|
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
  
| I'm overwhelmed. I did not do a pre-purchase exam. I don't need to be lectured about it either, I made a mistake.
He was not lame when I tried him out. The first time I rode him at the barn he was off. (A week after I bought him). I think it's in his front end. He's great in the canter and walk, but the trot is where I notice it. It will go away in a few minutes, but yesterday I rode him and it was a mess. He got his feet done Mon, and he was tripping here and there, and just really heavy on his front end. He walks normally, and like I said his canter is like a rocking chair, but the trot is where it all falls apart. He has shoes on all 4, and pads on the front.
He hasn't gotten progressively worse since I've owned him, just the trot he always starts off lame, then it usually goes away.
I wasn't going to post this, as I know I will be flamed, but I would like advice on where to start. I'm thinking a lameness exam. DH and I don't have thousands to put in right now, but want him to be comfortable, and hopefully find the problem. I have ridden in a few lessons since I've owned him, and he is perfect on the barrels, no hesitation, nothing, etc, and the days I ride him, the next day he's not any MORE sore.
The family I bought him from, is a VERY well known family in my area(very small area). I really don't think she sold me a lame horse, as she knew I was going to be riding with her trainer, boarding at the barn she takes her son at for lessons every week, etc. I'm very trusting, but I just don't think she would do that. She owned him for 5 years, and did haul him some, took some lessons, etc, but he was not ridden that hard! Once a week to a jackpot, and a couple times a month here and there. She said she never had any lameness issues with him.
I'm not sure what is going on. As I said in my other post, he has lost some weight since being there. When I look at him in his pasture with the others, he doesn't act stressed, but when I get there he is usually in his stall. He's on the same supplement that the girl I bought him from had him on. His teeth have been done recently. She had pads on him always (front), tried taking them off once, and he immediately abscessed, so she has kept them on. EVERYONE knows this horse, just because this family owned him. They are nice people, and are at every rodeo, every show, etc.
I have given her some updates since I've owned him, and said he was doing good, because for the most part he is. I did not bring up any lameness issues with her.
Edited by emricmacy 2017-09-29 8:14 AM
| |
| | |
Veteran
Posts: 277
| Previous owner never had lameness issues, but he has to have pads on all the time or he abcesses? That right there doesn't make sense to me. I call that a lameness issue. That would have been a red flag for me when purchasing. He must have a hoof issue if that's the case. That is where I would start. X-rays and lameness exam on the front feet.
That being said, some horses are just "off". I have known a few very successful pro barrel horses that weren't "sound" at a trot, but were still very competitive. Not ideal, but it does happen.
Edited by Meep.Meep 2017-09-29 8:29 AM
| |
| | |
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| Meep.Meep - 2017-09-29 8:26 AM
Previous owner never had lameness issues, but he has to have pads on all the time or he abcesses? That right there doesn't make sense to me. I call that a lameness issue. That would have been a red flag for me when purchasing. He must have a hoof issue if that's the case. That is where I would start. X-rays and lameness exam on the front feet.
^^^This. I am going through "feet issues" myself. Once you get lameness exam and x-rays and figure out a plan. Make sure your vet and farrier are willing to WORK TOGETHER. It makes all difference in your horses recovery/success. | |
| | |
Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| Thanks for the advice! I have a vet coming out Tuesday at 3. I don't have much experience with lameness issues.
I guess I didn't think much of the pads on the feet. She was VERY honest with me when I tried him out, told me his vices, etc. She said that she tried taking the pads off one winter (as she gave him the winter off), and he abscessed, so she treated him for that, put the pads on and never had a problem.
Can someone explain pads to me, why people use them, etc? Is it uncommon for horses to wear pads? Do I need to have the farrier pull the shoes/pads on the front before the visit on Tuesday?
Edited by emricmacy 2017-09-29 8:38 AM
| |
| | |
Go Get Em!
Posts: 13503
  
Location: OH. IO | No flaming here.i would start with x-rays on feet. | |
| | |
Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| Do I need to have the farrier take the pads off before out appointment on Tuesday? | |
| | |
 The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | I'd go to a really good lameness vet and let them tell you where they want to start. The vet should have enough skills to remove a shoe and a pad, so I don't think you need to be concerned with taking it off.
You could have hind end soreness that is causing him to fall on his front end and is now front end sore OR you could have navicular, founder, metabolic issues that present themselves with sore front feet.
Let your vet guide you and help you in this process.
Good luck, hope you find out what is up with your new horse.
| |
| | |
 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | emricmacy - 2017-09-29 8:37 AM
Thanks for the advice! I have a vet coming out Tuesday at 3. I don't have much experience with lameness issues.
I guess I didn't think much of the pads on the feet. She was VERY honest with me when I tried him out, told me his vices, etc. She said that she tried taking the pads off one winter (as she gave him the winter off), and he abscessed, so she treated him for that, put the pads on and never had a problem.
Can someone explain pads to me, why people use them, etc? Is it uncommon for horses to wear pads? Do I need to have the farrier pull the shoes/pads on the front before the visit on Tuesday?
They use pads because the horse was lame/sore/off/hoof tester positive etc at some point and needed the sole protection. What kind of pad is it? leather? plastic? pour in? wedge? is it the plastic pad with holes and impression material in? Theres a lot of different pads out there. It doesn't necessarily mean anything end of the world, but pads are put on for a reason- to alleviate discomfort. I have two horses in pads.
I would not change a single thing before your vet visit. If you pull the shoes and pads before the vet comes, he may be REALLY sore the next day and then your vet will have to deal with that. Show the horse to the vet as he is, and if the vet wants to pull shoes to take radiographs then let him/her do it at that point in time.
Edited by casualdust07 2017-09-29 9:09 AM
| |
| | |
Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| I don't know what kind of pads he has! They do not have any holes in them, and cover the entire hoof. They are green. They feel more plasticky. Not very thick.
This is what is pretty much looks like https://www.callisters.com/products/castle-plastics-green-hoof-print...
I'm just not sure what happened, as when I tried him he was NOT lame, and a week later, he was off in the trot at our new barn..
His pasture is very rocky..
Edited by emricmacy 2017-09-29 9:18 AM
| |
| | |
Expert
Posts: 1599
| emricmacy - 2017-09-29 8:47 AM Do I need to have the farrier take the pads off before out appointment on Tuesday?
No- your vet should have the tools and ability to do that. Sounds like he may just be thin soled and bad feet? Start him on Biotin and then see what vet and xrays say.
| |
| | |
Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| I REALLY appreciate all of your advice! Just a VERY stressful time right now. This is my first horse in 7 years, and I've been ecstatic since we purchased him, he's so much fun on the barrels, and in general, and my DH is now beyond stressed, saying we bought a lame horse, and now he's only worth $800.00, and so on. So, I have a lot of weight weighing down on me right now.
I'm just wondering where it went wrong, in a week since I tried him..
And, she was beyond forthcoming with information when I tried him out, told me any and every vice that he has, and all she said about the pads, were that when she was giving him a winter off, she tried taking the pads off and he immediately abscessed. She said when she treated and put pads back on he was fine..
Any brand of biotin in particular you recommend?
I did order some pelleted ActiFlex yesterday, and should be delivered Monday night, so will hopefully start that next week, not sure if that will help any?
Edited by emricmacy 2017-09-29 9:39 AM
| |
| | |
 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | How old is this horse?
You say he seems to "warm-up" out of the lameness at the trot. Any possibility of arthritis?
I agree that he probably has something going on with his front feet since he *needs* pads, but I agree to let your vet take a look and guide you on where to go. Usually they will start with watching the horse move on a straight line and in a circle, and then do flexion testing on each leg. After that, they may have a guess as to which part of the body is affected. Then it's between you and the vet to decide how much diagnostic testing to do, based on what you find.
| |
| | |
Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| He just turned 15. He has not had a "hard" life. The girl I bought him from owned him for 5 years, and she had a maternity leave for awhile, and other things. She's a great rider, but most recently was riding him once a week at jackpots, and that's pretty much it. A couple times a month.
He does seem to work out of it for the most part. Yesterday, the trot was not good, tripping when we circle, etc, but the canter felt amazing. This was my first ride since having his feet done on Monday. Just a trim/reset.
I've taken 3 barrel racing lessons the past 3 weekends, and two lessons, in the trot he never showed any lameness at all, and let me tell you, he can move, and he knows his job. The third lesson he was off in the trot for maybe 2 min, then was fine. I'm lost. The workers at the barn say he can move in the pasture! Yesterday, was the only time since I've had him that he has not worked out of it in the trot.
He has also never been on any joint supplement. She only had him on ForeFront ForeBasics. He is still on that, for now, and his ActiFlex should be here on Monday.
I'm trying my best! | |
| | |
 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| casualdust07 - 2017-09-29 9:06 AM emricmacy - 2017-09-29 8:37 AM Thanks for the advice! I have a vet coming out Tuesday at 3. I don't have much experience with lameness issues. I guess I didn't think much of the pads on the feet. She was VERY honest with me when I tried him out, told me his vices, etc. She said that she tried taking the pads off one winter (as she gave him the winter off), and he abscessed, so she treated him for that, put the pads on and never had a problem. Can someone explain pads to me, why people use them, etc? Is it uncommon for horses to wear pads? Do I need to have the farrier pull the shoes/pads on the front before the visit on Tuesday? They use pads because the horse was lame/sore/off/hoof tester positive etc at some point and needed the sole protection. What kind of pad is it? leather? plastic? pour in? wedge? is it the plastic pad with holes and impression material in? Theres a lot of different pads out there. It doesn't necessarily mean anything end of the world, but pads are put on for a reason- to alleviate discomfort. I have two horses in pads. I would not change a single thing before your vet visit. If you pull the shoes and pads before the vet comes, he may be REALLY sore the next day and then your vet will have to deal with that. Show the horse to the vet as he is, and if the vet wants to pull shoes to take radiographs then let him/her do it at that point in time.
This^^. My vet will first put his hands all over my horses to look for sore spots, from their ears to their tail, legs, hoof testers, he then watches them move in a very hard packed round pen, then flexes and watches them trot off on concrete. What he sees dictates where we go from there, x-rays, ultra sound, injections or blocking. Be sure you use a vet that is thorough and if you don't have a good place at your barn (hard ground to watch them move) trailer him to a good clinic that has the necessary set up. Good luck with him, if the previous owner was able to keep him sound you should be able to also. | |
| | |
 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| What is a DH?
Just call and ask the equine hospital for a full lameness exam, and request enough time for blocks and X-rays. Blocking is where they inject a local anesthetic into each joint starting in the foot to pinpoint where the pain is coming from.
Make sure you get a real equine vet, this is not the time for cow or dog vets.
If you're near a race track of any variety, I'd be finding out where they vet. | |
| | |
Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| DH=darling husband.
Any recommendations on a reasonably price hoof supplement that works good? Do you think that would help or do you think it is irrelevant?
No racetracks near me..I'm new to this area, where my husband and I are, and I only have a wonderful dog vet, and asking for recommendations on vets around here, everyone has a different answer. I found a lady, and talked to their office, so we have an appt for Tuesday at 3. I told the office lady the jist of what is going on.
Edited by emricmacy 2017-09-29 10:21 AM
| |
| | |
Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| emricmacy - 2017-09-29 10:19 AM
DH=darling husband.
Any recommendations on a reasonably price hoof supplement that works good? Do you think that would help or do you think it is irrelevant?
No racetracks near me..I'm new to this area, where my husband and I are, and I only have a wonderful dog vet, and asking for recommendations on vets around here, everyone has a different answer. I found a lady, and talked to their office, so we have an appt for Tuesday at 3. I told the office lady the jist of what is going on.
I would not spend $$ on supplements until you localize the problem. Don't make your situation more expensive than it needs to be. | |
| | |
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534
Location: Ohio girl moved to PA | If the hoof issue is internal(navicular) then a hoof supplement isnt going to help that. If he has bad feet/sore/weak then i would suggest a hoof supplement. I personally love the DAC foundation formula, ive had great success with it and its very reasonably priced. Untill you see the vet though i wouldnt be changing anything else. Just wait it out and see what he says. | |
| | |
Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| Does my description sound like Navicular? How is navicular diagnosed? | |
| | |
Veteran
Posts: 155
| I too, would start with xrays. I'm dealing with a horse right now that kept blowing accesses. Her feet were horrible. I got her diet under control and have a fantastic shoer and we're 5 months into great hoof growth!
I just want to say, since you said you are new to lameness and freaking out, don't let this get to you. Vets will throw out some scary terms and if you come home and search online, things will seem hopeless! I know this from experience.
I bought a horse in 2009 without a vet check. 4 months later I get a diagnosis of navicular. I was a wreck wondering, what did i do? Now, 8 years later she's 22, and sound as can be and still rubbing in the 2/3D.
Take a deep breath... and good luck! | |
| |
| |
Folks on-line