help with my 15.2 thoroughbred x warmblood mare

[xztessiezxkizzy]

i have had my 15.2 thoroughbred x warmblood 14 year old mare for 8 months and she has been lame on and off she does school and jump. We had the vet out and they suggested a x-ray but i can't afford for nothing to show on the x-ray. she is lame on the front left foot and she has a bit of heat in the tendon but she better to be worked on in the field then in the sand school. i have had people say that its is a brusied foot/gravel but the farrier has given the ok with the hoof and also people have said it could be a shoulder problem or a tendon or ligament problem. She has had bute when needed and is on cortaflex i'm just confused and help i just need some advice on what it could be as it's so distressing for my horse and me
thanks

[Pink's lady]

It could be anything. Arthritis, tendon injury, fracture, lamintis, bruising, ligament injury. It really could be caused by anything from the shoulder to the hoof.

If you can't afford for her to be dignosed you need to have the vet out to decide on the most likely cause and treat it as thus. All you can then do is hope you've got it right, the treatment isn't going to make it worse if you've chosen the wrong thing and hope it gets better.

Unfortunatly horses are expensive and if you can't afford to have basic veterinary treatment you need to reconsider keeping her.

[eml]

Being better on the field than on a softer surface generally suggests muscle rather than bone, but I would be concerned about heat in the tendon, what treatment do you give for this?

Slightly OT but I don't understand why vets have this sudden fascination for xrays, in my understanding in most horse lameness diagnosis xrays are only really useful in a comparative way eg to track changes over time. What am I missing out on?

PL I think you may have been a bit harsh ...xray investigations for mystery lameness are not 'basic veterinary treatment' and the OP has obviously consulted a vet since she is using a controlled drug (bute)

[fozzie]

I'd have her x-rayed to be honest, I've got a mare that was diagnosed with a suspensory ligament injury,(it was scanned and an injury did show) after 8mths the mare was still lame, and going stir-crazy in the stable, as she was on box rest. I took her back to the equine centre of my vets and asked them to investigate, with x-rays they found a bone cyst, and even though its not good news, I know whats wrong and I'm getting her treated for the right reason.

[flintybaby]

PL I think you may have been a bit harsh ...xray investigations for mystery lameness are not 'basic veterinary treatment' and the OP has obviously consulted a vet since she is using a controlled drug (bute)

I thought exactly the same! :rolleyes: I wouldnt have an x-ray just to find out the cause of lameness. We have a mare who has been lame on and off for the last 15 years. She is now happily grazing in a field. Some you win, some you dont!