My 12 year old walking horse went lame in her left back leg about 6 months ago. She runs, bucks, kicks, and acts normal until i put her in a running walk gait Then she feels like she steps in a hole with the left back leg. People behind me says they see the leg pop out. It’s very uncomfortable to my back when this happens. The vet checked her and said the stifles were not locking or swollen. She said she probably needs to be worked to build muscle. I was riding this horse on long hard rides weekly for about 7 years when this problem started. The vet gave her shots in both legs and put her on bute for 10 days and told me to work her for 45 days. Then handed me a bill for $600.00. I rode her about 2 weeks ago and she is worst than ever. I wonder if her stifle is slipping. I’m not real sure what that means, but I have read about it. It happens about every 20 feet when gaiting. Anyone with ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank You
What do you mean when you say “the vet gave her shots in both legs.” Do you mean inter articular injections in the joints? What joints?
I think it was steroid shots in the stifle.It was $375,00
Did he x-ray? What diagnostics did he do? You might want to find a vet with a great reputation for lameness diagnosis. Younger horses with stifle slipping can benefit from hill work to strengthen the area and that works well. There is a surgery also, but I would want a more definitive diagnosis.
Ok, those would be IA joint injections, which are expensive, yes. Not all stifle issues are resolved with injections. Sometimes, blistering the stifle is also needed, or hormone injections also. Or, if the stifles were needing IA injections, that may have helped the stifles and now you have other areas showing pain, such as the hocks, which were likely compensating. Another skilled lameness vet exam is needed to reassess. Keep in mind, leg lameness is expensive generally. None of the figures you have given are really off base.
