[lvmypnt]

Della came up lame last Thursday. It seems to be getting a little better but not much. Finally last night I was able to determine what was bothering her.

Its this area here:



When i put my thumb on the "X" and my fingers on the inside and squeeze a little she gives me very big "tail swishes" and steps away. When i do the same thing on the other side, it doesnt bother her. There is no heat or swelling.

So my question is.......Is this an area that she could have just pulled something or laid down wrong? Should I give it more time to heal? Or get her to the vet now? Is there anything I can do such as wraping it or cold hosing or anthing like that?

Advise please.

[JBandRio]

There is some good muscle there, so she could indeed have done something to that.

If it's hot or puffy, 2-3x a day cold hosing would probably feel good. Most likely it needs a couple of days rest, or light walking. Obviously, you should call the vet if it doesnt' get better, or gets worse, within a few days or so.

Keep in mind that by pressing there, if she thinks you're asking her to unweight that leg, she may be complaining because the act of really lifting that leg might be hurting her hock or stifle, or the act of unweight that one which then fully weights the other hind leg may mean something on the OTHER leg isn't comfy.

[lvmypnt]

Thanks JB. I ask her to shift her weight in a very different manner so I am sure there is not confusion there. Plus since last Thursday, she occasionaly keeps this leg slightly in front of the other. So I am pretty positive I have found "the spot."

I was talking to my hubby last night and we started with our lessons about 3 weeks ago. We had our first lesson (which so far has just been ground work) on the 6th which included lunging on line one circle each direction at all three gaits and worked her about an hour that day. Then I worked her doing the same thing on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Gave her a few days off and worked her Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the following week and notice her lameness on Thursday.

I usually do not lope her on line or off of line for that matter because I was always under the impression that was not necessarily good for them. So I would think she does not have the muscle build up to lope in tight circles?

Could this have caused her to pull something in that area of her leg?

What is your opinion on loping in small circles in general? Good? Bad? Depends?

[lvmypnt]

Any one else?