What would you do???

[Fizzy's mum]

:confused: Last Saturday (mornng after a horrific thunderstorm), I bought my chunky (plump) new horse in from field and when he went into trot he was lame on his back right leg . Have not ridden him and on general advice from different people on yard have rested him from being ridden and he is in field with others in herd. When I brought him in, he had a kick/cut on his "point of hip" / hip area. He is still stiff on this side... not so much as a limp, just slightly stiff.

I have bought some Bute alternative (Devils Claw) and he is on day 2 of a 5 day/2 scoop a day course. This is supposed to help with minor lameness and stiffness.

Would a kick to this area all make sense with his stiffness? How long would you expect this type of injury to heal?

Am really keen to hear your advice on this... Trying to not get too worried and concerned...

Thanks,

Lucy

[Joyscarer]

Well Joy got clumped the week before last and was not stiff after 3 days.

If at all worried I would call the vet, mine gives free advice over the phone.

I'm not a fan of painkillers to be honest because I think they tend to mask the pain and encourage the horse to do more than it should because it t hinks it is fine. Mind you that is just a general feeling and not a mantra :)

[kturner]

You say he is new, have you seen lots of fighting going on whilst he settles in. It could just be from that. I know it may be hard watching it, I always leave when we get to a new yard, I cant see all the chasing I get too upset.

Unfortunately you have to leave them with the herd, my mare was once chased for hours by a particular gelding, and had 11 bites on her at the end of the first day. But we had to put her back in the next day, of course she wasnt lame, that is different. The boss mare tried her best to keep the gelding away and became her best friend.

Maybe it is going on when you are not there. If you keep taking them out, you just prolong the fighting, the new one just has to submit in a new herd and the quicker the better.

All this is of course if he is not lame for another reason, and I would only put him back if he can run. When my boy was out of the herd for 5 months with laminitis I didnt put him back until he could canter on the lunge because he would have gone back with that same gelding and I wanted to make sure he could run enough.

[kturner]

You say he is a fatty, if he has a muzzle on, he cant fight back, I leave mine unmuzzled when returning to the herd, so he can bite them back until they settle again, with all the chasing he doesn t get much chance to pig out anyway. Once they settle to eating again, I'm in there with his muzzle.

[Fizzy's mum]

Hi there,

there are about eight horses in the herd and yes, I think a lot of the issues are they are all re-adjusting to their pecking order! There is not a lot of grass so he hasnt got a muzzle on. I think he is just too much of a gent to really give anyone a battering! A lover not a fighter!

He lives out 24/7 so I havent brought him in... but good news. I got him in for a grooming and a trot up and down, and he is now sound! Although he has got a parrallel kick to original kick! I am going to finish the suggested 5 day Devils Claw course and hope he gets tough with the scrappers in the field!

He is 9 years old so I think he just cant be bothered to get too arsey!

Thanks for all the advice!