My horse! Whats wrong??

Question

I board my horse at a boarding stable and have to keep him in a stall everyday (except of course when i ride) and I'll take him out of his stall and he'll be lame (sore and limping)! He limps a lot that I can't ride this happens some what often and I don't know what to do. I give him high performance grain and lots of joint formula but nothing is working. He'll be lame even if I hadn't ridden in a week. Help Me!!!!

Answer 1

First off, are you a serious rider, as in is your horse a real performance horse? or do you just compete every once in awhile or just ride for fun. Your horse shouldnt be loaded up on joint formula if he isn't old or has joint problems. If he is in his stall all day, you shouldnt be filling him with grain or joint formula. He can't work it off, he could eventually get really hot or founder. Is there any way you can turn him out during the day? or have someone turn  him out in the arena for a few hours? he could be getting bed sores, try to add more shavings to his stall. Is he fat? if he's fat he could be foundering (becoming lame). stop with the supplements unless he really needs them. His joints could just be stiffening up from being locked up all day long. He needs more outdoor/playtime. Its not healthy for a horse to be in his stall all day long and its not fair. First take him off the supplements and get him outside. Get a vet check too. Make sure isn't really lame or has a disease or something. Also check if he has thrush, you'll smell a rotting smell coming from his hooves when you pick his feet up and they his soles will be soft. Talk to your vet and shoer.

edit: if you can afford to drive out there everyday to ride, cant you afford to drive out there and turn him out in the mornings?

Answer 2

why dont you see if he can be outside because horse need to have there freedom to

Answer 3

I would get a very good farrier out, they are the experts at hooves after all, and see what he says. You could also get the vet out, as it could be a muscle or tendon problem

Answer 4

The best thing that you can do for your horse is have a certified ferrier check his feet and/or have a vet come and see him. http://tonyonehorse.weebly.com

Answer 5

If he is lame that often I would suggest that you get a vet to come look at the horse. you should also find another barn where the horse can have turnout time - they are not designed to live in a box 24/7 - they should have lots of space to move around and play with other horses.

It sounds a lot like he's foundered - this is caused by too much grass and grain so you need to get the horse on a high fibre, low grain/starch diet and get a vet and farier to have a look at the horse. There is no point in stuffing the horse full of grain and joint suppliment if he has laminitis (founder) as they will not help at all and the grain will make it worse - you need to get a vet to look at the horse as if he has untreated laminitis then you could permantly lame the horse!!!!

Answer 6

Trying to be purely analytical here, reading both your question, the answers and the response.  

It's like you've asked what should be done, been told, but that's not an option for you.

Well, that doesn't change the fact that this is what needs to be done...your horse needs more turnout time.

He should also be seen by a vet.  Chronic, nonresolving lameness is nothing to play with, whether it's a high dollar performance horse or a pasture companion.  

That's just the way it is, regardless of gas prices or your personal situation.  It's what the HORSE needs...after all, he is the one living with discomfort.

Answer 7

Please call a vet.  He might have some leg problems, founder etc.

Answer 8

A horse is designed to cover about 20 miles of walking per day.   I am not being critical here, I simply want you to think.

You are locked in the closet with only room to stand all day.  You are fed high calorie food with lots of sugars plus high energy vitamins.  A couple of times a week you are allowed out and expected to run a mile and and make athletic turns.

Are you fit for this or have your muscles, joints and ligaments suffered from inactivity and are you incredibly sore and lame?

This horse needs to move everyday first and foremost.  They all do.  Is there other damage to his joints that still make him lame?  Only the vet can tell.

Answer 9

Do you have the option to get him out to pasture?  It would be hard to even assess him if he is never out of a stall except to be ridden however infrequently that is.  The diet you describe seems excessive for his lifestyle and may also contribute to his lameness.

You should discuss it with your vet, whom I am sure will advise you to find better accommodations where he can move around normally.

Answer 10

Sounds like maybe the horse is being confined to the stall too much and needs more freedom to walk and trot and roll. If you do not have access to pasture to turn the horse out to then you should at least turn the horse out to the barn paddock and get him out of that stall or you will be risking laminitis. Walking is extremely important for blood flow in the feet. The freedom to walk and trot daily is also essential for cardiac health.

Answer 11

The one thing you haven't said is that you have had a vet come out and look at your horse.  I'd do that at the start of all this lameness.  

See what your vet has to say about it then treat it accordingly.  If you have to move your horse, move him closer to your house if gas is a problem (As it is with ALL of us who are forced to board our horses out.).

Answer 12

Hiya

You said you cant turn him out in 'the' pasture every day, so Im assuming that there is a pasture at the stables you board at..

Do you only go up once a day? Who feeds him his grain?

is there anyone else at the boarding who you could ask to turn him out every day and get him back in?

What you could do, is ask around locally if there are any young teenagers willing to help you out to look after him for a small fee or even free?

When i was 12, I helped a girl look after her pony for return in riding him. Id go up after school and do all the jobs while she went in the morning.

I got to ride him, and earned lots of experience at the same time, and I did it because I loved horses, not because I wanted to get paid.

This really could be your answer. I know it might be hard thinking that your horse might get used to another person but if that is what it takes for your horse to be healthier then so be it.

Good Luck

Answer 13

I'm having trouble following you when you say that he is ridden every day, by whom?  If it is you, why can you not afford the gas to get to the stable every day to turn him out if you are already out there to ride him?  If someone else is riding him, why?  If that is the case, have you spoken to them about how he walks when they are riding him?  I just don't understand what you are saying.  Surely you have him shod if he gets ridden every day, right?  Why not have a heart to heart with your farrier and between you both and the vet, find out what is going on.  Frankly, your leg wraps could be the problem if you don't know how to apply them or if they are slipping.  I don't know why he needs them...it seems to me that when you go visit your horse every day, instead of riding him, massage his legs and depending on what the vet/farrier says, either run cold water on them or use liniment on them daily?  There is something that you aren't telling us or I am just simply missing what is going on.  If you could edit your post and say again how often he is taken out of his stall for riding and/or free exercise and why he can't be turned out for free exercise rather than working him...I am looking forward to checking back to see what  you have added to your question.

Answer 14

This horse is either suffering from a chronic issue or simply severe stiffness, and Iam going to bet its a result of not being turned out!.  Think of it this way: if you were to coup yourself up in a small space in an uncomfortable position for a long period of time, you'll come out limping on one or two limbs to!  End of dicussion, your horse needs to be turned out and he needs to have free movement!!!!  Why on EARTH is a boarding stable keeping horses in a stall 24 hours a day?  Even the top of line, high priced competitive horses in the top of line competitive barns get turned out...even if its hand walking at least 2 or 3x a day.  Free movement is crucial in a horses soundess.  Personally, even my A Circuit competitive mounts are on 24 hour turnout.  I am going to bet on just plain stiffness with this situation BUT its better to be safe then sorry so Id have your vet out to check him out.  X ray him if necessary to assure its nothing seriously internal.  This discomfort, being put off as it is, could potentially be leading to a perminant lameness.  

I wish you the best!

Answer 15

move him to a new yard where you can turn him out everday! he needs to move around and use his legs! feeding him all them vitimans wont help if he cant move before you ride him.

Answer 16

He need to get exercise other than riding as the first person said they cover about 20 miles a day! U need a place that will take him to a pasture!

Another is he may be getting abused by the person who is there!

I would move him!