Looked through the archives and the only thing I turned up was from 2009. I also posted in horse care but got zero bites, so reposting here. Sorry for the long first post in advance.
My about to turn 6, competing 1st level/schooling most of 2nd level, gelding started looking short and uneven in front about a month ago. We gave about 5 or 6 days off and no turnout and it seemed to get better than come back but more subtle. We would back off on his work level and it just kept coming back when he’s be back in more work. Never super lame, just a little tight/uneven in front and not his usual quality in the trot. Seemed better with more turnout and longer walk warmup. Working him on long lines in the round pen seemed to particularly exacerbate it…
Fast forward to today and lameness vet came out and it looks like it’s a combination of 2 things. 1) pulled long muscle in the back, likely from getting cast (not witnessed, but was filthy/ground in dirt on one side in am, about 2 days before lameness presented) and 2) some inflammation in the shoulders. Both diagnosed via a shoulder and back ultrasound after flexions and watching him work on a bunch of surfaces and w/ and wo the surcingle and checking his saddle.
Treatment regimen in going to be muscle relaxant, shock wave sessions to shoulder and back and continuing turnout and work but with less collected work the next 1-2 weeks and surcingle over the saddle for any future long lining since it seemed to be pinching his problem spot. If the shoulder joints still look off (had some excess fluid/edema today) after that then likely injections. He is pretty narrow base in front conformation wise and he had some similar short striding in front at the end of trim cycles when first purchased but that went away completely after a few solid trim cycles.
My question is has anyone else ever dealt with a similar issue or done shoulder injections? Hopefully the shockwave works, but I’m a little troubled that we’re talking about potentially injecting him at such a young age and what that may portend for his long term comfort/soundness and ability to go up the levels.
