Question:
what's wrong with my horse?
Philippa
2009-06-20 09:25:34 UTC
my 3 yr old QH gelding has been limping for like (at very most) the last month. it isn't a bad limp just something that pops up every once in awhile while i am leading him. if i go riding he is just fine at the walk and if i trot him he has this steady limp. if i canter him it is choppy and not smooth like it used to be.(i am still riding him but just walking and trotting. i am thinking about giving him a week of rest to see if he improves) i thought he might have a stone bruise but he's had this limp, that appears some days, for a almost a month. could he be foundering? but if he was foundering wouldn't be alot quicker?
hope you can answer this!
thanks,
"desperate for an answer"
Ten answers:
Esperanza
2009-06-20 09:40:49 UTC
It depends where it is. Which leg seems to be off? Is it his front leg or his hind leg? He could need more stretch work done, he's also pretty young to be working hard, also. You should consider giving him a good week break. He doesn't need ridden if he's hurt! You're only making it worse. Imagine if you twisted and pulled your ankle and someone went 'keep going keep going' you wouldn't be happy.



He does need some exercise, hand walking and trotting is a good option. You need to contact a vet if you cannot find out what's going on. Run your hands down their legs, is there any swelling or heat? If so, that's your area that's in pain. Do the tendons feel inflamed? If there is no sign of pain in the legs... look further. Lets pretend it's in his left shoulder (since you don't say) and so a good way to see what's going on is to lift his leg, and gently stretch it forward. You are checking the shoulder. set it down and have him walk off, is it apparent now? Pick it up again and stretch it back, then have him walked off again, how about now? If it's in the shoulder, you can do a stretch regiment along with massage and liniment (not recommended unless you've been trained, since it can't guarantee he'll be alright) or you can contact the vet.



I'd say, contact your veterinarian and have them come out and see what's going on. If it's been going on for a month, he's got some form of stiffness in his body. I doubt it's a stone bruise unless he continually keeps hurting his feet. Pick up his feet, are they sore? Does he pull away when pressure is put on different parts of his feet?



Seriously, though, the only way you can be certain to not really hurt the horse is to call a vet.



Edit: Holy cow, I got it right... that's creepy.



Anyway, before you ride him from now on, set out a regimen of stretching him. See if this improves his movements. Do NOT continue riding him if he appears as though he is sore. Since he's only doing it a little, go ahead and try doing this first and if it helps, then don't worry too much about the vet just yet -- if it doesn't, contact your vet.



This is a stretching routine for your horse. Pick up your horses left (and you will do it on the right leg also) front and gently stretch it forward so that it rests on the ground and forward, hold it until he steps into it. You may have to have someone gently encourage him to step forward, when he does step onto it, step back and let him stand for as long as he holds the stretch. Most horses when first starting this quickly return to a standing position because their muscles are sore and they cannot hold the stretch. Do this another time so that he stretches into it properly. My horses now will step into the stretch and hold it until they're content, returning back to a standing position, licking and chewing their lips (or sighing, which shows relaxation). Then, pick back up the hoof and step it out gently to the side, not a huge seperation but enough that the horse is stretching the middle of the chest. THEN after stretching the horse like this, pick the hoof up again (let the horse stand that way for as long as he likes, if he wants to hold the stretch, let him!) and stretch the leg backwards, setting it back down so that he puts weight on it. If he quickly returns his foot to the way it was before, do it again but don't put it back as far and if he seems like it's nothing, try stretching it just a bit further back. Do the same on the other side. You can repeat this also with the back legs, then warm up with a nice long fast walk that requires him to really stretch out (when riding) and then pick up the trot, see if this doesn't help.



If it does, he should be fine.



Also: does he stumble/seem sore when you're trotting him in hand? Have someone trot him and watch him. See if these things don't help, if there isn't any swelling the pain is either in the hoof or the shoulder. Also look at the hoof, is he walking on a lot of frog? Does he seem sore anywhere in the foot, are their any rocks? Pick it out very well. Sounds like he could have a stiff shoulder or a pulled muscle. Stretching = your friend. Also, never keep riding him if he seems sore, just do a nice long walk, get off, stretch, walk him some more, do some hand trotting and see how he is doing.



Good luck.
Joy
2009-06-20 17:12:21 UTC
I wish I knew How old is this Horse? What leg is he limping on. There could be many issues as why he is Lame. Arthritis Laminitis, which is founder. My Husband is a Certified farrier.

Not knowing what is actually going on with this Horse, I found you an excellent Web_ Sight, and an excellent read- Please go to this link, which will give you excellent resources and a resolution to this Horses problem. And please call your local Vet. He may need ice boots or it could be an internal that needs an ex ray image.

http://drgarfinkel.com/index.php/Lameness-and-Hoof-Care/Lameness-Evaluation.html



Stress, strain, or injury can take a toll on any horse, even one with no obvious conformation defects. When lameness occurs, you should contact your Veterinarian promptly. A prompt examination can save you time, money, and frustration by diagnosing and treating the problem immediately, possibly preventing further damage. The goal of such early examinations is to keep small problems from becoming big ones.



Lameness evaluations are also routine in most purchase examinations. When your veterinarian evaluates an animal you are considering for purchase, you may be forewarned about potential problems and should be able to make a more informed decision.

LAMENESS DEFINED



Lameness is any alteration of the horse's gait. Such abnormalities can be caused by pain in the neck, withers, shoulders, back, loin, hips, legs, or feet. Identifying the source of the problem is essential to proper treatment.
sazzy
2009-06-20 16:33:20 UTC
It could be many things.

Lameness often doesn't show up in walk, trot is where you're most likely to notice it - hence why he probably feels lame in trot but not in walk. If he doesn't show signs of lameness in walk though, then it doesn't sound too bad.



What he needs though is rest, he's not going to get better if you're still riding him. It could be a tendon injury which does take a long time to heal - or it could just be a sprain that's not have a chance to heal because you keep riding him.

What I'd do really is get the vet out and check it, if he's been lame for a month with no improvement it's important to get it checked to make sure it's not something worse.
Stasha
2009-06-20 19:29:10 UTC
You really need to stop working him - period - and give the vet a ring. If he has been lame for a month with no improvement you really need to take some xrays or an ultrasound to rule out small bone fractures or ligament injuries. He is only 3 so he has a good chance of healing well once he's been diagnosed and treated properly. If you keep riding him and exercising him, you may cripple him for life. Put him in a stall with some extra bedding and some hay, and call the vet on Monday.



And don't bute him - he may injure himself further if he doesn't take care of it.
cowgirlup4_ever
2009-06-21 00:40:17 UTC
I had a 3 year old paint who had the same symptoms. It turned out he had a slight ring bone on his hoof. I would call a vet ASAP and STOP working him before it gets worse. Also it could be a developing absess. I had a mare that it took 2 weeks for hers to finally pop through the top of her coronet band. Definately get the vet out. He will do a lameness exam and determine what they think and give you options. That is the best thing to do for your horse right now.
anonymous
2009-06-20 17:32:20 UTC
I doubt it's founders. your horse has to be really over grained to get that. Did you just get him and started to work him and he goes lame? Are you trail riding? Are you riding in a deep arena? Have you given him BUTE To see if that diminishes it.. It's not good that he limps and acts like he doesn't notice. It kinda points to this horse has been lame along time and you didn't really notice b/c he's too young to get worked proper and when you do he goes lame. Your vet can block him to pinpoint it also you need x-rays. Wow what a bummer. you mighta just stumbled on to something congenital. Then again he could just be a clumsy oof that stings himself a bunch. 3 year olds do that Oh yeah check his stall real good to see if he's doing something to hurt himself like pawing or stall waving or pivoting. Make sure hes on a good footed surface. Don't grain him if your suspecting founder for a second. And don't let him be fat. The worst for a lame horse. It's all common sense. Ihope it's just a abcess. Have you tried alternating hot and cold soaks with epsom salt? If it's just an abcess that will help pull it out. Take his temperature. If he has a low fever look to an abcess. GOOD LUCK
gallop
2009-06-20 16:55:04 UTC
The time for guessing at this is long past. You need this evaluated by your vet, and may need xrays and ultrasound to get at the cause. Any lameness should be taken seriously, and especially when it has lasted this long. There are dozens of possible sources for this lameness, and you can read everybody's guesses on here all day and it won't get you any closer to knowing what is wrong. I would get the vet out asap, and not ride again until the vet says it is okay.
Julia
2009-06-20 16:38:47 UTC
well first off he's a little young to be ridden, but i guess it depends on the horse.

second, if he has been limping for at least a month, there is something wrong with him! call your vet just in case even if you just think its a bruise, but it could also be something fractured and riding will make it a LOT worse.

check for swelling and heat near his ankle and other joints, and press around the sore hoof to see it there is any spot in particular that is soft/pains him.



good luck, and i hope he doesn't have anything fractured!
anonymous
2009-06-20 16:32:16 UTC
He is probaly lamn. A lot of horses will become lamn take him to the vet and get the farrier to come and work on his feet some walk him everyday. Walk him around every chance you get but avoid trotting and cantering. Soak his foot in a bucket with epson salt it will help soreness. If you have any questions email me. I have studied to be a vet for years and i would be more then happy to help you out!
anonymous
2009-06-20 16:33:02 UTC
You have a horse?! WOW. haha


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