Any ideas what this could be?

[FlyingFeathers]

I will be calling my vet on Monday, but I just wondered if anyone had any ideas what this could be, or if you have experience. Brief background - 8 year old, has arthritis in his hocks, history of napping, suspected ulcers (currently on acid ease, which is making him much happier), sarcoids (not relevant but just putting it all out there).

And now he’s tripping. A lot. He has been for the last 8-9 months, it’s totally random and can be on any ground. He’s barefoot so farrier has been trimming him ever so slightly shorter and rolling his toes a little bit. This hasn’t made any difference, it’s not his feet. A second farrier has looked at them and said they’re as good as can be. I don’t think it’s navicular as he’s not walking toe to heel.

Now the other day I was looking through my videos and came across a clip from the summer and he tripped in the video. I put it in slow mo and his foot is coming through nicely but it’s on impact that either his knee or fetlock area is giving way. Sometimes it’s just little like it gives way slightly, other times he fully trips and comes to an abrupt halt as he tries to right himself.

My first thought was arthritis somewhere else (knee, fetlock, pastern or coffin) but now I’m thinking it could be ligament?

Any thoughts? Box rest is absolutely not an option, he’s dangerous after the 3 days he has to do after his hocks are medicated. He jumps out, scrabbles up the back wall trying to get into the stable next door, and is just a mess.

He has regular physio, just had a made to measure saddle, teeth etc all up to date.

We had a horse that did this and he had djd in his fetlock joints.

We tried to manage it for a year but it worsened and sadly he was pts.

The only good thing was that it was very clear on the xrays, so we knew what it was straight away saving us all lots of pain and stress.

He tripped a lot, much worse ona circle

If he's insured I'd go straight for xrays, bone scans and scope and treat ulcers (which are probably secondary to pain)

And he will need box rest if its a ligament and treated, so if that's genuinely not an option you might have to prepare yourself for the worst. Hopefully I'm wrong and it's something easily treated.

Thank you. Yes djd was my first thought as he has it in his hocks, he’s a gypsy rescue and the vet thinks his past plays a part in his arthritis (think the usual ridden/driven on the roads as a foal...)

He’s insured, thankfully his insurance is good and have always paid out no issue.

I had a lesson today and he did it 4 times just in walk. We stayed mostly in walk because of it and barely trotted. I’ll be calling the vet Monday.

I am preparing myself for the worse Box rest is not an option, I wish I was exaggerating when I say how dangerous he is in a stable. Even going into a smaller paddock is an issue as he has severe separation anxiety and he wouldn’t be able to leave the herd for a prolonged period (I tried it in summer when I was trying to control his weight, the yard have fat pens, but he spent 48 hours screaming and running the fence line for the herd and eventually jumped out (post and rail fencing with electric!). He’d do more damage than good in one.

I’m trying not to worry, but there’s definitely something going on

We have recently had this and after a scan turned out to be kissing spine :(

Sorry to hear that, are you having it operated on? I’ve known a few horses who have recovered well from ks, I think sticking to the rehab plan is key.

I’m not ruling it out for my boy, and I know it can’t be diagnosed through physio, but he has it regularly and his back and top line are really strong. He was actually used as an example on my yard by the physio in comparison to a horse who had recently been diagnosed with ks.

I hope it works out for you

Could he stay in one of the pens with a sensible companion if you could borrow one? Just a thought.

This sounds pretty serious at only 8- I wouldn't like to try and make suggestions without a video, but I hope it is something solvable/treatable.

Yes I could put him in with one other, but the paddocks are small and I feel like it wouldn’t be fair on the other horse. Also, it would need to be a non ridden horse just so they’re not going in and out all the time, mine would barge through and get stressed left on his own. I can explore that option though, it’s not a definite no.

Thank you, I’ve had another sleepless night about it! I went on a walk hack this morning and his leg gave way over 15 times in 45 minutes Although it seems to be predominantly on his right, it was the left a few times too. I’m not going to ride him again until he’s seen the vet. It’s not fair on him.

It’s like his foot goes past the break over point and as soon as he places his foot on the ground something gives way. Sometimes it’s just this and he carries on, other times it’s more a full on trip and he doesn’t save himself in time and comes to a halt.

Any update Flying ?

Sorry - Just seen update on your other thread !
Can I ask if you found the Acid Ease improved the ulcers at all ?

Sorry I’ve only just seen this.

Yes a massive improvement on the acid ease. After about a week there was a noticeable change, and the things that normally set off a few weeks of off his head behaviour (new herd member, change of field etc) are no longer an issue. Normally when there’s a big change, he goes crazy for 2 weeks, and I struggle to handle him on the ground and he’s a nightmare to ride. I just can’t get through to him during this period, it’s like a mist has descended and he can’t see through it. But since he’s been on the acid ease these things are a non event! I’m going to try and put him on the gut balancer next week and stop the acid ease to see if he’s as good on that (only reason being it’s half the price!). If he’s not as good on it, I’ll go back to the acid ease.