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Discussion on Horse off in hind leg
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Member:
Erinport
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 26, 2005 - 6:44 pm:
Hi Everyone-
I just bought a Missouri Fox Trotter gelding, who is 12 years old. He is a retired show horse, having shown for 9 years of his life. He has been retrained as a trail horse, and will serve in that capacity for me. Before I bought him, I got a prepurchase vet exam. Because he is a trail/pleasure horse, and not for show, I chose to get the "basic" exam (i.e. no x-rays). When the vet did the flexion test, his right rear leg failed miserably. I mean, he held it clear off the ground for four strides. It definitely concerned me, and I asked the vet his opinion on it. He did plenty of palpation of the leg, watched him move, etc. He's got a slight hitch in the right rear leg when gaiting, but at a walk, he's completely even. He doesn't favor the leg, or limp, per se. He's just a bit off in his stride at the fox trot. He doesn't hesitate to move out under saddle or act like he's in pain, he doesn't do any of the silly things that a horse in pain will do. He's quiet, responsive, and lets you do anything with the leg. The vet tested that leg and hoof extensively, and the horse gave no indication of pain response. He has no problem standing with his full weight on the leg if you lift his left rear. But, when he's standing relaxed, he always cocks that leg, and never the left. Also, he will occasionally lift that leg off the ground when standing relaxed.
The seller offered to warranty the animal for two years, regardless of how I use or ride him. He put it in writing. Additionally, the vet declared him sound for pleasure/trail riding, but recommended that I get x-rays if I intend to do anything more strenuous than that (endurance, show, barrels, etc.) I bought him for trail riding, and that's all I really intend to do with him. The vet said that this is probably age-related or an old injury from being shown for so many years. He said that if he had to guess, based on his examination and without looking at x-rays, it's likely in his stifle joint. So I bought him, signed warranty in hand.
I took my trainer with me when I went to pick him up. She is a natural, sound gaited horse trainer. She watched him move, rode him herself, and physically examined him. She stood behind his rump, wrapped her arms around him, and pulled back at both stifles gently. He showed absolutely no reaction. She repeated a lot of what the vet did in examining him, and again got no reaction whatsoever. But she agrees that he's definitely off in the rear, and he definitely failed the flexion test in that leg. But she also agreed with the vet's opinion that he was perfectly suitable for my purposes, as long as I didn't mind a little hitch in his gait.
My question is this. Is there a way, through exercise and/or supplementation, that I can help him stay sound, or maintain the joint in question? I really don't want to spend several hundred dollars getting x-rays, and my husband REALLY doesn't want me to spend it! Is it normal for a 12-year old horse that was shown hard most of its life to have something like this? With careful maintenance, is there any reason I can't enjoy him as a trail horse, without worrying about hurting him? Are there any specific activities and/or trail obstacles that I should avoid, if there is the possibility of weakness in this joint? Any advice, ideas, or comments are greatly appreciated!
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Member:
Sunny66
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Posted on Tuesday, Jul 26, 2005 - 6:58 pm:
I am clearly not a vet, nor the most experienced...however, my two cents are:
1) get his feet checked by different farriers. Get their prescriptions for his feet and have pictures taken and show them to a vet and to Dr. O 
2) If it's arthritis, light constant work is best for him. It actually helps increase the fluid.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Thursday, Jul 28, 2005 - 6:55 pm:
Unfortunately the flexion test neither localizes nor diagnosis the cause of the lameness. The first step is a physical exam to determine the cause.
DrO
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Member:
Gillef
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Posted on Friday, Jul 29, 2005 - 6:59 am:
My advice is to take DrO's advice.
Experience has shown me there is no other way to localise lameness.
"Horses never lie"
Constant resting of the same leg is "favouring" that leg. I have been watching this very scenario for two years and wish I had insisted on investigation at an earlier stage. Being in denial or just hoping wont change things.
You need to find the facts to make a decision on the best thing to do for the future.
Good luck
Gillian
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Member:
Byerazz
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Posted on Friday, Jul 29, 2005 - 10:04 pm:
Erin,
If you decided to go down the road of putting him on a supplement loo at www.springtimeinc.com
He sounds a little like my guys but my guys was not shown but a hand full of times. This Joint Health has safe this horse from being shipped down the road and now now I have a Canadian Event ride that loves him and we are complete and not just fighting each other.
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Jul 30, 2005 - 4:31 pm:
Well constructed joint supplements do help with osteoarthritis but will not work miracles for more see Equine Medications and Nutriceuticals » Anti-inflammatories (NSAID's, Steroids, Arthritis Rx) » The Joint Protective Treatments. Best is to seek a diagnosis if at all possible.
DrO
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