Buster...
* Navicular disease
* Ring bone
* Hock arthritis
* Gastric ulcers
* Cervical arthritis
Buster originally came to me having been previously diagnosed with navicular disease & ring bone in both front limbs, as well as, hock arthritis bilaterally. In his previous home he underwent joint medication, rest and later broken down during the ridden rehabilitation. He was intermittently lame and showing significant behavioural issues under saddle and on the lunge. When he first came to me he showed a lot of undesirable postural and dynamic abnormalities.
Dynamic Symptoms Shown
-
Intermittent lameness in front and behind.
-
Dragging hind limbs, squaring off both toes.
-
Reluctant to go forward under saddle and on the lunge.
-
Bucking and kicking out at the whip if used to make him go forward.
-
Found turning to the right difficult.
-
When he did move forward he had a mincing trot and didn't go anywhere.
-
Hindquarters very weak and trailed out behind his body.
-
The canter was peculiar - threw himself upwards on the spot instead of forward.
-
When trotting in the field he would stretch his head up so nose highest point and roll his eyes.
Additional Observations
-
Rarely laid down in his stable - sleeps mostly with his head over the door.
-
Fidgets when having front limbs trimmed when asked to protract forelimbs and maintain on the stand.
-
Noisy neck and shoulder.
-
Difficulty bending during carrot stretches.
-
Excessive sweating when upset or exercised.
-
Shows the white of his eyes a lot.
-
Even at a relaxed state would appear with a "resting bitch face".
-
Preferred to keep neck and body straight.
Behavioural Symptoms Shown
-
Box walked, if unsettled cantered around his stable.
-
Had been known to buck in his stable.
-
Lunge over the door to horses walking past.
-
If other horses were brought in from the field he would run the fence line.
Postural Symptoms Shown
-
Stood base narrow infront.
-
Alternated between standing base narrow and camped out behind.
-
Always resting hind limbs on the toe.
Musculature Symptoms Shown
-
Atrophied pectoral muscles.
-
Weak through triceps.
-
Lack of muscling through certain areas of the neck.
-
Peculiar dipping away through the flank & no gluteal muscling.
 |  |
|---|---|
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
 |  |
He started his rehabilitation through his feet.
His feet were addressed first but once ridden work commenced he struggled with going forward especially with the canter transition, alongside showing some other behavioural issues in the field. He was scoped and diagnosed with gastric ulcers which he responded well to the treatment and had a good 9 months of work before showing signs of other pain related issues. After investigations he was found to have moderate to severe arthritis in the lower joints in his neck. As a result has reoccuring gastric ulcers. Buster is currently undergoing pain management for his arthritis, as well as finishing his ulcer treatment while continuing his ridden rehabilitation work.