Alright COTH I need your help with a chronic “mystery” lameness. This is very long so bear with me.
To start:
- Yes I have already messaged my vet (again).
- I have been working closely for over a year with an equine physio who also does Indiba and K-laser.
- My main vet is also an equine chiropractor and has examined and adjusted him multiple times previously.
- Local track vet has also checked him at least twice and found “nothing of concern”.
- Teeth were just done 2ish months ago
Okay, so I have a 6yo OTTB who has been intermittently lame on RH(?) for the better part of the 2 years I’ve owned him. I got him 2wks off the track at 4yo, he had 1 published work but never officially raced. (Yes I am now very aware that is a red flag… go easy on me 🥲). No, I didn’t get a PPE because I’m an idiot. But he was sound when I got him and remained that way for a couple months before it all went downhill. Hocks were a bit wiggly but had an even stride, WTC just fine both directions, sound and willing both times I test rode him.
The short RH is by far the most obvious at the walk, presenting as a stiff/shortened stride on the RH. I suppose it occasionally presents at the trot but you have to REALLY look for it; his trot stride is generally pretty even and he appears far more comfortable trotting. Canters both leads just fine. Generally his hips are even while watching from behind. He goes through periods of improvement then regression, I can’t necessarily find a set rhyme or reason or pattern to it, but it is always a short RH and slight overreach on LH. My vet did a flexion test a year ago after watching him on the lunge (although only on RH) and he trotted off BETTER after the hock flexion, and very mildly positive after the stifle flexion. This was during his first set of hind shoes where he of course had major improvement and it was very subtle when she checked him, but felt it was just a slightly weak stifle and recommended doing strengthening work. She was not overly concerned at the time.
Relevant hoof history:
He does have absolutely shit angles in his feet which I am certain play a role but not sure its the ONLY thing causing the issue, although that’d be lovely. He certainly has NPA in the hinds. Finding a farrier to trim his feet correctly has been a JOURNEY y’all. We went through quite a few in the first year I owned him before finding the two in the stories below. I actually ended up learning to trim and trimming him myself last summer through winter out of desperation (between 2 farriers below) and was making major progress. But then there was an issue with the hay supplier, they were stuck in arena turnout for 2 months, then tossed outside once the hay came. Spring grass had come in and my horse is a princess, got super footy, so I had to have a farrier come shoe him again (2nd shoeing story below). The lameness DOES improve with hind shoes but only temporarily. Like for one cycle of shoes, then reverts. He’s been mostly barefoot since I’ve had him with these two exceptions below.
Once was a year ago when I had him shod on all 4 by a barefoot trimmer who also occasionally does shoes (yes she was formally trained to shoe correctly) to support and get his heels off the ground while we worked on correcting said angles. He did GREAT except he wouldn’t keep the hind shoes on. Kicked them both off within a week of each other. That farrier was haul-in only and I don’t have a trailer so was relying on others to haul him, so obviously that (unfortunately) didn’t last long. I’d honestly sell my soul to get him back to that farrier but it’s not in the cards at the moment. After this ^ farrier is when I trimmed myself and did see marked improvement until the grass situation.
About 3 months ago, 2nd farrier shod him on all 4 after said grass situation and he was immediately sound, consistent improvement throughout that first 6 week cycle, back soreness vanished, stride evened out, the whole 9 yards. We were gently riding again, everything was great! Then the 2nd set of shoes went on, his heels collapsed, NPA reared its head again in full force, back to square one, not riding, etc. 3rd set the farrier tried aluminum wedges (against my request honestly bc they didn’t have caudal support), his heels collapsed through the wedge (like I warned him they would), and he was crippled lame. I pulled the hinds myself a couple days ago because he was HOBBLING. Farrier then came out and pulled the fronts, found he is super sore in both front toes under where the shoe was, so he’s now barefoot and quite footsore again. I am currently religiously applying durasole at the farrier’s request, next step is trying glue-ons in a weekish, so thats where we are with farriery.
The short RH got a LOT worse with the wedges on to the point I literally thought he blew out his stifle. He was obviously limping on both fronts and hobbling on the RH at a trot. Now, 2 days later, the short stride is there at the walk but almost gone again at the trot (let him loose in the arena for a few so he could move around and I could see where we were at movement-wise several days after removing wedges - farrier requested I check daily). Still footy but that is expected.
HOWEVER. Now there is a very loud cracking/popping sound in one of his hinds at the trot. Hock or stifle, I’m not sure but that is new as of today. Vet hasn’t answered yet but I’ve left a message asking her to come examine him.
Notable things:
- Always holds his tail slightly to the left since I’ve had him, chiro/vet didn’t find a reason as to why as of yet. He does this even when moving completely sound.
- Doesn’t typically toe drag
- Generally has nice heel-first landings, especially in the hinds, even with the NPA
- He does overreach and step harder with LH, more pronounced under saddle
- No bucking, kicking out, cross-firing at the canter, etc
- Picks up both canter leads just fine, doesn’t seem to favor a direction although is slightly more unbalanced to the right like a lot of racehorses are
- Generally willing under saddle (no I am obviously not riding him right now) although can be fussy with the bit
- Hoof angles trend better barefoot with him as a general rule - his heels collapse after one cycle of hinds
- Physio said his stifles felt better than she’s ever felt them as of about a month ago during an Indiba/bodywork session - no crepitus, felt nice and smooth, she said his suspensories and ligaments felt great on palpation as well
- Vet and physio both do not think KS is likely, I have asked both although have not had x-rays done yet
- Does get tight in the lumbar region, although this disappeared with the first set of shoes, came back with 2nd and 3rd set, then resolved again since the wedges came off
If you made it this far, thank you. Its been one thing after another for almost the entire 2 years and I am feeling very defeated right now. Literally any advice, experience, suggestions, etc are welcome.
I will try and attach video, I have tons.
Edit again: I can’t attach videos yet 🥲
). He’s 80% better than he was, mildly footy but much improved and definitely sound enough to go outside. He will be barefoot from here on out barring possibly trying a round of glue-on composites to help grow sole. But his feet need so much correction I’d honestly feel safer leaving him bare and being able to rasp weekly to try and get on top of the NPA.