Horse Limps Occasionally
We asked horse training expert Cheyanne West. More about Cheyanne

Question
Hello. I just purchased a 15-year-old grade quarter horse gelding. He might have thoroughbred in him too as he is very tall (64 inches at the withers) and has very high withers and long bodied. I purchased him at a sale barn where there was no owner around to ask questions. Many times the truth isn't told anyway by owners as they want to sell their horses. Anyway, he is extremely gentle, very well broke, was at a riding school until three years ago when this woman decided to sell him. He seems to have an occasional slight limp, not always, but more so on hard surfaces, on the right front leg. He stands on it fine, doesn't shift back and forth showing possible pain. Can lift his left foot up and he stands on the right one on cement fine without discomfort. There is absolutely no limp in walking or galloping, but occasionally on trotting, especially on harder surface. On soft gravel surfaces there is no limp. Also occasionally, again only occasionally, he slightly trips on his front toes. I think it's because he's not paying attention and is so tall, maybe there's some clumsiness there. And we ride in very uneven pastures, not well-groomed graveled arenas. Can the problem be in his shoulder? I've seen on television where a person who makes trees for saddles said that if a tree in a saddle is wrong for a horse it can cause discomfort in the wither shoulder area and can cause stumbling in the front feet or possible limping. His former vet said she never saw him for leg or foot problems, wasn't aware of any with him. I asked her about the bone spur possibility and she said if he isn't limping with the head bobbing or showing discomfort that he does not have that problem. What do you think?

Thank you!

Linda

Answer
Dear Linda,
I suspect this can be easily cleared up with homeopathic Ruta. It can be purchased at a local health food store. Dissolve one pellet in a cup of water and add that to the horse’s water bucket for about a week. Or dissolve one pellet in water and draw that into a clean syringe and squirt that inside the lower lip 1-3 times per day for up to a week. It sounds like a tendon/ligament problem. This should work well for you.

Keep us posted on your progress.

Cheyanne West C-Hom
www.AskCheyanne@TodaysHorse.com