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Member
Posts: 6
Location: Out Wickenburg Way | Okay, six-year-old mare. On the pattern for a year or so but never really run hard. Works a cow and ropes heels but not very often. She's fit but hasn't been used hard at all. But I notice she takes a funky step or two with her right hind, usually just once in a while (maybe twice in a lap of the arena), and only at a trot, and only the first few minutes warming up. Some days she doesn't take a bad step at all, and very infrequently she'll take more bad steps than good. When I've lunged her to watch her feet, it looks to me like she drags the toe, takes a short stride and starts the foot down toe first before landing flat. Then she's right back to normal in a step or two. It just seems like something catches on the upward part of her stride. I haven't had any issues with performance otherwise.
I'm hesitant to call the vet because she probably won't even do it while he's here. I'm wondering if anyone else out there had something similar and was able to get a diagnosis? My first thought is to think something about the stifle.
Appreciate any thoughts. |
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Expert
Posts: 1695
  
Location: Willows, CA | If they drag a toe, it is usually a stifle issue. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
 
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | Sounds like a locking stifle. A good lameness vet can help that. |
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 IMA No Hair Style Gal
Posts: 2594
| Honestly your best bet is probably to get her looked at. This is the only way you will ever really know. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 178
| I'd pull blood and have her tested for Lyme's. This sounds like mine that ended up being positive. |
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Intermittent lameness(?)