causing the short/lame stride?

 

[Marchtime]

It sounds like your horse is lame and you need to get a vet!
Worse on a soft surface can often be an indicator of soft tissue damage as can being lame only on a circle. However it could also be something as simple as a bruised sole.
Personally I get the vet out when my horse is lame, especially when I'm unsure of the cause, but you could try the farrier first to check for bruising.

 

[magicgirl]

Could be laminitis, call the vet.

 

[zsmm4]

please call the vet. Could be lami or an abcess in the hoof or any number of other things.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

Because those symptoms are vague enough to indicate practically anything hun, I'd get the vet out pdq. This is simply because if it's nothing much it will put your mind to rest but if it's something nastier, any delay might be critical and have an effect on the outcome x.

 

[Tinseltoes]

I'd Get the vet out to check the horse.