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Discussion on Lameness at Canter Only
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Member:
lhenning
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Posted on Wednesday, Jan 11, 2012 - 12:08 pm:
My horse appears to be lame in his left front but only when he canters on a circle. He sometimes cross canters. At a trot, he has no head bob and does not appear lame at all, and no sigh of lameness at a walk either. I have observed him throw his foot outward in a circular motion while cantering on his left lead, but not all the time. He canters with stiffness and reluctance to use his left front. He does not seem lame when cantering to the right. He does not seem sore in his hooves and was trimmed before Christmas with no unusual results. The ground here is frozen, but soft on the first inch or so, and there is no ice.
I have recently begun riding him at canter on a lunge. My seat is not great so I suspect my riding has caused his injury. I have stopped riding him until this is resolved.
What sort of injuries could be suspected? I have not had a vet to look at him because I am letting him rest thinking it may be muscle soreness. If he does not seem better in a week, I will have him looked at.
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Member:
canderso
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Posted on Wednesday, Jan 11, 2012 - 2:03 pm:
Are you sure the issue isn't with right hind hock?Based on what you say, that is where I would be looking.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Wednesday, Jan 11, 2012 - 6:25 pm:
Hello Linda,
Is this the same horse you describe in your profile and if not how old is this horse. I am always suspicious of the horse that is sound at the trot but lame at the canter that the problem is not a lameness caused by pain on weight bearing.
DrO
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Member:
lhenning
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Posted on Thursday, Jan 12, 2012 - 9:51 am:
DrO,
Yes, he is the one in my profile. He is my only horse, 10 years old. I ride him 3 - 4 times per week for recreation only, and we do Western dressage.
Any input is greatly appreciated.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Jan 14, 2012 - 1:07 pm:
The last time I saw something like this it turned out to be a tack problem. If your tack turns out OK or if you see the problem on lunge with no tack I would strongly recommend you get a professional assessment of the lameness. From the information you provide it is very unclear what might be going on.
DrO
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Member:
babychop
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Posted on Saturday, Jan 14, 2012 - 5:45 pm:
I had something like this going on with my OTTB, had everything in his hind end x-rayed after not being able to figure things out any other way and it turns out he has arthritis in his hocks (he's only 5). Now that the 2nd joint from the bottom on both sides has fused (plus cortisone shots in the interim) he no longer has this issue. And yes, it was only apparent in the round pen.
My boy was cross firing and cantering with both hind legs together (if he would at all) but fine at both walk & trot. Sometimes lameness is so hard to pinpoint, keep at it - sometimes the vets scratch their heads and only find the answer by process of elimination.
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Member:
lhenning
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Posted on Saturday, Jan 14, 2012 - 9:51 pm:
He has the same issue on a lunge without tack, so I don't think that is the problem. I will have him checked out.
Thanks,
Linda
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