What would you do if this were your horse/responsibility?

[hoopoe]

I would invest in a diagnosis. This would set a base line and inform care and basic maintenance. It would be hard to face a future dire event with no knowledge and possibly kick myself in hindsight

[trubandloki]

@betsyk

stifles? flat pasture, stumbling and dislike of arena work. That’s my guess, fwiw. My old stifle-y TB needed his hind shoes and then was a LOT happier all over.

I do not believe this horse is doing arena work.

[McGurk]

betsyk,

He does not have the conformation that usually leads to weak stifles (post legged/open stifle angle)

I have always found that he goes better in hind shoes; so previously he has always been shod all around or not all. His last shoeing regimen was fat wide web aluminums in front and rim shoes in back. He has also always been shod or trimmed with a square/rolled toe. Of course, I don’t know too many horses that DON’T go better in that shoeing set up - getting their soles further up off the ground in front and giving a little traction in back, plus easing break over.

He is short, square, foundation type QH who was initially broken Western and used for team penning and ranch sorting. So when I got him, a forward English trot and or a cross country trot was a foreign concept to him but he did learn them. He does have the loveliest little pitty pat jog you could ever ask for. He absolutely does have the conformation to predispose him to navicular/heel pain; but not necessarily the work history.

So at this point he’s going to get a break until March or April, at which point I will investigate -

• caudal heel pain
• hocks
• cervical arthritis
• sub-clinical metabolic issues leading to low level chronic laminitis.

more of less in that order of priority.

Thanks again to all that responded.

[rubygirl1968]

My horse has ringbone so that’s the first thing I thought of. He sounds like a lovely boy and I hope you get a diagnosis and good outcome!

[beau159]

@McGurk

So at this point he’s going to get a break until March or April, at which point I will investigate -

• caudal heel pain
• hocks
• cervical arthritis
• sub-clinical metabolic issues leading to low level chronic laminitis.

more of less in that order of priority.

That is a good game plan, but just want to mention that he may be BETTER for the vet’s evaluation in the spring after he has had time off … or he might be stiff (possibly) from the time off … so just some things to keep in mind.

[McGurk]

I stumbled across this old thread looking at the “Top topics” in my profile and wanted to provide an update.

My vet observed that his shoeing recommendations were not being followed. After some back and forthing, that led to a farrier change. (Old farrier was competent and well respected in the area, just not following the recommendations and could not be drawn into a conversation about why.)

New farrier led to an immediate improvement in soundness and attitude. Horse got happier, more willingly forward and playful in the pasture with different trimming and shoeing.

After 18 months more of being the perfect guest horse; I found a wonderful retirement lease situation for him. He is a now a beloved pet leadline pony. The most work he has to do is to carry very small children on a leadline. And eat lots of treats.

When that situation ends, he will come home and retire for good.

[WildLittleWren]

Thanks for the update! It sounds like it all worked out. I’m glad he gets to serve out his retirement as a leadline pony. Every horse deserves to be loved by a child at least once in their life .