Who's your first call farrier or vet?

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ellis9905

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Daughters pony came in from field lame .. Wouldn't/ couldn't stand square or fully bear weight on one front leg.

First thing I did was check over his feet - there was a sharpe stone wedged under the end of the shoe by his heel- I removed this and straight away he stood square and happy to bear weight back on that foot. Walked him out on yard and was massively improved.

The stone has left a gap tho that I can get my finger into - the last 1/2 inch of the shoe isn't now supported on anything as its just a gap from where the stone has come out.

So on yard advice I gave him a bute in his feed and he's had a couple of days off... Last night trotted him up- he's fine in walk but soon as trot is asked for he's obviously lame.

Now out of interest who would you call- farrier or vet?

Fortunately in my years of keeping horses I'm been very lucky and never had any lameness issues or need for call outs other than regular vaccination type stuff.

I was unsure if vet or farrier- who would you of called first??

I have opted to call farrier first ( he's coming in next hr) and if he can't shed any light then I'll call the vet for this afternoon.

I'm hoping maybe it's just a bruised sole or heel??
 
Well if I had an obvious minor foot trauma but which was improving then probably neither. I'd poultice for a day or two and then rest until sound.
If the horse showed abcess symptom then the farrier would be called.
If the foot trauma was a potential puncture into more important structures then the vet immediately. It's a call that comes with experience
 
if it's not punctured and it's not getting worse then i'd poultice as well as leave for a day or two and then make a call on it.
 
If it were me then the same as what ihatework said. Sounds to me like your pony has a bruise from the stone - something mine are specialising in at the moment! In your shoes then I agree with calling the farrier first.
 
Farrier would be my first port of call, if farrier cannot find anything and a couple of days poulticing doesn't help then I'd give vets a call.

Ditto what I hate work says though.
 
If he's still lame and there is a chance it's got in to or damaged the the foot itself vet every time. Farriers don't carry stuff to do contrast X-rays to know where it's gone. Sounds like he might want some pain relief too.
 
Always Farrier first on anything leg related. I'm very lucky, my very experienced farrier is a family friend and will always pop in FOC within a couple of hours. He would be offended if I rang the vet first. He always says that he will tell me if I need a vet. Only once has that happened and horse had a stay in horsepital for a few days because of a hock injury that needed more attention. I am very grateful to have him!!
 
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