When someone tells you...

I have a horse that isn't lame but isn't right either. The footfalls are the same length and the rhythm of them is the same, she tracks up pretty much the same on each side but she doesn't bend one hock as much as the other. It is very swollen so although she isn't limping she isn't moving normally either. Is that sort of what you mean?
 
I've had my saddle checked today and that was her comment, he has low ringbone in his fronts but at the moment is sound on hard ground. He is tracking up as far as I can see but she has suggested bone spavin. As she says it looks like he's not working properly behind. I'm mortified to think he could now have something else wrong. I knows she's not a vet put it's now got me worried.
 
Why not write these points down so you can call your physio and question her again? I also though unlevel meant uneven muscular development. Also check the balance of your horses feet as well.
 
Black_Horse_White said:
I've had my saddle checked today and that was her comment, he has low ringbone in his fronts but at the moment is sound on hard ground. He is tracking up as far as I can see but she has suggested bone spavin. As she says it looks like he's not working properly behind. I'm mortified to think he could now have something else wrong. I knows she's not a vet put it's now got me worried.
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My saddler told me my horse is weaker on the right rein - maybe she means he needs building up:)
 
Why not give her a call and ask her to be more specific about what she meant? Was it the same saddler that clare uses?
Maybe get an oesteo or someone to give him a once over, with all he's been through over the last 6 months I wouldn't be at all surprised if he was holding tension somewhere, in fact I think i'd almost expect it.
 
Unlevel could mean uneven muscular development or that they are not lame per say, but stiff if you see what I mean?
If he had a ringbone on his fronts you should be able to feel it. Ringbone is just like a splint but lower down.
 
I wouldn’t get too carried away with all the ‘what if’s’ at this stage, just because your horse is un level and or not tracking up doesn’t mean he could have bone spavin or god know what ever else, leave the diagnosing to the vet.

However if she has suggested that it needs looking into, he could be compensating else where perhaps due to the ringbone therefore needs looking at but don't panic or write him off, get his back checked first so then they can forward a report to your vet, if there is anything serious then your vet give him a good go over.
 
To me unlevel mean that the horse is going slightly 'ouch' rather than 'bloomin henry, that hurts' and to the eye they seem almost sound.
 
I would say 'Hes not lame hes stiff' But to be 'unlevel' means that one of the legs ifs falling short of the stride length of the others... In which case the horse is LAME.

Lou x
 
maggiesmum said:
Maybe get an oesteo or someone to give him a once over, with all he's been through over the last 6 months I wouldn't be at all surprised if he was holding tension somewhere, in fact I think i'd almost expect it.
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^^ This ^^

As you know, my horse has ringbone and he gets quite stiff through his shoulders and withers because of it (have discussed it with my vet so I know that is the cause and nothing else!) so he has physio every 4-6 months to help deal with it. Get a good equine physio out to look at him and help deal with any muscular soreness.
 
He was checked by a physio 2 weeks ago, she says he has sight muscle wastage on his right side. And was tight through his shoulder, which she released and I've been doing stretching exercises with him since. Can't feel the ringbone but seen it on X-rays. Maggiesmum yes it is the same saddler had Clare has. He was lame in trot on hard ground but is sound now. She did say he looked a little stiff, but he was ridden out of the stable.
 
Black_Horse_White said:
He was checked by a physio 2 weeks ago, she says he has sight muscle wastage on his right side. And was tight through his shoulder, which she released and I've been doing stretching exercises with him since. Can't feel the ringbone but seen it on X-rays. Maggiesmum yes it is the same saddler had Clare has. He was lame in trot on hard ground but is sound now. She did say he looked a little stiff, but he was ridden out of the stable.
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Just give it time (easier said than done!) - you are doing the right things and if he has muscle wastage it will take time to start to even up. If he's sound on hard ground now then things are obviously going in the right direction.
 
Thanks Chestnut cob, my only problem is everyone is telling me to get on him and ride. Vet physio even Clare, but I can't get this damn Ringnone out of my head and worry that I'm hurting him. Stupid I know as the physio has told me his muscles are well developed everywhere else. And he is sound now. Farrier also said that he has even wear on all 4 shoes which he says his good. So most of the feedback I get is positive, it's the comment by the saddler that put a downer on it I suppose 
 
Saddler told me Frank was unlevel on his last visit ie not stepping through on his right hind. He is generally stiffer on that side and I reckon likely getting a bit spaviny in that hock (18yo) and he hadn't had his normal warm up :). Just a hope on, walk, trot, canter for the fitting.

I carried on riding while he checked Mum's saddle then got him to have another look and he was even then :).
 
Black_Horse_White said:
Thanks Chestnut cob, my only problem is everyone is telling me to get on him and ride. Vet physio even Clare, but I can't get this damn Ringnone out of my head and worry that I'm hurting him. Stupid I know as the physio has told me his muscles are well developed everywhere else. And he is sound now. Farrier also said that he has even wear on all 4 shoes which he says his good. So most of the feedback I get is positive, it's the comment by the saddler that put a downer on it I suppose 
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Don't get on and ride if you don't feel he's right - he is your horse and you know when he is right and when he isn't. However, it's easy to get bogged down in looking for little niggles. I spent months early this year watching every step that my horse took, refusing to ride if he took one even slightly stiff step, wrapping him in cotton wool, refusing to do road work in case that made him worse. Finally, several months down the line, I've just about managed to accept that my horse has ringbone and is never going to move like he did a few years ago. He is limited in what he can do and he has off or stiff days. He also has fantastic days. I think I've finally worked out what is normal for him, and when he's having a bad day.

Unless he is in pain (rather than a little stiff) then he will benefit from work. I got on mine a couple of weeks ago and he felt really stiff so we just ambled around the block for 15 mins. Other days he feels like he'd hunt all day long! My vet and farrier both tell me it benefits from regular, gentle work. I don't trot on roads and don't canter on hard ground. I do avoid road work when I can and he's much better since I've moved yards to somewhere with loads of off road hacking. I found it really hard to crack on with working him because I was convinced I'd break him but in general, the more work he does, the better he feels and the happier he is.

It sounds like a cliche but listen to your horse - if he is happy then keep working him. FWIW I also don't think there are that many truly sound horses out there, just like most people have niggles!
 
I've been hacking him out 3/4 days a week for about 45 mins and to be honest he's felt great these last couple of weeks. Only trotted him a few strides on the road to check he's still ok, as he's normally very lame but lately he's trotted the best he's ever done. Which I'm over the moon about. I don't take him in the school now as I don't want to set him back. So we for now are just light hacking. So far so good.
 
Black_Horse_White said:
I've been hacking him out 3/4 days a week for about 45 mins and to be honest he's felt great these last couple of weeks. Only trotted him a few strides on the road to check he's still ok, as he's normally very lame but lately he's trotted the best he's ever done. Which I'm over the moon about. I don't take him in the school now as I don't want to set him back. So we for now are just light hacking. So far so good.
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There you go then - sounds like all is going well :) I don't trot at all on the roads, unless I need to get out of the way of something. If I kept doing things to check how he looks I'd drive myself crazy!
 
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