Weanling with fetlock flexor deformity (acquired)

[NZ Loopy Lou]

Hi all,

I have a weanling who has recently gone through quite a growth spurt. He also had a stone bruise in the near hind hoof which has been treated and which has now healed. He was sore on that leg (near hind) for some time.

In the last couple of weeks I have noticed the beginnings of flexor deformity/weakness in the same near hind fetlock. He appears to be walking on the toe and his stride is shortened on this side. It is not hugely pronounced but a practised eye can most certainly see it! At this stage it is only one leg which made me wonder if it has come about due to the pain that he experienced whilst the stone bruise was festering rather than simply down to too much good feed and growing??? He is not on grain at all, just grass and hay but we do have quite a lot of grass at present!

I have the vet coming out to brand a few horses and attend to the teeth of an old gelding so he will look at the horse at this time but he has not seen the vet yet.

I have the farrier coming to trim him up (hopefully this week). I wondered what farriers on here would suggest? I have also been told to yard him by a friend who had a foal whose legs did the same thing. We are in the middle of winter here and our yards sadly do not have a lime or stone base and will turn to mud very quickly with a horse in them :(

I will take a photo of the leg/foot tonight and post it. Unfortunately it has been a while between trims and his toes have got quite long so I am SURE this is not helping!

[Donnie Walker]

Go to www.equipodiatry.com for some good advice on acquired flexural deformities.

[Gary Hill]

If he's walking on his toes behind, I would suspect abcess. If his toe was off the ground and walking on his heels, then I'd worry about a flexor problem? Good Luck! Gary

[NZ Loopy Lou]

Hi - and thanks for your replies :)

Donnie, your link does not work :( (Oh yes it does! - checked again today ...)

Gary, I know what you are saying but really don't think it is an abscess. He's really not noticeably lame but the joint is certainly off and there is a definite issue with the angle. There is no noticeable heat in the hoof either or discomfort when I use the pincers to test.

I didn't get a pic tonight as it was pouring with rain and I just rushed around and fed out and retreated as quickly as possibly back to the comfort of my living room and glowing fire!

Tomorrow is another day! :D

[caballus]

I would recommend that you get ahold of some books by Linda Tellington Jones ... on TTOUCH and TTEAM exercises. It may well be that during the time of not bearing weight, the tendons and all did tighten up a bit and the horse is now walking according to the "memory" of the pain that he experienced (his young mind became "conditioned" to a certain movement pattern due to the pain). TTOUCH has some great stretching exercises as does the TTEAM exercises that will help your horse change the cell memories and recondition them to normal gait patterns. I'm sure, too, that the muscles and spine were affected during that time, also, just because of the extraordinary pressures and pulls that were put on them during the lameness. The exercises and stretches, couple with good hoof care, will help restore him.

:) --Gwen

[NZ Loopy Lou]

Thanks Gwen. I have been wondering if this is what has happened and it will be interesting to see if the vet/farrier can confirm. He's a dear wee chap and I would like to see him back to his normal big moving/comfortable and sound self!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v683/Loopylou2/TF%20Rafferty%20-%20grey%20colt%20by%20TF%20Hamish/Picture256.jpg

[NZ Loopy Lou]

Just a very quick update to let y'all know that the weanling in question (now aged 14 months) came right quite soon after my initial worries were raised :) - Many thanks for your input!! :D