I’ve written about this pony before. I don’t own him, but I’m his primary rider. I posted before about his crookedness and fear of the vet. His less crooked, but still afraid of the vet because he scared of needles. The vet issue remains, which is problem because he’s experienced intermittent lameness for the last year that has no obvious cause/origin. So I’m seeking opinions on both the lameness and the current vet situation. (Warning: long post!)
Pony was purchased at auction, so we don’t know his history. Estimated to be 12-15 years old, and genetic test said he was of Morgan ancestry. He was very sound during the first few years I rode him, but last spring he came up lame. Although the unsoundness was clear, my trainer and I had trouble pinpointing the origin/cause. Over time (months) consensus was hind end. His masseuse noted sensitivity in his sacrum That led one trainer to think his SI joint was the problem. Another trainer noted on several occasion a shortness in is left hind.
As the rider, I felt a stiffness in the hind end, which felt like was in the body/back and not so much in the leg/hoof. But I don’t know much about evaluating lameness. I also noticed that his hind end would occasionally tuck under him bilaterally. It didn’t feel like a slipping stifle. Because of his fear of the vet, we just gave him time off, and started MSM in October. I haven’t ridden much since October due to my own health issues. When I was riding regularly riding, we working on Training Level dressage. We also jump from time to time, up to 2’6, but usually smaller.
A vet finally came out in March. His original vet refused to work with him anymore, and another vet I contacted said he sounded too “fractious,” and wouldn’t see him. When a vet finally came, pony spotted that she was a vet before he was fully out of his stall. The vet said that he was triggered by her pressing on his back as he came out of his stall. Maybe, but he’s been comfortable with two different body workers. I think he was scared by “vet smell,” although I, of course, didn’t notice any strange odors.
At he beginning of the appointment he was very nervous and dancing around. He wouldn’t let the vet touch him. But after bit of jogging and lots of treats. He did eventually let her examine him more closely. In sum, the vet noticed subtle unsoundness in the right front, which was a bit surprising as everyone was thinking hind end. But, as the vet noted, the right front would affect the left hind as they’re a diagonal pair. She thought the right hoof was smaller than the left (it is), and too upright (farrier has been addressing that). He’s barefoot. Vet noted a large splint just below his the outside of his right knee, and another splint on the left front. She recommended x-rays. She also remarked on weak topline and suggested some unmounted exercises.
So the plan is to get him into a condition where he can x-rayed and more thoroughly examined without breaking any equipment or people. I’m going to give Dormosedan in advance of the vet appointment so that he’s already sedated when she gives him the injection for the x-rays/exam (if needed). She’s give me a tube of Dormosedan so I could do a test run to see how much he needs and how long it takes (he’s had it before for a dental appointment, but his owner doesn’t remember the specifics re the Dormosedan). I am also considering asking the vet to mask her “vet smell” with a change of clothes and perfume. And possibly putting something on his nose that has a scent.
The questions: Any explanations for the lameness based on my (vague) description and the videos (below)? And suggestions for odors that would mask “vet smell”? Do I need to accustom him to standing on blocks for the x-rays? General thoughts?
Below is the links for the videos, which are… not great. They were taken on a cold winter evening in a crowded ring. This also our first ride since I had abdominal surgery 5 weeks before. So he’s reverted to his inversion, and I’m hunched forward. Also, these show him taking odd steps. It doesn’t represent the worst of the lameness. He rarely works out of it.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zs1K9WkUR0Y5b2jNNYuJNET1wCednFmm/view?usp=sharing
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SpCsOHl12cbhWabDF1jCOWP-_g_0rFRD/view?usp=drive_web
