Mystery lameness

I bought a new horse about 8 weeks ago, I have ridden him everywhere, down the beach, over the hills and he has been sound up until now. About a week ago, I hacked along the beach, after a short canter, he suddenly went lame on his fore leg refusing to put any weight on it at all. The vet attended and was unable to find any pain, hoof testers did not show any pain in the hoof, there was no swelling, heat or stiffness, just a refusal to put any weight on that leg. The vet tried several nerve blockers up to the fetlock and still no sign of pain. The following morning, hewas perfectly sound in walk and trot and able to turn in a circle on his 'bad' leg. A week has passed and on a light hack, the same thing has happened again. Both times the lameness occurred during canter coming back into a trot on the beach. He was shod by a new farrier three days prior to the first incident, however is showing no signs of pain, heat or swelling. Oz has been seen cantering around the field in between his intermittent lameness and again after his second incident with no problem. Our vet is as confused as we are, the lameness disappears as quickly as it arrives??? Any ideas??

I bought a new horse about 8 weeks ago, I have ridden him everywhere, down the beach, over the hills and he has been sound up until now. About a week ago, I hacked along the beach, after a short canter, he suddenly went lame on his fore leg refusing to put any weight on it at all. The vet attended and was unable to find any pain, hoof testers did not show any pain in the hoof, there was no swelling, heat or stiffness, just a refusal to put any weight on that leg. The vet tried several nerve blockers up to the fetlock and still no sign of pain. The following morning, hewas perfectly sound in walk and trot and able to turn in a circle on his 'bad' leg. A week has passed and on a light hack, the same thing has happened again. Both times the lameness occurred during canter coming back into a trot on the beach. He was shod by a new farrier three days prior to the first incident, however is showing no signs of pain, heat or swelling. Oz has been seen cantering around the field in between his intermittent lameness and again after his second incident with no problem. Our vet is as confused as we are, the lameness disappears as quickly as it arrives??? Any ideas??

The beach riding can be really hard on horses.  As with many issues the vet is you best bet for a next step.  Usually if they can block the nerve and find the area where the problem is, they can do ultrasound, bone scan, or mri but you have to find the problem area first.  Is it possible the problem is higher?  Perhaps in the shoulder or somewhere else?  Has the horse been in regular work before you got him and in good physical shape?  Sounds mysterious.  Maybe you need a second opinion.

well u should have him checked out by a chiropractor.

But did u ever think he could be faking it. And beach sand

can be hard on the tendons.

im gonna have to agree with alyssa sand is very bad for both tendons and hooves. but there can be tons of reasons why a horse goes lame but what i would think is that he would be tendorfooted the sand could be what causes him to be tender and then when you turn him out in the pature where there is green grass he's not sensitive

Will sometime has passed from when this post went up and I am wonding if the problem contiued ? I have had a similer problem with one of my horses, The way the vet told me so I understood what was happening to her was this.

 You know that feeling you get when you know over exstanded your knee or elbo,  will that is what happens in somecases with horses , and if happens repeatly the joint become lose or weak, or dislocates. My mare had been riden hard and cared for poorly before I got her and  would show no signs of pain and swelling before or after  it happen to her, because of the repeated miscare her joint had become lose or weak.  Never at a walk, only once at a trot and often at the canter. Sand may add to the problem as it has no footing for the horse and puts strand on the already weak joint.

I'd like to hear what has happen sense you first posted this. I use the mare now only for walk trot lessons and always use polo wraps for support to the joints. Remember Horses carry most of their weight on the front legs , sitting behind your horse  will help them learn to move off their hind end and help take the pressure off the front .

test for LYMES!!

Thats a good assumption- turn horse real tight on the ground in circles - if he does not cross over his back legs, under him both ways - get the Blood test asap- Lymes is everywhere-

Will also show lack of energy-

anothe factor could be stifles- Back up real hard before getting on 6 feet- should put them back in.

Do not rule out a deep abcess - had a mare very similar for weeks - guess what finally an abcess burst - had nerve block, Xrays all of the above - stumped us all - have your farrier put her in pads - or first make a paste of epsom salts, Icthaniol(sp?) pad foot with kotex, wrap her foot up above hoof, than duck tape that several times- keep horse where minimal movement for a few days  to keep it wrapped longer, just  a suggestion worth a try - I did - drew the abscess out.

I live at the beach and know how hard sand can be on a horse's legs. There are dips and deep sand. It could be that your horse stepped wrong in the sand. You said that your horse is shod, could it be that the shoe is loose and it is getting sand underneath? Causing pain? Therefore, the next day, the sand may be gone and so is the pain. Other than that, the other posters have said it all. I would get some blood tests and have x-rays done. Better safe than sorry. Good luck and I hope that you are able to find out the cause of this mysterious lameness.