Lame is as lame does

My horse “came up lame” a few months ago.  I don’t know what happened, but it caused him to move in a way that was “not right.”  Whatever went wrong in my horse led to human intervention, including diagnosis and treatment by veterinarians, equine physical therapists and a farrier, to confinement, and to additional consequences of confinement including cellulitis.  It ultimately led me to rethink the boarding setup, veterinary care, training approach and shoeing.

Lameness evaluations can be expensive and disruptive.  They may cause my horse additional pain. Owners are frequently advised, for example, to “work the horse until the condition becomes more apparent” so that it can be better seen, diagnosed and treated.  This translates to “make him move” until he is in such discomfort that a human can attempt to see what is going on.

This lameness also led to inquiries from equine health professionals about my horse’s “value” and “purpose,” as in what is he “worth” and what do I want to do with him.  When I say he is a family member and I want what is best for him, does that make him a “pasture pet” and me a “hobbyist?”

The last veterinarian diagnosed something around the stifle; a possible suspensory problem or maybe a muscle tear.  The prognosis for “return to work” is “don’t know.”  I am reluctant to authorize anything that may cause my horse more pain, and that includes shoeing.  More about that later.

I have learned that many diagnostic tools that are relatively simple in human diagnosis, such as x-rays and MRIs, are extremely difficult and very expensive to use with horses.  They also require sedation.  The prescription most commonly given to humans–to take it easy–is also very difficult for many horses.  ”Stall rest” and “hand walk” are four words that no one who cares for a horse wants to hear.