(no subject)
Some days, Hubby gives me a reminder of why he has no future as a jumper. Yesterday was such a day. His stifle locked when I tried to clean his foot, and he was unable to offer it to me. I could see him try, he just... couldn't. So, I tried to step him forward and back and... no. So I took him out and walked him around to try loosening it up, then tried again. Eventually, and with a loud pop, he was able to give it to me.
I spent a good 15 or so minutes with him on the lunge line warming him up before a fairly easy ride, no canter. I asked him if he would at one point, and he thought about it but... no. I couldn't blame him.
Now, he did just get his feet trimmed the day before and Betsy was convinced some of his seeming lameness on that leg was from stepping on the rocks, but I disagree. I disagree because he did it on the flat concrete as well. It wasn't till that loud POP that he stopped being quite so three-legged. I asked her to have the vet do a flexation test on him while at the barn over the next several days and to see if he thinks I should add a joint supplement.
It scares me to know that no amount of strengthening or training has really helped this over the years. I hate to think what would happen to him though if he were to kick out at another horse and get it truly locked up. It seems he could easily lame himself even worse in the wrong circumstances. Maybe that's just me being a worry wart. All I know is, in our current economy a horse with any lameness at all is damn lucky to not be on a meat wagon. He's far too sweet for that.
I spent a good 15 or so minutes with him on the lunge line warming him up before a fairly easy ride, no canter. I asked him if he would at one point, and he thought about it but... no. I couldn't blame him.
Now, he did just get his feet trimmed the day before and Betsy was convinced some of his seeming lameness on that leg was from stepping on the rocks, but I disagree. I disagree because he did it on the flat concrete as well. It wasn't till that loud POP that he stopped being quite so three-legged. I asked her to have the vet do a flexation test on him while at the barn over the next several days and to see if he thinks I should add a joint supplement.
It scares me to know that no amount of strengthening or training has really helped this over the years. I hate to think what would happen to him though if he were to kick out at another horse and get it truly locked up. It seems he could easily lame himself even worse in the wrong circumstances. Maybe that's just me being a worry wart. All I know is, in our current economy a horse with any lameness at all is damn lucky to not be on a meat wagon. He's far too sweet for that.