What exactly does field sound mean?

I would say it shouldn't look lame in the field but would if put under any pressure work-wise

that would be my take on it
 
I think field sound is a horse that is NOT obviously lame when moving around the field in all paces but may look a bit stiff at times or be reluctant to really run about, a horse that cannot cope with any ridden work can often be "field sound" but put tack on and ask it to carry a rider and the lameness will become obvious even if it takes a few days to show up.
A horse that is obviously lame is not sound , field or otherwise, the only exception would be a mechanical lameness but they are far more rare than pain related lameness.
 
I class mine as field sound in that she is completely sound in the field at all paces but can be a little footy on stony ground but she is also fine on flat hard ground also.
 
I describe my old boy as field sound. With him it means sound walking,, slight nod if trotting downhill or in circle, canters bucks around the field, but back legs can look a bit stiff when doing so.
Far too happy with life for pts, but not really rideable.
 
well he looks ok in walk, trot defo lame, and when standing always resting the leg, still managed to get thru the fencing the other day! looks happy enough but defo lame
 
NooNoo59 said:
well he looks ok in walk, trot defo lame, and when standing always resting the leg, still managed to get thru the fencing the other day! looks happy enough but defo lame
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That is not what I would describe as field sound.

Field sound to me is sound, but will not remain so if worked.
 
You can have horses that look lame but are not in pain; mechanical lameness. I would be happy having a horse with mechanical lameness retired in the field so long as it was happy. You can usually tell if a horse is happy. If it is bright and perky and obviously enjoying life then a little bit of lameness would not bother me. I would also be prepared to give one or two danilon to keep them comfortable retired.
 
For me it's something that is ultimately lame, but isn't in pain or a welfare issue to keep. Many ridden (and flexion, and hard circle) sound horses are lame downhill on our lumpy field, I don't condem them though :p
 
Mines field sound. And 'straight line' sound when ridden. She can play about in the fields and just look Blabit disunited in canter other paces she looks fine. Currently waiting to go to Rossdales next week! She has to come inside when weather is bad overnight otherwise she gets incredibly stiff & lame from it
 
As the mud has got deep and holding and he was struggling and not hooling about like he used to do, I made the decision and he was pts yesterday. Great sadness, but also comfort that it was the right thing to do.
 
Sorry for your loss NooNoo, can I ask what he had that made him lame?

My boy was retired in March with ringbone, he is sound in walk, sound in trot on firm surface but noticeably lame in trot on soft/muddy/slippy ground, he is happy and enjoying retirement for now...
 
Well I'd say my pony is field sound, can walk/trot/canter and do airs above the ground in field but can't cope with other forced exercise.
 
To me it means sound when not ridden but would be quickly lame if ridden .
I also would not be too concerned if the horse was mildly lame if it had a mad five minutes flying about as long as it settled down quickly after .
 
He retore the ddft in the hind foot, was resting it all the time and not hooling about, vet advised it was the best thing to do as it would not come good and would be painful, also he wasnt looking his usual bonnie self. Irreplacable pony who was a huge amount of fun, he was a busy buzzy person so standing in a field being restricted in what he could do was not right.
 
NooNoo59 said:
As the mud has got deep and holding and he was struggling and not hooling about like he used to do, I made the decision and he was pts yesterday. Great sadness, but also comfort that it was the right thing to do.
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Good decision, well done.
 
Field sound is if horse can be a wild horse at heart... but no more :)

So probably SI injury, spinal, joint degeneration or general wear & tear... could even be psychological. As long as the horse has a good quality of life, and is happy and sound in the field and your pocket can handle a field trasher (why are they called ornaments??).
 
NooNoo59 said:
As the mud has got deep and holding and he was struggling and not hooling about like he used to do, I made the decision and he was pts yesterday. Great sadness, but also comfort that it was the right thing to do.
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Just reiterating how sorry I am, because people aren't realising that this is an old thread and the deed is already done.

You made a brave choice for him.
 
w1bbler said:
I describe my old boy as field sound. With him it means sound walking,, slight nod if trotting downhill or in circle, canters bucks around the field, but back legs can look a bit stiff when doing so.
Far too happy with life for pts, but not really rideable.
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Pretty much the same as me and mine! He looks sound enough to be really tempting to go and grab his tack but in reality i know a few hacks and he'd probably no longer be even field sound.
 
One of mine is "field sound" She can walk, trot and canter around a field and looks sound, BUT if I were to ride her on a frequent basis she would soon show lameness from her SI problem...hence she potters about keeping the other one company!
 
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