I'm in a predicament nobody wants to be in, the horse I just got about 2 weeks ago is lame. Looking for suggestions/possible reassurance. My farrier did her last Wednesday, just the front feet because in his opinion they didn't look correct and her front right was uneven. I rode her after she was done and thought she might have been a little sore but I'm a paraniod person and figured it was in my head, didn't do anything with her the next day, then pulled her out and put her on a line the day after that and she was head bobbing some at the trot. Left her alone the rest of the night of course and the next day. Sunday I then got her out on a line to see if she was better, which she was much better but I didn't push it. Monday I lunged her for about 15 minutes and she seemed fine. Yesterday I actualyl saddled her and lunged her for a few minutes just to make sure she wasn't gonna be coldbacked and I thought maybe I saw a slight headbob but the owner of the barn thought she looked fine. After getting on and riding I could feel she is still sore. Either way it has defnitely improved since Friday, but obviously not 100%. The owner of the barn thinks it is her front left that is sore and he flexed her last Friday on the left and she didn't act like that bothered her at all. He still thinks it's the front left but we will be going to the vet tomorrow. The thing is she has been just fine riding and everything and then after farrier did her I am having problems. He only did her front since he thought they needed fixed and left the back alone because he said they looked fine and weren't anywhere close to needing trimmed and reset. Well the lameness seems to be the front. So obviously this makes me think it's something with her foot, but I don't know for sure so having the vet look. It makes me feel better that she has improved, but obviously I just got her a couple weeks ago and am going to worry about it. Got her from someone the barn owners have known for years and they definitely do not think that the person I got her off of would lie about her in any way. I also showed them videos of me riding her when I went to look at her and they both thought she looked nice. I asked the previous owner if she has ever been lame after being done and she said no she's never had problems with her being lame at all. I do believe her, and I also don't think she would sell me a horse that has problems knowing I board at a barn owned by people she has been friends with for years. I am just anxious and thinking of the worst possible outcomes so some reassurance would be nice. The barn owner doesn't think it is anything serious, but of course thinks I should get it looked at just in case and they agree she has improved since Friday. I did not do a pre purchase exam, she advised I could if I wanted, but I didn't. I did test ride her and like I said she was fine until the farrier. So it's either something he did or it's a coincidence that started happening after he did her. 

If the back feet didn't need done, the fronts probably weren't ready with enough growth to be done either, so between him doing them (perhaps shorter than she is accustomed--making her sore) and him "fixing" her feet (could cause pain in itself and shouldn't be done at once, especially with a new purchase), on top of you riding her the same day....she probably is going to be sore. Give her some time off and pack the feet with Magic Cushion to draw out the soreness and heat. 

Apparently he only did it because her front feet did not look right to him, not saying that is correct but just saying his reasoning for doing it. Now for riding the same day, why can't you ride the same day if a horse had been shod previously? I would understand if it hasn't been shoed for awhile or never had shoes, but shouldn't you be able to ride a horse the same day the feet got done if done correctly? I mean they shouldn't be sore every time after getting done?

With this being a new horse to you, and a new farrier to her, if she was trimmed shorter than she's used to and there was some corrective work done, riding could have exacerbated the soreness you're seeing.

my mare felt clunky and had a slight head bobthis spring when i got on her to leg her up.  i put her away till i could get a lameness exam.  Exam found a slight change in the bursa area on the right front.  But according to my vet lameness on the front end is usually through the diagonal.  so we exrayed the hocks and found a slight narowing in the lower joint.  Two injections and three days off.  she felt like riding a velociraptor.  I say that in a loving way. lol  she is feeling great and getting in shape.  ps she is a 19yo mare i have raised and never had any lameness issues before.  xrays tell you where you are and as i age i understand much better that we all need a little help and support as we put wear and tear on these bodies. 

ps your farrier could have changed an angle on her foot slightly that will just need to grow out a little also. 

This one is only about to be 7 and hasn't been ran so I hope her hocks or something doesn't need injected... but the farrier didn't tell me he changed anything besides the uneveness on the right but of course that doesn't mean he didn't. I hope that is all it is that the foot needs to grow.

Hmm I mean to my knowledge nothing was changed besides evening out the right side, but that doesn't mean he didn't change something else. He didn't say anything about changing any angles or anything and that I shouldn't ride her. If I knew he changed her angles and all that I wouldn't of rode her. The side that is sore is not the side that was uneven. 

Could easily be a hot nail, or bent nail. About the right amount of time after shoeing. 

When she was hoof tested nothing came up... vet thinks it was a bruised heel but she is lame again and it appears worse this time. Still seems to be only left foot. Chiro thinks she needs the shoe pulled and no riding to let it heal. I am taking her back to the vet Tuesday. He advised to not pull the shoes so I am not, but having a new farrier look sunday to see if he sees anything abnormal. Still just weird that I didn't have problems until my old farrier did her. Her soles seem to be on the thinner side so maybe he took too much off but then again we are pretty sure only left foot. Is it possible he quicked her but took the nail out and just didn't say anything?

Honey, have you taken any of the advice on this thread? Have you packed her with Magic Cushion? Has she had mutliple days off? Quit jacking with her feet! Give her time to grow out a little and go from there. Also, try soaking her warm water and epsom salts. I don't know where you are from, but around my parts, you don't just find a new farrier. 

 Has your vet checked for navicular or Laminitis? 

What is this horses diet? Is she on pasture? 

The vet told me not to pack it or poultice it, and I had to find a new farrier. It wasn't my decision. The old one did not work out for other reasons, I did not just switch because he may have accidentally done something, 

He tested for navicular, and she goes in and out. Since I've had her she hasn't been on pasture that much. 

What type of feed and how much and hay? Any pictures of your horse that you can post? 

Just wanted to say I had a mystery lameness that went on way to long in the front and one hoof was worst then the other, then I got fed up with the vets here and hauled to another vet I have used in the past and he nail my horses lameness as soon as he saw him. Now I dont even mess with the Vets here, when I have a problem I just go to him, its worth the extra driving and time. 

Yes she is not bad right now but if she comes up lame again and the vet around here still doesn't get it I'm going to try another one. 

How did your vet "test" for navicular? Radiographs? 

I saw that you said your horse is not lame anymore on your other thread, so I was just curious if your Vet found the cause of the lameness and what he/she did to help this horse to be sound again? Would love to hear what was done

All we did was equioxx for 5 days, she did come lame again but the farrier advised her feet were still pretty short. Just gave her a few more days off and started back up easy and so far no issues. So (knock on wood) it was just a heel bruise or her feet were bothering her being short. I have been riding her like I normally would now and she still has been fine. I believe it has been a couple weeks at least now and no problems. 

JMHO, I would have your horse feet x ray'd by a qualified equine vet. You'd be amazed what can be found with simple x rays. 

I just wanted to say I LOVE the horse in your avatar 

The value of xrays on front feet is HUGE!!! I xray all mine for reference.