My pony is lame again.?

Question

my pony was lame for over three months. the vet came out and injected his back left hock. he said he had a bone chip and some arthritis in this area. he was sound for about three weeks. i was walk trotting him for about 20 -40 minutes three times a week. i did a LITTLE bit of canter work to ensure i didn't push it the third week. i just went out the end of the third week to ride and take care of him and he was lame. it was drizzling a little bit, and we thought that maybe it was his little bit of arthritis. it kills me to see him hurting. i've had him for almost three years. we've shown TONS and ridden intensely all along. he's only 8 years old, a quarter horse x mustang. he's 14hh & does the hunters. i'm not looking to hear "bute him" & telling me i ride him to hard. i take care of my pony and i'm looking to hear, if anyone else's horse has the same problems? does anyone know about the : malalignment of the spine, arthritis. i'm desperate.

Answer 1

If you're showing him in western pleasure classes, that could be the problem. Get his hock re-injected and let him out in the pasture. If you're just riding him collected then he needs time to stretch his joints. Once he's feeling a little better ride him but don't pull him together like you do for shows. Give him a break and he should be fine. I've experienced this problem with a western pleasure horse that was 6yrs old. He just wasn't being given enough time to stretch. It's like doing gymnastics without ever stretching.

Answer 2

Try hosing his legs with cold water.  When our mini went lame, we soaked her feet in warm water with dissolved epsom salts.  Half a tablet of bute, twice a day, will help if there is swelling.  Also, walk her around some every day.  This will get blood flowing through her legs better, and loosen up stiff muscles that might be contributing to the problem.  Pull her shoes, if she wears them.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Id get the vet out again and see if its a reaccuring problem. maybe ask the vet about hyalun injections ( for joints ) and I would suggest putting him on Glucosamine to keep his joints nice and lubricated. But since arthritis is not the nicest feeling in the world I would suggest cutting down on the tons of showing and intense riding. I know you dont want to hear that but its true if you even admit to riding him and showing him intensly and i know many horses who this happends to, and they cant be working as hard as they use to in order to stay sound. When you get the massage theripist out try to get a Chiropractor out to it really helps.

Answer 4

Did you vaccinate your horse? Perhaps the metals did some damage. Not all horses react well to vaccinations.

Answer 5

i wouldnt push it. if he's eight. no offense but he shouldn't have a bone chip or artaritise.  my horse is seven. i would lunge your pony once or twice. if he hurts you need to let him have a break.  sorry idk what could be wrong

Answer 6

I think the only thing you can do is get his hock re-injected.  If it's arthritis he doesn't really need stall rest.  This will just cause stocking up in his limbs.  I would ask your vet about using joint supplement.  It's expensive stuff but it might help.  It's good that you take him out and walk him everyday.  Try turning him out for a while.  His spine shouldn't be offset unless he has weak or brittle bones or was in a serious accident that could have hurt his spine.

But I would try re-injecting the hock & getting a good joint supplement.  Canola oilo can also help joints.

Good luck!

Answer 7

tell your vet they might know something else to do. i had something like that happen to my horse but we think that we found out what worked but tell your vet see if they have other ideas