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Discussion on Canter issue to the right (back legs only) | |
Author | Message |
Member: elgie |
Posted on Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 - 7:27 pm: One of my students (Brittany) has leased a nice mare for about eight years. In that time, she has done remarkable things with her, including some mini-events. Both love to jump and both enjoy dressage.Starting this spring, Brittany noticed a "funny" canter that was difficult to ride, but it came and went and it took a while before I could see it - then I rode it. Yuck! The mare is 18 years old and has always been sound, but we theorized that arthritis may be rearing its ugly head, so we did a trial run with bute, which seemed to help. We took her off bute for a while to give her tummy a break, and the issue returned. Now she's been back on bute for a week (1 gram twice daily) and the problem persists. It appears that going to the right, she suddenly does a running walk in the rear for a stride or two. She stays cantering in the front, and returns to the canter when she finds her rear feet again. I tried to attach a video, but it's too large - I'll see if I can shorten it to make it work. She's off jumping until we figure this out - she shows no lameness in her walk or trot and this doesn't appear to be a lameness at the canter - she'll move in and out of it, depending on the day. And while it doesn't reveal itself as a lameness, I can't say that she doesn't look like she's avoiding discomfort. We'll be getting the vet out, but I've never actually posted anything and thought this would be a good starter. If anyone has had a similar experience, I'd love for you to share the wisdom gained by it! |
Member: mrose |
Posted on Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 - 7:49 pm: Does your vet have a portable x-ray machine? X-rays of her hocks might be a good place to start. A lot of times if a horse is developing arthritis in the hocks, or having other hock problems, they will short stride in the rear, or try and cross-canter, which can be rough to ride. At her age, it might be a good idea to start her on Legend or adaquin injections in her hocks. I really think the injections helped our two older stallion who are still showing pretty heavily. |
Member: elgie |
Posted on Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 - 8:31 pm: Thanks, Sara - yes, she does. I was going to ask her to bring that and her ultrasound, to cover all bases.My experiences with hock injections haven't been favorable, although I do know some that swear by it. I've not tried Legend. Either are certainly possible - but as I'm sure you know - very expensive. Since I haven't had any success with adaquin, I think I'd be more likely to recommend Legend, if x-rays confirm hock involvement. I'm posting the video on YouTube (which I've never done, so I THINK I'm posting it on YouTube)and when I've done that, please take a look. Thanks you so much, Sara - your input is greatly appreciated! |
Member: elgie |
Posted on Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 - 8:38 pm: https://www.youtube.com/Elgie23 - I think that'll get anyone to the video??? |
Member: dres |
Posted on Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 - 8:58 pm: just from what i can see, the horse looks stiff thru her whole back and hind end.. ouch does not look like a comfortable ride either..On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots.. |
Member: ajudson1 |
Posted on Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 - 9:40 pm: I agree with Ann; of course her back being sore could cause that, or a sore leg, unbalanced hoof, could make the the whole back end sore too.Have you tried just going along her spine, gently, and watching her reaction? Not right on the spinal bones, but 1 to 1 1/2" beside it on each side, going to her tail head. Watch her eyes and nostrils, a mere blink, or widening of a nostril may be an indication of where the pain is. Then gently massage that spot and keep watching reactions. Something a simple as a mistep, can grow into a major problem like you are seeing. I don't think she should be ridden, for her comfort and in case she were to stumble and fall. She don't look like a happy mare! |
Member: dres |
Posted on Thursday, Jul 24, 2008 - 9:58 pm: Angie, my rehab mare got her head thru the pipe panels several weeks ago.. she pulled out of it and rearranged her pipes.. she was sore thru the back and hips from that... It took about 3.5 weeks for her to loosen up out of it... she still has a small knot on her right side of her neck.. Its amazing what a ''miss step'' or other wise can do... I went back to just hand walking her till she felt better.. I posted video of it on her rehab thread..On the first day God created horses, on the second day he painted them with spots.. |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Friday, Jul 25, 2008 - 8:13 am: Hello Louise,Your mare is inconsistenly cross cantering and gets really uneven as she switches back and forth from the normal canter and cross canter. In this video she throws in a few trotting steps behind during the transition. At the beginning and end when the horse is pretty even she is on right lead cross canter: the right fore and right rear are hitting at the same time. That ain't right (sorry could not help myself there). What breed is this horse? To evaluate for lameness the horse needs to observed at a different gait either trot, pace, or running walk. Note we do not recommend radiography as a localizing tool in lameness. Better is blocking followed by radiographs when the area accurately localized. For more on all this see Diseases of Horses » Lameness » Localizing Lameness in the Horse. DrO |
Member: elgie |
Posted on Friday, Jul 25, 2008 - 2:52 pm: Thanks, all! DrO - this is a Saddlebred/Quarterhorse cross(I had nothing to do with it!). She shows no sign of lameness at the trot in either direction. As far as that canter of hers (when it's evened out), she has always done that, but no one seems to notice (congrats to you!)and she rides fine. Angie, I haven't tested her back; I should have thought of that myself! Thank you - I'll do that tonight when she comes in from the pasture. DrO - I'll print out "Localizing Lameness in the Horse" and we'll investigate that canter more. As soon as I get the go-ahead from the owner to involve the vet, I'll do that and get her input on her "regular" canter as well. Thanks for your insights and observations! |