URGENT!! He's at it again and I need help!!

[amby]

Alrighty, all of you experience horsepeople!!

When I brought casper in from the pasture after his training, he seemed sluggish and alittle sore. But I had to got to my night class so I put him up and fed him and decided to stop by on my way home.
When I got there I knew something was wrong, he was turned with his face to the stall and his front feet in the hay. He normally comes to the stall door and nickers, so I went and got his halter and went in, he didn't move. I put the halter on him and he still didn't move (quite unusual for my boy)
When I led him it was obvious that he was lame in his right front. I took the blanket off and discovered a kick wound halfway between the shoulder and knee. Wound doesn't look bad so I cleaned it and medicated it. But he is dragging that foot and sometimes picking it up.
I gave him a gram of bute. And put him back in his stall.

The thing that irks me is the lady at the barn said....it's because you don't turn him out enough, he needs regular turnout with the same horses. I would love to do that, only....that's right, not everyone in the boarder pasture follows the same schedule. I mentioned that and she was like still it would help. I know she thinks I'm stupid becasue I like to keep him in blankets and under lamps. I know I SPAZ out about my horse. But that's me. Giving me the runaround answer doesn't help. So NOW what....I'm tired of him being hurt..... but I just don't know what to do.

What can I do to help him heal faster?? Is this an injury that should require a vet call?? Should I lunge him tomorow?? (she thinks it will help him work the soreness out) she wanted me to put him out tonight (in the mud and muck by himself.)

I don't even know what to do!!

What do yall think??

[Steph @ Elements]

I would keep him in and hand walk him a few times a day if possible. Run water on it a couple times a day too if it's not too cold where you are. I would NOT turn him out to further injure something that is already bothering him. Last, I would probably look for a different place to board...

Hope he's okay!!!

Steph

[brocadosmom]

amby--here is my two cents. First, I would not put an already sore horse outside at night in the mud by himself. He will most likely run all night in the mud which will tire and pull on what ever is sore and/or he will at the very least slip in the mud and wrench the sore leg more or wrench something else while compensating for the sore leg. And, if you have blankets on, he will get hot and sweat under the blankets, then get cold.

Second, have you done any "at home" checks to see if you can tell if he is sore in the withers, shoulder, knee, ankle, hoof? You can palpate all of these areas. start at the top and start poking and prodding...the shoulder area will take some muscle on your part because it is a big muscle and deep. lift his leg and see if he will extend it for you, forward and back and a bit out to the side. When you do this be sure to place one hand above his knee and the other around his pastern. He may not so well until he trusts you and what you are doing...so ask for a slight extension, he'll resist, let him but don't let go, then ask for more. You will be pulling his leg out in front of him at approximately a forty-five degree angle. I he will extend out to the floor, that is excellent. Do the same thing with his leg back and toward his hind legs. Be very careful not to let go and let him slam his foot on the ground...especially cement.

You can also palpate his tendons and ligaments...again you will have to use a fair amount of pressure. Palpate his forearm...follow the grooves of the muscle from top to bottom with you fingers...look for any reactions. To palpate below the knee, lift his leg as if cleaning his foot and go down his suspensory ligament with thumb and forefinger...using decent pressure, look for reaction and lumps and bumps. Get a small hammer or heavy hoof pick, something you can tap around on his hoof soles of his feet...look for bruises....you're not going to use this hard, just kind of bounce it around on his feet...look for reactions and feel for heat in his feet. Palpate his ankles and coronet band and heel bulbs with you hands.

You can also do a flex test, like they do for insurance exams...not sure if you do that, but it is easy. You will need someone to help you. one person holds the horse and is ready to trot him off. The other lifts the leg and flexes the ankle joint fairly tight--not to over extend but to put some pressure on the joint, hold for 1 minute put the foot down and have the handler immediately trot him away...you may have to pop him on the rear to get him to take off.

If you see any signs of lameness or soreness...call the vet. I find it hard to believe that he would be kicked in the shoulder that hard to be that sore, unless he goes out with some wicked horses and can't get out of the way. Besides you said this is recurring.

You mentioned that he had a training session that day. Were you riding or someone else? What happened in the training session? Do you know what that trainer does? Are they having issues with your horse? You may want to ask some questions or be around to watch what goes on or if you can't be there, ask around the barn or have someone drop in to watch. Trainers are not always kind, or they have a hard time with a horse and the horse has a hard time with them,
or one or both had a bad day.

Third, in my opinion, he is your horse. If you don't want him out with the herd and there is no where he can go that he gets along, or an adjacent paddock for him to be alone, yet within sight of the other horses, or some kind of arrangement where he won't get hurt, then I would leave him in and make sure I got out there to exercise him everyday. I would not tolerate arguing with a barn owner that I am paying to keep my horse safe and happy. Find another barn that suits you and your horses needs.

Another thought...sometimes a lameness in front is actually from a problem in the rear quarter on the diagonal leg. So if your are seeing lameness in the right front, check the left side of his rear quarter, starting and the loin, hip, stifle, hock and on down. You can do all of the same stuff as above. Flex his stifle by folding his leg close and tight up to his belly, then flex his hock. Again, have someone hold him and trot him off. If his stifle is sore, he will drop that hip on the first few strides. If his hock is sore, he will snap his foot back off the ground, cuz the concussion will hurt.

Those are some things I would check for. Check his back for soreness. Do carrot stretches to stretch out his shoulders, neck and poll. You may want to consider a chiropractor.

Just some ideas, hope it helps.

[traceyclydeowner]

hey just let me tell you she knows what she is talkin about ..she was down here all winter helping me prepare for my horseshows and trained me and my clyde..she would also do equine massage and she is good.she works on humans by trade..Also I would heed the warning about barns and trainers they can do some awful things that you are not aware of..i know it happened to me.. every once in awhile a horse comes in and they just take on a loathing for the owners or the horse..you have to wonder why they are in the business well i will tell you why MONEY..and anyone that thinks they know more about what your horse needs than you do... RUN...RUN...RUN... because in the end you 'll end up paying more for the damage done..mentally and physically..trust me i know and i have have learned that the hard way and thousands of dollars later..So if this barn is more reasonably priced then some then look deep inside and look at all the horse at that place because they will tell you if they like it there or are unhappy..EYES DON"T LIE!!!!!!!!!!!!

[amby]

Thank-you for the time you put into these posts.

I appreciate the consideration for my baby.

I have some of those tests. I am ALWAYS there to watch someone work my horse. He DOES NOT leave his stall without me at the lead shank. This other lady is not the barn owner. She is a teacher at the University used to run the barn now someone in the ag department does. It is a college barn for rodeo team members, students, faculty, and alumni only.

I love where I am facility wise. As far as I know there arent any other barns in my area with lighted covered arenas, hot/cold wash racks, and stall as large and nice as ours.
It is not a full service barn so I do the work, but for 125 a month it surely isn't bad.

Also, for the training session, we didn't ride we lunged saddled, but saddle empty. There was NOOOO lameness coming out of the training session only after turnout.
He is a butthole in the pasture, thats just him.

Haven't decided what I'm gonna do yet.

[brocadosmom]

Well, it sounds like you have a great facility...that is hard to find.

If Casper is self destructing outside, maybe he is better off inside. If you go there every day (at least 5 or 6) he should be able to stay inside.

In the show barns the horses get worked 5 to 6 days, sometimes one day of turnout with FRIENDS that they get along with. Then they get Sundays off. We did feed them a bran mash on Sunday instead of there night feeding of grain. A good hot bran mash is always welcomed by the horses. I mixed half a ration of the regular grain and half with oat or wheat bran, mix in a bit of molasses, maybe some carrot slices or apple slices and stir in hot water, like oatmeal. Smells yummy and the horses get it all over their muzzles.

Just a thought, its hard to deal with a lame horse.

Good luck with him...thank you for not thinking I was too harsh...sometimes to know me is to love me:)

Hope to hear some positive updates.