Mild stifle lameness

[the_sandiest_shoes]

I’ve had some NQR issues with my horse’s canter for a while now (not wanting to do clean changes in one direction / half pass much harder one way - sometimes balking when asking for the lead from walk, etc.) About a month ago I felt her take really weird steps during trot and freaked out, but saw nothing on longe. I made a vet appointment, thinking it might be her hocks (she had minor stuff there on the pre purchase X-rays from years ago - vet wasn’t concerned but said someday she might need injections). The barn worker said she also looks stiff in her pen in the morning and I thought she was turning stiffly when I first took her out.

Gave her time off and took her to the vet and noted my concerns - he flexed her and looked at her and it was a mild pos on one hock so we did injections / Adequan. He thought she looked fine otherwise, though we didn’t do a deep lameness exam … (no small circles etc)

She’s been back in work and while I was away trainer said she felt great (though trainer only rides when I’m out of town and doesn’t know her as well). I rode her a couple times and the canter felt much better but she still balked / dropped the lead a couple times. I also noticed she was odd about picking up her hoof once - then yesterday I really noticed her right hind she didn’t want to stretch it for hoof picking. I longed her - fine on left, but on right side definitely some really wonky steps. Then she was fine, then started up again a couple more off steps then okay again.

So I think it’s her stifle, not hock? Going to make another vet appointment. It’s so subtle - if not for the hoof picking I don’t think I would have noticed and she felt fine under saddle except for the behavior. I’m trying to keep calm that something that presents minorly might be something they can recover from completely…has anyone had a similar thing? I’m frustrated it was missed on the first exam but hoping maybe that means it’s not causing her too much grief (the hoof pick pain shows that it’s worse now though - she wasn’t like that before). The horse is 8.

[Against_All_Odds2]

I’d also xray front feet.

[NaturallyHappy]

Can you share your thoughts on this? Thank you.

[the_sandiest_shoes]

When I saw the odd steps on longe it really looked like hind right was off - no head bobbing, more of a hike and dip on that leg. Then, gone. Also, it’s the distress she showed when I tried to lift her leg gently back for the hoof picking on that right hind yesterday that made me think stifle - she’ll lift but doesn’t want to extend (other feet no issue). It could be secondary but there is something on her right hind that hurts. No swelling or heat.

I have a follow up vet appointment 1/9 when the ultrasound specialist will be in. I’ve asked the vet to call me in the meantime for what he thinks I should do with her til then…handwalk ? It’s a non stop rain storm here for next two weeks and the fields are a disaster, so lots of turnout sadly not an option.

[Against_All_Odds2]

I have a mare who gets sore up front and it has presented as cross-firing in the canter among other things.

The resistance to hold a hind leg up makes me suspicious the added weight up front hurts.

[victoriakent]

I went through something briefly that sounded similar and it was a sore butt muscle - more than likely doing something stupid in the field. Some massage work, stretching, and a little robaxin went a long way for us (Of course that was after I did a mental spiral imagining every worst case scenario.)

[the_sandiest_shoes]

I am of course spiraling . This girl is an idiot sometimes and is capable of anything outside.

[punchy]

My horse’s hind toes grow very fast, and when they get too long (he’s barefoot) he starts doing things like having problems picking up/not wanting to pick up hind feet, and has other stifle-type issues. It’s from the fatigue of having to work so hard to break over. He’s on a 4 week shoeing schedule in the summer and I still have to rasp down his hind toes myself, to keep them back. Anyway, I just thought I’d mention this possibility.

[the_sandiest_shoes]

Today she looked fine on the longe. The people at the barn think I’m paranoid, but she WAS noticeably off yesterday for several steps, several times. She was better to pick her feet too. I’m going to keep the vet appointment for peace of mind (I want to be so sure her occasional evasion in canter is just her usual laziness and not pain) and just lightly exercise her if she stays this way in the meantime…

[Willesdon]

Your horse, you know her, so ignore other barn persons who think you are exaggerating. If it is mild and intermittent it might well be muscular rather than structural. Maybe arrange for some body work.

[AMackechnie]

Gonitis (inflammation of the stifle joint) is possible with those symptoms.

[victoriakent]

Poke all around and see if you can find any tender points. If she was off yesterday - meaning she in some way was moving and stretched out, and then today looked better, its possible the movement loosened something up that is then getting tight again later, and hence the yo-yo you are seeing.

[the_sandiest_shoes]

Ok so to update she has been 100% fine since that weird day last week (even stretched her RH out all the way like a dog when I picked it up, of her own accord, like she sometimes does first thing in the morning). I did a couple light rides then normal rides and she’s been amazing, like better than ever, no stopping, easy clean changes, very energetic. I dunno. Canceling the vet appt for now…