Would you ride if horse was lame?

L

LizScott

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as title really... Just wondered as friend's horse is slightly lame and YO has said she thinks it's in the mares shoulder and that she should be walked out everyday. I don't know whether this is right or wrong so just interested in opinions really!
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they think she was playing in field and pulled something in shoulder. She's used for light hacking and occasional schooling.
 
Not unless a vet had found the cause of the lameness and said it was ok, i wouldnt want to risk doing more damage than good!
 
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they think she was playing in field and pulled something in shoulder. She's used for light hacking and occasional schooling.

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In that case no, as it sounds like a muscle injury.
I'd get the vet to treat her...in addition to the physio/chiropractor and do work to cure her.
It's not fair to ride a horse with a pulled shoulder muscle, whether light work or not, IMO.
S
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hmmm i would be wary. If its a tweak I would walk in hand not ride that way the entire back is unrestricted and not carrying extra weight and can therefore walk it off so to speak.

I know every time I get on Dan he is probably about 1/10th lame when I start but he comes sound within 10-15mins once warmed up but that is due to him being arthritic and he is better ridden in this manner than left when he gets stiffer and stiffer.

It is all very dependant on the horse and the injury how long has the horse been slightly lame? if more than a couple of days I would want a vet to be looking at the injury as a muscle tweak should sort itself out pretty quickly.
 
My mare pulled her shoulder and couldnt be ridden for 3 weeks. she was still turned out as normal to walk around etc but certainly no riding was done until she came sound.
 
thanks! that's what I thought but when I suggested checking with a vet the owner said they didn't want the expense ...in the next breath went on to say they may replace the (brand new) stubben bridle with a different one as didn't like noseband
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Frankie is lame behind when i first get on him.......but instructor and other yard people say he is fine after 2o minutes or so. people have said to me it's ok to ride him, and work him, but i'm still not sure.........have managed to get Frankie's owner to get vet and back woman out to have a ganders. Don't like to ride him if he's uncomfortable.

I agree with S though, it all depends on how lame/where and what you want to do with the horse. An old friend of mine had a horse that had a slight locking stifle, and he had to be ridden so his hindquarters were strong
 
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thanks! that's what I thought but when I suggested checking with a vet the owner said they didn't want the expense ...in the next breath went on to say they may replace the (brand new) stubben bridle with a different one as didn't like noseband
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I FEEL YOUR PAIN!! my owner is the same
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thanks! that's what I thought but when I suggested checking with a vet the owner said they didn't want the expense ...in the next breath went on to say they may replace the (brand new) stubben bridle with a different one as didn't like noseband
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Perhaps if you tell owner how untreated unsoundness can cause problems in the back, neck and other limbs too...you can use the 'stitch in time' principle?
S
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I think it would simply lead to a big shopping trip with lots of fluffy numnahs, padded girths, sheepskin-covered-everythings ...oh and maybe some supplements to help "cure" her
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No. If a horse is lame then it is in pain

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Not true.
S
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...could you elaborate please? Need lots of info to go back to owner with!
 
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No. If a horse is lame then it is in pain

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Not true.
S
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...could you elaborate please? Need lots of info to go back to owner with!

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Well, you can have 'mechanical' lamenesses...where the limb does not move normally due to structural alterations...but not necessarily in response to pain.
For example, my old mare has a LH spavin...it alters the degree of flexion in that hock so if you try to flex the hock...there's a few inches gap left compared to her RH which you can fold up nearly fully. This is due to bone exostoses in the joint, not to it hurting her.
Same with stringhalt, wobblers etc.
So not all lamenesses are due to pain avoidance, IME.
S
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If the lameness has suddenly appeared then it is acute lameness and in all probability is due to a response to pain.

It could be due to a number of different reasons and only a vet is qualified to diagnose it.

In most cases it is far cheaper and more beneficial to the animal to get a vet in immediately than let the condition worsen andbecome more painful for the poor horse.

The vet should be called in immediately to diagnose the problem.

If the owner states they can not afford a vet then they should not own a horse.
 
There is no correct answer to your question.

As has been said, it depends why the mare is lame and to what extent.

It also depends what sort of riding your mate has in mind and what sort of a rider they are.

Gentle riding with a good rider should put no more stress on the horse than if itwere ambling round the field.

As for calling the vet, it depends upon how experienced the owner and her advisors are!

Lack of exercise is actualy detramental for some problems, especialy if the horse is fit. Suddenly stopping work can cause worse damage. It is like if people sprain their ankles, they must contimnue to walk about or the muscles and tendons simply get weaker and the injury does not recover.

If I had a horse similar to the one you describe, I would lay off it for a few days and long line rather than ride. This would be part of the way that I would assess the problem. Then, if it was getting better I would re-habilitate the horse over a few weeks building up slowly to its previous level of work. If the problem refused to go away I would call a physio... as my Vet is no good for mechanical stuff!
 
If its any help, when my mare hurt her shoulder the vet told us that the usual healing time is a minimum of 8 weeks for a true shoulder injury. We would have achieved nothing by exercising her, but she had normal turnout so she wouldn't stiffen up.

LMAO at the bridle thingy - some people are unbelievable!
 
Cairo goes slightly lame - mainly stiffness from time to time due to low ringbone and old age - I keep riding him gently as he normally loosens up. If he is really looking uneven I put him on bute for a couple of days but work him from the ground to avoid further stiffening. Again within a week he is normally fine again - I think on occasion he plays a little too hard with Chancer.

If this was Chancer, my three year old that was slightly unsound, I would stop riding and leave him to exercise himself and maybe give a little bute for a few days (assuming no heat or lumps). If no improvement I would then call my vet for advice and if he thought it appropriate, a visit.

If my horse is obviously lame or has heat and/or swelling I ask the vet to come out as soon as possible. I would not give bute or ride until he was seen.
 
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