Its been three weeks since I have ridden my horse because he is mildly off (1/10 on scale) off. Background is, he is 19 years old, an OTTB, we only do dressage (Training/First level). He is ridden probably 4 days a week solid, sometimes more, sometimes less.
3 Sunday's ago I had my normal dressage lesson, and the following Monday I gave him off, as I usually give him the day after lessons off. When I went to the barn on Tuesday, he pulled off his right front shoe. I did not ride him, farrier came to put the shoe back on Wednesday morning.
Thursday I went out and lunged and noticed he was head bobbing at the trot only going to the left. No short striding, just a slight head bob. 100% sound going to the right at all 3 gaits, sound going to the left at walk and canter. I thought maybe his feet still hurt from the shoe thing and put him away.
Then Friday I was scheduled for another lesson. I hopped on and again, sound at walk both ways, sound at trot to the right, off at trot to the left, noticeable only in turns/on a circle. Still only the head bob and 1/10 lameness. No short striding etc. We didnt want to push it, so I did not have a lesson, and put him away. We all can agree whatever it is; it is in the left front.
Saturday and Sunday I lunged him in a halter to see if he was still off, he was. His feet are typical TB feet and he stomps because of the flies (I hadnt purchased my fly boots yet) it has also been raining a TON here. So I thought perhaps an abscess? Soaked his LF foot Saturday and Sunday, nothing happened.
Monday: I go out, he has taken off his back right shoe. Call farrier to see when he can come put that back on...
Tuesday go out, he pulled off his left front shoe. He is now wearing 2 EZ boots and 2 shoes.
Farrier comes out Wednesday and reshoes him completely, adding clips to his shoes because his feet have gotten bad. Farrier doesnt see any signs of abscess or bruising. I have a message therapist out in the evening, but she doesnt see anything abnormal.
He remains lame Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday - Just barely as you can see the head bob slightly in this video taken Sunday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afHsZRTnbDQ&feature=youtu.be
Monday he is still lame, Tuesday I finally do not go out there. Wednesday I go out there and lunge him. (mind you its been dry for 4 days finally) and he was sound! W/T/C on lunge line both directions. I opt to put him away after that and see if I could ride on Thursday.
Go out yesterday and he was back to being lame. Arena was sloppy messy, paddocks muddy due to it pouring rain on Wednesday night.
I am at a loss, it has been 3 weeks and I do not think it is a foot issue. It seems more like a soft tissue injury now. My barn owner isnt too keen on allowing me to use a stall... I really hope it isnt something serious because at 19..there is a very high possibility that he would have to retire.
Oh, to note, he never seems bothered by it and is still the same as normal. He is on arthritis meds and injections, and this sort of came on suddenly after all of the shoe issues. He is also a horse that likes to lay down to sleep and rolls a lot.
Any ideas?
3 Sunday's ago I had my normal dressage lesson, and the following Monday I gave him off, as I usually give him the day after lessons off. When I went to the barn on Tuesday, he pulled off his right front shoe. I did not ride him, farrier came to put the shoe back on Wednesday morning.
Thursday I went out and lunged and noticed he was head bobbing at the trot only going to the left. No short striding, just a slight head bob. 100% sound going to the right at all 3 gaits, sound going to the left at walk and canter. I thought maybe his feet still hurt from the shoe thing and put him away.
Then Friday I was scheduled for another lesson. I hopped on and again, sound at walk both ways, sound at trot to the right, off at trot to the left, noticeable only in turns/on a circle. Still only the head bob and 1/10 lameness. No short striding etc. We didnt want to push it, so I did not have a lesson, and put him away. We all can agree whatever it is; it is in the left front.
Saturday and Sunday I lunged him in a halter to see if he was still off, he was. His feet are typical TB feet and he stomps because of the flies (I hadnt purchased my fly boots yet) it has also been raining a TON here. So I thought perhaps an abscess? Soaked his LF foot Saturday and Sunday, nothing happened.
Monday: I go out, he has taken off his back right shoe. Call farrier to see when he can come put that back on...
Tuesday go out, he pulled off his left front shoe. He is now wearing 2 EZ boots and 2 shoes.
Farrier comes out Wednesday and reshoes him completely, adding clips to his shoes because his feet have gotten bad. Farrier doesnt see any signs of abscess or bruising. I have a message therapist out in the evening, but she doesnt see anything abnormal.
He remains lame Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday - Just barely as you can see the head bob slightly in this video taken Sunday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afHsZRTnbDQ&feature=youtu.be
Monday he is still lame, Tuesday I finally do not go out there. Wednesday I go out there and lunge him. (mind you its been dry for 4 days finally) and he was sound! W/T/C on lunge line both directions. I opt to put him away after that and see if I could ride on Thursday.
Go out yesterday and he was back to being lame. Arena was sloppy messy, paddocks muddy due to it pouring rain on Wednesday night.
I am at a loss, it has been 3 weeks and I do not think it is a foot issue. It seems more like a soft tissue injury now. My barn owner isnt too keen on allowing me to use a stall... I really hope it isnt something serious because at 19..there is a very high possibility that he would have to retire.
Oh, to note, he never seems bothered by it and is still the same as normal. He is on arthritis meds and injections, and this sort of came on suddenly after all of the shoe issues. He is also a horse that likes to lay down to sleep and rolls a lot.
Any ideas?