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 Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
   
Location: Louisiana | I scheduled a lameness evaluation for my good horse in 3 weeks. He has not been "right" all year. I took him back in May and had injections done, and while they helped, he's still off. So we're heading to Dr. Tanner at Elgin. I've had several friends have great results after seeing him.
My question in the meantime...
Should I keep him legged up? Or not ride? My husband thinks I should just pony him to keep his wind up, but not add any weight/stress. I hate riding him when I know he doesn't feel good, but I agree with him and don't want him to get more out of shape than he already is.
Any and all suggestions appreciated!! Thanks :) | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 669
Location: Central Texas | I normally don't ride any of my horses if I feel like something is wrong. I am always terrified that I will make whatever is wrong much worse. | |
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Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | ampratt - 2015-10-08 9:43 AM I normally don't ride any of my horses if I feel like something is wrong. I am always terrified that I will make whatever is wrong much worse.
That's what I'm afraid of. I don't plan on running him again anyway. Not that he's been clocking...at all. My new horse in not even pushing has been running the same times, so I just brought him to my association shows to keep my points up somewhat.
Its so frustrating and SCARY dealing with mystery lameness :(
if the same joint is giving him issue since May, ughhhhh. I hope it's something else the other vet missed. Bc I cannot inject every 3 months. I'm prepared to hear the worst but hoping for the best. He's only 13, and still has plenty of heart left. But I won't run if he isn't 100%. | |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
 
| There are pros and cons to continuing to ride a horse.
If the injury is serious if you continue to ride, it could be detrimental, and end their career.
If the injury is minor, if you don't ride, the inflammation can go down enough that the horse will be sound during the assessment.
What did the other vets say, X-rays, ultrasound? | |
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 Expert
Posts: 1355
| From my experience last week....
I had my nice 5 year old BJO filly who was becoming a super star in a short amount of time who came up "off" in the front. Took her to a vet who said, if you still want to run her at your state finals we can block her heel and she won't feel a thing and run "even" on both sides. I opt'd not to. She was too nice and one show wasn't going to make me do it! We did not do x rays because she was showing nothing with the hoof tester at all so were thinking it was a soft tissue injury that would require a MRI... Fast forward to last week. (it had been a month since I had been off her). Took her for an MRI. That vet also thought soft tissue injury. MRI showed a bone bruise at some point to her medial coffin wing. In turn this created scolorosis and made the bone brittle and she was on the verge of a stress facture. Now, she has 6 months off, 2 months stall rest and some other things but vet was very optimistic about a complete recovery.
I'm glad I did not run her or even ride her. That fracture could have turned into a break and I would have been in a world of trouble!
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 Expert
Posts: 1525
| I say if he isn't crippled then ride, pasture ride maybe, walk or just turn him out so that he continues to use himself a bit...but not too much. UGH, that is a tough call. I guess if you dont have to ride then dont LOL...I am not much help BUT>... Elgin is truly one of best. Good Call as far as that goes...you are sure to find out something. Good Luck!
Edited by MOTIVATED 2015-10-08 10:04 AM
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 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| Ride him in the pasture or just loping lightly in the arena. You want him to show Dr. Tanner something. | |
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Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | Thanks guys. IF I were to ride him, it would just be light pasture riding. If he gets ponied same thing just minus me on him.
Here's his history...
2 years ago we found arthritis in the right knee via xray. There was a "hook" per the vet. We injected and I saw a huuuuge improvement. Last summer he was off and I took him back thinking knee again. Knee showed no lameness, it was lower. Did X-rays and ended up injecting the right pastern and right coffin. Vast improvement again. Last summer was probably our best stretch. Then this spring he was off again. I got married and didn't get to take him until May. He was so lame on that right front he didn't even want vet to flex it. We injected the pastern and coffin again, 8 months after the first injections. I saw improvement in his behavior, but he hasn't been clocking. My hope is that the knee is bothering him and it's not the pastern and coffin still. I also want another opinion besides inject, inject, inject. I know the coffin can be pretty fragile.
We we also pulled his shoes in January. My farrier had made the comment if he was his horse, he would. He has good feet. He was fine for a long time then all of a sudden got really tender a couple months ago. We put fronts back on him about 4 weeks ago. I did see an improvement, he wasn't tiptoeing anymore. But just like my farrier said, that's not the real problem.
He is still behaving and isn't giving me issues in the alley or anything...yet. He is starting to get a little anxious, but is still willing. I'm not risking that. He'll stay home.
On the pattern, he isn't getting under himself like normal. He's a big horse, but really uses his hind end normally. In the past when his knee had been bothering him, he was shouldering the second. Now he is kinda diving and throwing his butt out. And he's taking an extra step on the backside of the first no matter what. And he is not running out. He slows going to the third and home.
I feel like he is worth taking this trip and the expense. He's a great horse that has potential to win. I feel like he should win. He can fly, and he can turn. And he loves it.
I'm scared and excited all at the same time to see Dr. Tanner. I need someone to tell me like it is lol. I feel like when we head back to LA I shouldn't have any questions. I hope!! | |
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 Veteran
Posts: 212
| what did the other vets look at/ suspect? If it is some kind of joint problem, I would not be as scared to pony at a trot etc. Like the others said rest may make him not as lame when Tanner does check him out, which may change the prognosis, and not get you the results you want. BUT, if it is minor irritation to a tendon or the suspensorys/ another ligament.. more work could be enough to tear it and add double the recovery time. Ive heard of alot of horses with suspensory issues doing similiar things to your gelding... Has he had any of his soft tissues ultrasounded when you took him to vet in May? what did they think needed injected.. is it hind or front end? | |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| It sounds like you may have a few problems.
Walking on the toes, can mean caudal heel pain, which can mean contracted heels or navicular.
Diving at the barrel, and swinging the hips out sounds like hocks.
Make sure you get X-rays of the joints. I do ya let vets inject until they have radio graphic proof.
Also injections are not a one time thing, during competition season, the ones I needed to inject would get done every 3 months, and I would give glucosamine im weekly inbetween.
As for the coffin joint being fragile, never heard that. I have one horse who had horrible arthritis at the age of 6, were able to keep him sound with HA injections in the coffin joint till the age of 18. Even at the age of 18 he was placing at high school rodeos with a girl who never rode him before.
With the horses history, I would keep riding, and it would be my normal exercise routine. This is barring he hasn't slipped, or had any major trauma. | |
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 Saint Stacey
| I'd leave him alone. If he's in shape, sitting for 3 weeks won't impact his fitness or problem. If he has a problem, ponying or riding could make it worse. Especially since you have no idea what you are dealing with. Barrel racers in general are notorious when it comes to over doing things. When the truth is that many horses would be much better off if they just sat back and had patience. | |
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Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | cheryl makofka - 2015-10-08 11:03 AM It sounds like you may have a few problems. Walking on the toes, can mean caudal heel pain, which can mean contracted heels or navicular. Diving at the barrel, and swinging the hips out sounds like hocks. Make sure you get X-rays of the joints. I do ya let vets inject until they have radio graphic proof. Also injections are not a one time thing, during competition season, the ones I needed to inject would get done every 3 months, and I would give glucosamine im weekly inbetween. As for the coffin joint being fragile, never heard that. I have one horse who had horrible arthritis at the age of 6, were able to keep him sound with HA injections in the coffin joint till the age of 18. Even at the age of 18 he was placing at high school rodeos with a girl who never rode him before. With the horses history, I would keep riding, and it would be my normal exercise routine. This is barring he hasn't slipped, or had any major trauma.
I have X-rays of his right knee, pastern, and coffin. As well as X-rays of his hocks which were "beautiful" according to my previous vet. Of course that was 2 years ago. He hasn't had any type of fall/slip that I'm aware if. Of course he could've done something in the pasture. Hmmm.
I know when we xrayed the coffin the vet said he didn't see any navicular "changes". Idk. I'm not an expert by ANY means. But I try to read a lot of articles and I pay attention in here when people are talking about their issues.
I'm very appreciative of any insight! | |
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Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | alp341 - 2015-10-08 10:49 AM what did the other vets look at/ suspect? If it is some kind of joint problem, I would not be as scared to pony at a trot etc. Like the others said rest may make him not as lame when Tanner does check him out, which may change the prognosis, and not get you the results you want. BUT, if it is minor irritation to a tendon or the suspensorys/ another ligament.. more work could be enough to tear it and add double the recovery time. Ive heard of alot of horses with suspensory issues doing similiar things to your gelding... Has he had any of his soft tissues ultrasounded when you took him to vet in May? what did they think needed injected.. is it hind or front end?
Since I've been going to Drs. Findley and Appleton at Delta Equine, everything has been front end. My previous vet was focused on hind end, but after finding the bad knee we're thinking he was compensating. His left hind was slightly sore.
He has had his stifles injected but there weren't X-rays taken. So it was a guess IMO.
On top of that he is a bleeder as well. I'm always stressed he's bleeding, although I'm proactive about it. He gets a daily supplement, raceday supplement, and lasix.
No, he has never had any type of ultrasound done. Up until May, as-needed injections have solved any issues. But the issues I'm having now aren't his typical right front issues. I know I'm ready for answers!! | |
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Upcoming lameness exam...To ride, or not??