Just noticed this big divot on my horse’s right side.
I would expect something like this following a traumatic injury, but there was none. He lives in a stall and is turned out alone, so I know he wasn’t kicked in a pasture or anything. I groom this horse daily so can affirm this is new, like in the last few days.
For background, he’s a 19 yo TB and retired due to neurological symptoms. He gets mild exercise daily as well as turn out.
Any ideas?
It’s a muscle or nerve injury. It doesn’t need to be anything particularly traumatic. A bit of blunt force will kill a small area of muscle fibers or the nerve feeding them.
ETA: this could also be a progression of his neuro stuff
That’s what is worrying me. He’s not in pain, I don’t feel like it’s an emergency enough to get the vet out. Or?
That is his weaker hind leg.
Do you know his PSSM status? Could be connected to the disorder if he has it.
There’s nothing really to be done at this point. It’s kinda like a shoulder sweeney on very small scale.
Sometimes acupuncture is helpful for those, you could give that a try here, too. In general, these are nothing really to worry about. Unless you start seeing it really progress, I wouldn’t involve the vet…but if you have a texting relationship, maybe just sending a pic would help with peace of mind?
Not familiar with that enough to say.
Okay, read up a bit and no, he’s never shown any signs of that.
I am most certainly not a vet, but before i noticed the divot on the right I noticed how his whole left side looks like muscles are atrophied vs the right. Or is he perhaps not standing fairly square in the picture ? Unless that divot area is swollen around it or hot to touch or painful, not sure I would get the vet out. Neuro symptoms basically are what they are…been there.
No, he was not standing square.
I’m keeping the pictures to commemorate the date I first noticed the divot. No, there’s zero heat or swelling, so I’ll just show the vet next time he’s out.
I absolutely hate seeing him get old and losing function. He also has EOTRH syndrome. 
It completely sucks. I’m sorry. My 20 yr old has so many challenges as well. I’m always paying off vet bills.
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