This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Horse Care » Routine Horse Care » Prepurchase Exam of the Horse »
  Discussion on Failed hoof tester test at prepurchase exam
Author Message

Posted on Friday, Feb 23, 2001 - 1:14 pm:

I purchased a reg. quarter horse gelding about seven weeks ago who just turned 12. Seven days ago I noticed he was a little lame on his right front trotting up to me when I went to get him in the pasture. When I purchased Buddy I had a prepurchased exam done. Everything was okay except he was sensitive to the hoof testers on both front feet. My farrier was out yesterday to reset his shoes and I told him I am convinced he has navicular. He said he thinks I am right because he tested him again and he is sensitive on the frog, etc. I told him he was like that when I purchased him. When I hold up his left front hoof to clean it, he will kind of begin to sway back and at times kind of take a hop as if to say hurry up I am hurting on my right front hoof (I noticed he just starting doing this about three weeks ago). But he doesn't do that with any other hoof I pick up to clean. I am worried sick as I have searched high and low for a horse like this. My question is this: Is it possible for a horse to be sensitive like that with a hoof tester and be sound? Or am I just wishful thinking?

Sorry I sound so paranoid but my daughter's horse was just diagnosed with navicular last week so I know all the signs. Except that with the hoof testers, she passed with flying colors, it was only after the nerve block and x-rays that we found out. She just got her alum. egg bars yesterday.

Posted on Friday, Feb 23, 2001 - 9:57 pm:

What did the examining vet say during the pre-purchase exam? Did he mention navicular? or the possibility of it?

Don't be so worried. I would imagine that the horse passed the prepurchase exam. This is one element the vet would (i hope) have looked for. Granted he isn't a fortune teller but the onset of this in seven weeks sounds too much.

My horse had some thrush in the frog and crevices and it created the same signs you are describing. 2 weeks of iodine treatment solved it. Could be just that.

good luck!

Posted on Friday, Feb 23, 2001 - 11:05 pm:

He said to ask for a 30-day written guarantee against lameness from the owner which I did. The vet asked the owner of the stables where Buddy was boarded if he had ever been lame and he said no. Buddy had been there about a year. The vet said to use a little Kopertox to toughen up his frogs. We have had such wet weather for the last six months and when it stays muddy like this I use Kopertox regularly and clean his hooves out everyday so I know it isn't thrush. Today, he didn't sway or want to take a hop which made me feel better but when I went to clean his right back hoof he turned his leg out at almost a 90 degree angle instead of straight back and I could tell he wanted me to hurry up so he could put it down. Guess I will just wait and see. If it isn't one thing it's another.

Posted on Saturday, Feb 24, 2001 - 1:19 pm:

To answer your question:
Is it possible for a horse to be sensitive like that with a hoof tester and be sound?
Yes the results of a hoof testor test are not absolute and many horses show sensitivity to the hoof testor that are sound. But of course horses with painful areas of the sole will be sensitive too. You need to have a thorough exam done before you should be worrying about the diagnosis.
DrO

Posted on Monday, Feb 26, 2001 - 12:47 am:

Have you thought of having him x-rayed? Just a thought. I know that it is expensive to get all those pictures taken on both front feet, but to be sure exactly what is causing the lameness it might help. (Maybe I am nuts, but whenever I have a horse vetted before I buy him/her, I have pictures of their feet taken. Too large of an investment not to. Just my opinion). I would first probably have the vet do a nerve block to see if the lameness goes away or gets worse etc. If the problem is persistent with the block done, then you should for sure take the x-rays. He could just have sensitve frogs and maybe just arthritis in the ankle joint. I might also have him checked all over for lameness if you have not done so before. I have a friend who owns a horse that had hip problems (unbenounced to the former owner/rider) that caused lameness in the front. Good luck! I wish you both the best!

Posted on Monday, Feb 26, 2001 - 4:11 pm:

I rode Buddy two days and lunged him yesterday and he seems to be fine. Of course the *** caught me off guard and threw me when he spooked at something. But like a good little horse he stopped. The vet did a lameness exam on him before I purchased him and he did just fine.
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC