Horse question regarding lameness on the fore.?

Question

I have a walker who has come up lame on the fore. No heat, swelling, abcess, etc., from hoof to shoulder. We were riding along on the trail and he just kind of stopped, then started limping. It's been a few days now - his head nods each time he steps on the right front and it obviously hurts him, but no signs of injury, swollen or bowed tendon, etc. Trying to avoid a few hundred dollars in vet bills if there's something I can try to help him first. Ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

I had a QH who did the same thing on a trail ride. Started limping and just "felt off" to me. Everyone told me she was prob just sore or bruised her foot on a stone. After about a week I ended up taking her to the vet. She had pulled a muscle in her shoulder...Not fun. About a hundred dollar vet bill and no riding for 6 weeks.

Answer 2

That sounds tricky. I would call the vet. You can't be sure what it is. Ms said he could have bruised his frog but you proabaly would see at least a little bit of heat and swelling. Make sure he doesn't have a nail in his foot. My horse was just swinging her leg weird and I checked her foot. There was a nail. Also if he has shoes make sure their isn't a nail from it bothering him. Even if he didn't just get shod. Something in the hoof can change at any time. Look for cracks. Sand cracks can make horses go on three legs. Of he is still limping in a few more days call the vet.

Answer 3

Could easily be a sole bruise. He may also have a very deep abcess that hasn't broken open yet. If you pick up the foot and gently apply pressure to every part of the sole with a hoof pick, or hoof tester if you have one, you may find the problem. Increase the pressure until you get a reaction. If you don't get a reaction and keep having problems you sil probably have to consult a vet. Give him some bute as weel to reduce pain.

Answer 4

the first thing I would do and all horse owners should have this is get a hoof tester just like the farrier uses. More than likely it sounds like he either bruised his sole or he has a abscess, the hooftesters would tell you if its his hoof or not and where the soreness is and treat it try using a hoofpick and banging it on areas of his hoof and see if you get a reaction to a certain area, I would pack the bottom of his foot with furacin, apply a baby diaper to his hoof, wrap with vetwrap then duct tape to waterproof the bandage. Change once a day! You'll see that hes more comfortable

Answer 5

Ms is right on the money. With no obvious signs of an injury it is very possible he picked up a stone and bruised his frog. Definitely do a hoof inspection. And give him a few more days of rest but be sure to check his hoof daily for any sign of an infection.

Answer 6

Did you pick his feet? He might have a rock wedged far in there. Even the smallest pebbles can irritate a horse'. The rock could have bruised the frog, which is pretty sensitive to him. Be easy on him and give him a couple day's rest, and it should do him good. You should take him to the vet, though, in case it is something alot worse. He might have blown a tendon, and from previous incidents at my stable, for certain horses it his hard to detect if they have or not. He could have tripped and bruised his leg, which would also be hard on 'im.
Hope I helped!!

Answer 7

Possibly he stepped on a rock and bruised his foot. A bruise may not show upon inspection nor would really cause heat as an abscess would.

Lameness is such a tricky thing unfortunately.

I would give him a few more days off and if he doesn't improve then unfortunately you may have to call the vet.

In the meantime I would give him a little extra bedding to cushion his foot.

Good luck!

Answer 8

Horses are social herd animals. They variety sturdy bonds with different horses. some individual horses do nice on my own. Others choose company of a few variety. I even have seven horses and a pair of boarders, so 9 all mutually.