[Meggilyn]

After 4 days off, my horse pulled up lame.

I asked him to trot (I was riding and he felt fine in the walk) and he starts trotting. It was so awkward that I couldn't even post, and his head was bobbing with his ears pinned. I quickly pulled him up. My friend who was trotting stopped and turned to me asking if her horse looked lame too.

I had my friend jog my horse so I could see, and it looked like he was tip-toeing in trot.

Turns out they are both lame after a few days off..

I couldn't find any heat and I checked all his legs, so I cold sponged (we don't have a hose..) them all and put some liniment on the main muscles just in case.
I couldn't find anything obvious though, so it's strange. No heat in the legs, the hooves or the shoulders.

Even though we don't know what it is, is there anything I should do? If it lasts more then 3 days, I'm calling the vet.

Also

Both of our horses have what the barn worker called a yeast infection on their girth areas. Jake's is only bumps at the moment, but Ali's have turned to more open sores..

Any idea's about this?

It's getting so bad at our barn and spreading that they're calling the vet out.

Thanks!

Meggilyn

[Moostang]

Well if you are riding with a saddle that fungus or "infection" you talked about could cause them to act lame. Basically they don't want to move out fully or correctly to prevent the girth/cinch from rubbing.

[Meggilyn]

I was riding bareback. XD No girth.

[RickB.]

Were they recently trimmed? What is the surface you were riding on?

Prior to the four days off, how much and how hard had they been ridden?

Both of our horses have what the barn worker called a yeast infection on their girth areas. Jake's is only bumps at the moment, but Ali's have turned to more open sores..

It's getting so bad at our barn and spreading that they're calling the vet out.

How does the barn worker know its a yeast infection?

Do any of you share grooming brushes, or other tack, with each other. Regardless, all your grooming supplies(brushes, wraps, etc) need to be sanitized as does your girths, saddle pads, blankets, scrim sheets, etc.

What kind of bedding is being used?

The problem could also be related to a reaction to fly spray or the result of biting insects.

[Meggilyn]

Nope, he was trimmed/shod two weeks ago.

Previous to the time off, not hard.
I rode Sunday and Wednesday before his time off, and in our lesson on Wednesday we did a bit of jumping over crossrails working on lead changes.

I'm not sure how he knows.
I never share brushes, and they get washed regularly. The new school horses showed the infection first, but the boarder and school horses never come in contact with each other so they think it might be the hay, water or feed, in that case I'd be worried.
I don't share tack either, but we've had problems with school kids taking the boarders' stuff, so who knows?

They're using wood shavings, but Jake is on all day turnout and only comes in for grain.

I don't use fly spray, but there are a lot of bugs, so maybe it was caused by a bug bite.

This isn't the first time they've had a break out of infections.. A few of us are planning on leaving.

[Meggilyn]

So he's sound today.. ?
Right after I pulled out of tomorrow's show. XD
haha oh well. I'm just happy he's better.