Ask the Expert:

Question:

I have an 8 year old IDxcobxTB mare who I have been doing quite a few
competitions with this year and with some success. However about 2 months
ago she received a nasty kick (with studs) to her hamstring, but she didn't
go lame. It healed well with minimal scarring.
However 2 weeks after that she had another injury (not sure if it was a
kick or not) in the field near her hip. I called the vet the next day who
drained the infection that had collected by her stifle and the wound was
about 5-6cm deep! She had antibiotics and bute for 4 days after to clear
it. I started gentle work with her about 5-6 days after she had the injury
and she showed no signs of pain while working.
3 weeks after this I took her in a 2 phase competition at my yard (so no
travelling involved) and she jumped the best she has jumped this year!
However since this she is now showing signs of pain while working by bucking
and this has not improved at all for about 4 weeks. I had her back checked
and was told she was very tight behind the saddle area. The back lady
manipulated and massaged her back and said try riding in a few days and
hopefully it would settle down but there was no change.
During this time she developed a lameness in her near fore (the diagonal
opposite to her injured hip and hamstring) and the side bone that she had
previously has increased dramatically in size, although there is no heat.
The side bone was being sympathetically shod with wide supportive shoes.
She had been shod 2 days before the two phase competition. The lameness is
definitely below the fetlock as the vet did a nerve block and she trotted up
sound. But when I rode her she was still bucking on the circle in trot.
She was happier in canter though.
Can anyone tell me if there is a link between any of these problems or why
she might be bucking? It is only happening when she is ridden on a circle
and gets worse with more work. The saddle has been professionally fitted
and I am confidant it still fits well. Is the lameness causing the bucking
and is it due to the side bone?

Answer by Sally Newcomb following discussion with a vet and a chiropractor:

It is possible that the original injury of the kick to her stifle caused the horse to put more weight on the diagonally opposite forelimb which then triggered reaction in the already present side bone. The back pain, discomfort and tightness (possibly causing the bucking) have very likely been caused by the compensatory movement of the horse trying to make herself more comfortable. Imagine walking for long periods with a painful leg or foot - you will compensate for the limb or foot pain by moving in a different way, trying to find comfort, but eventually leading to back pain and spasm.

If you treat the back problem first, (without first treating the lameness) you may temporarily relieve the back from spasm and pain, however, the problem will recur again and again as the horse continues to compensate. However, if you can sort out the lameness and thus get the horse moving straight and level again, you can begin work on correcting the back problem.

I would suggest you get a second opinion regarding the lameness, either from your current vet, or if his practice is not an equine specific practice, I suggest you get a referral to an equine veterinary practice. Take the horse to the surgery and have a proper lameness assessment. It may involve nerve blocks and x-rays, following the trot-ups and flexion tests, so you have to consider the cost. Is the horse insured for vets fees? If so, contact your insurance company first to inform them of your intentions. They will then tell you what steps you should take next and send you the necessary paperwork. They will even pay the vets direct after you have paid the excess fee to the Insurance company.

Continue with the careful shoeing of the horse, but see if the vet and farrier can liaise with each other. Once the horse is sound, call in a chiropractor to see if the back needs treatment. See the Equine Health and Fitness page of the website to see what chiropractors and physios are available in the area.

Update from Jenny:

My horse is still lame which I am
certain now is due to the side bone that has flared up since her kick. Your
thinking that she altered her way of moving thus putting more stress on the
front limb sonds like that could well have caused the problem! I have
already had her leg nerve blocked and it showed the lameness is definately
below the fetlock. I decided not to have it x-rayed as it would cost a lot
of money for them to say its side bone which I can tell anyway, and there is
nothing more that can be done for it apart from rest. She has had a couple
of months off work now due to the continuing lameness and the farrier
advised me to remove the shoes which I have done so he can see how the foot
grows and alters to support itself. The outside of the affected foot is
slightly longer than the inside which he thought might happen!

I had her back looked at again the other day and the chiropractor said she
was very stiff in her wither on the side bone side which could be
contributing to the lameness so she manipulated that and Beech is now a bit
less stiff in her stride but still lame. I have started to come around to
the idea of giving her a complete break and putting her in foal as she is
only rising 9 so after she had the foal she would still have plenty of time
left as it were! I have got the vet coming out for her jabs on Thursday so
I will ask his advice then.
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