Detecting Lameness

Nashama · Detecting Lameness

Topic transferred as requested on detecting lameness:-

Bilateral lameness is when they are lame in both front or hind hooves. It's actually hell to pick until someone teaches you what to look for in mild cases. The horse appears a little ouchy.

Circular hind leg lameness can only be picked from directly behind the horse. Instead of travelling forward with a relatively straight hoof motion, the hoof describes a circle. It's most indicative of hip soreness and the horse is relieving the hip joint.

I have learned a LOT off horse vets about lameness.

PasoBaby_CarolU

So on circular lameness, you would watch the horse travel from the back. Would you look for differences of the movement of the hip or the hocks? I was shown to put sticky notes on the hips and move the horse away and watch for one hip rising higher then the other. Is that what you are talking about, or something else?

Nashama

You are actually watching the hooves. They will circle as the horse moves away from you, and, yep, unless you are really good at picking it you will mostly only pick it from behind. There may be hip and hock movement higher up but in marginal hips it may only show in this hoof circling.

Dr Brian McLaren did a video on this but it is really hard to get hold of. I saw it when I did my Photonic course.

Julie

This can also be caused by a onformation fault in some breeds, not necessarily lameness.

Nashama

Not as often as first thought. I have stood in a lot of show rings as judge and steward and seen a lof of bums moving away from me. Maybe a dozen times out of the thousands of hacks I have seen plaiting has it really been a fault.

I guess it's a bit like intemittent forelimb lameness lameness - so many excuses, so little real knowledge of biomechanics among even qualified judges. I have seen special shoes, nerve blocks, all sorts of stuff to fix this and often that lameness needs a muscle therapist to look in the neck. A vet who has bred horses for 50 years taught me that one with a simple sentence in a judging school - movement begins in the neck.

MollyMule · circular hind leg lameness

Hi, Jules!

I am doing body work on an older rescue mare. I noticed that her left hind hoof moves inward as she moves away at a walk. Then I found this thread!

Was a more specific area of the neck mentioned to work on for the circular hind leg lameness? Where can I get more info? (Note: This poor mare was found with several others inside a trailer. She was very thin with poor body condition. Her body was so tight that she felt more like a stuffed dead animal than a living one!). I would really appreciate any more info or direction you can give me!

Thanks!
Janet

Nashama

Hi Janet,

The hind hoof movement is indicative of a hip problem; forelimb lameness can begin in the neck.

If she is moving her hind hoof in an arc and you think it has been a problem for a long time, have a look at her hooves. They will likely be worn on the toes on the diagonal. She will have hip and shoulder problems.

If she is in sufficient body condition to handle a chiropracter, call one in, give her a loosening massage before he starts, get him to straighten her out, then follow things up with a massage from you weekly and a revisit from the chiro 4-6 weeks later. When you massage her, make sure you do her pectorals, belly and groin as well as her neck, back and hindquarters if she was that tight.

What I find specifically in the neck is the small muscle that runs from the atlass to the centre of the scapula (cervicus) and the trapezius seem to be badly affected by sore hips. Releasing those seems to do a lot of good, but I am not a massage therapist so someone who is might have some input. My specific field is acutherapy.

MollyMule · lameness

Hi, Jules,

Thank you for the answer - it gives me some info to think about!
As I said, this mare was a rescue. The original rescuer kept "lending" this mare to other people so they could take care of her instead. My friend was the next one to be given care of her - through her vet. The vet knows the mare is off, but has not checked her out (because nobody was
willing to pay her money! arrrghhh!)

As I said, the mare was very underweight (she could have been used for a muscle anatomy lesson) and super restricted everywhere when she moved. Poor thing. She is doing much better. I will talk to her present caregiver and see if we can't work something out together.

Thanks again!
Janet

P.S. I looked onlline for Dr. McLaren's video that you mentioned, but so far haven't been able to find it. Do you remember the name of it (or have notes

?

MollyMule · lameness

Jules - me again,

I was looking at my notes about this mare - you are right on about the cervicus! It is very tight - especially on the left side - and that is the same side with the hind leg circular movement.
Thank you for sharing that info!

Janet

Nashama

HI Janet,

You will not find Dr McLaren's video on lameness anywhere apart from with his instructors. I have only seen it once myself, and then in a course. A pity as he really is an expert on treating hip problems in horses.

Poor mare, but sometimes rescue horses do keep coming home - our Delfire is one of them. We healed him, leased him for endurance, then the lessee moved and he came home. Other rescues we have rehomed with no problem, but Delfire keeps coming back.

Yes, we fund the cervicus by accident. Catherine (Bird) was talking about it and I went expeditioning in Sham's neck. Bingo!

MollyMule · lameness

Jules,

I really appreciate your comments! It made me really focus on what I was seeing with this mare.

We had another session today. She has gained weight plus her body is retaining the work done previously. I had worked on those areas two weeks ago that you talked about - especially her neck, shoulders, and hindquarters. Interestingly, she is no longer showing that circular, inward movement of her left hind leg. (So my instincts were correct, I just have more theory now, thanks to you). I worked on those areas again, uncovering some more muscle spasms and adhesions. She is now doing her best to help me, which I enjoy so much. She is no longer sore or touchy - she just gives her old body to me and says - here!

Thanks!
Janet

Nashama

Hi Janet,

No problem, pleased she is responding, and yes, once they get it with massage and stretching, they will ask for it and put their sore spots under your hands. Horses are quite the hedonists when it comes to a good massage. Ours line up at the gate and ask. LOL! You are fdoing really well if the irregularity in gait is reducing. Hips are so hard to treat.