woman on a cheatnut horse with blue ls addle pad

Dealing with Lameness and Uncertainty: A Rider’s Tale

I got on Biasini on Monday and as soon as I picked up the trot I knew that he was lame as he felt very uneven to me. Coach Belinda Trussell was there and I asked her to take a look at him she said:” Can you ride him, go really forward down the long side, I did that and she said :”yes he’s not right ,not right at all ,he’s lame.” And where was he lame he was lame on the right front leg that’s the leg that has already had two suspensory injuries, if he had a 3rd suspension injury on that leg I would have to retire him there’s no question about that Then what would I do? I can’t imagine not being able to ride, not having a horse to ride ,but I don’t know about my own future. Since I have Parkinson’s and it’s an unknown factor as to how long I will be able to ride. Every person’s progression with Parkinson is different so I don’t know how long I’ll be able to ride ride for. I don’t know…. maybe I will have 4 years maybe 5 years before I won’t be able to ride at all. But I decided there was no point in going down that road. So I got in touch with the vet and she said that she would come out and take a look at Biasini. She came out yesterday morning. The first thing she did was that she asked her assistant to lunge Biasini and it was clear that he was still lame on that right front leg! Then she said I’m going to freeze his foot and we’ll see so she did that and then you have to wait 10 minutes while the freezing takes effect and in that ten minutes my mind was racing again until l told myself to “just stop it!!!and then she took him back out This time he seemed to be much more sound so she said I think that this is good this because it tells us it it’s not a suspensory injury and then she did another freezing which took it up a bit farther up into his fetlock. And then she picked up a lunging whip and he started to really move out forward and he was absolutely not lame at all The vet said to me she said :”So what this means I am certain it is not another suspensory injury because I didn’t freeze that area I only froze the lower part of his hoof and fetlock and not the suspensory area”. She then took some X rays and we looked at them and we didn’t see any particular thing that might have caused the lameness. It was fortunate there was no fracture. We looked at the x-rays and there was a bit of arthritis. But nothing else that was any cause for concern so we don’t really know why he suddenly came up lame on the Monday it may have been that he just had an odd tweak of that leg or that foot. I don’t know but anyhow the main thing is it is not another suspensory injury . We can go to Florida and carry on as normal! to say that I am I am relieved would be an vast understatement!! Biasini will have a week off from being ridden and when get on him again we will see how he is. If he’s still lame I will get in touch with the vet again.

Woman with a chestnut horse. Woman has grey hair. Horse has his ears pricked up and is looking out.

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32 responses to “Dealing with Lameness and Uncertainty: A Rider’s Tale”

  1. Avery Avatar

    I know the uncertainty for you must be difficult, but you just have to LIVE one day at a time! Lameness issues are tough. Especially for older horses.

  2. Avery Avatar

    Hugs.

  3. J.W.S. Avatar

    Thanks for the update. He is a lucky horse to have such a caring person as you.

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Thank you JWS for this kind comment

  4. Tranature - quiet moments in nature Avatar
    Tranature – quiet moments in nature

    Aww poor Biasini! Arthritis is very common in older horses and they can often still enjoy gentle trail rides, when being ridden in arenas and at a competitive level becomes too uncomfortable. Sending much love and please give sweet Biasini a gentle pat from us all 🤗🧡🐴 xxx

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Neither Biasini nor I have any plans to compete. But the barn he is at has access to some lovely forest trails.

  5. etikser Avatar

    I hope this is a temporary issue, and things go well shortly for you and Biasini.

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Thank you ! I hope so too.

  6. Suzette Benjamin Avatar

    Sending prayers for you and Biasini may both your health strengthen for long years to come.

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      I hope so too.T hanks for commenting!

      1. Suzette Benjamin Avatar

        You are very welcome, Anne. Peace to you.

        1. anne leueen Avatar

          Thank you Suzette and Peace for you too❤️

          1. Suzette Benjamin Avatar

            Thank you!

  7. Michele Lee Avatar

    Lovely photo, Anne and I am happy to read you two are able to carry on as normal. Thank goodness. 💝

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Well I hope that when I get on him next week he will be sound but if he isn’t then I will get the vet back . But the fact that we know its not a suspensory injury is BIG relief.

  8. Neal Saye Avatar

    Thanks for sharing with us, Anne. May Biasini—and you—glow with good health.

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      thank you Neal

  9. Amy Avatar

    So sorry to hear what Biasini is going through…. Hope he will be okay.
    Love this photo!

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      thank you Amy. The photo was taken last winter in Florida by a professional photographer.She has taken photos of me when I was competing. I love it too.

  10. VJ Avatar

    Such a worry. Glad he’ll be okay

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Thanks for commenting VJ

      1. VJ Avatar

        Hugs, Anne

        1. anne leueen Avatar

          Thank you VJ.

  11. Diana Avatar

    Hi Anne, I’m so happy it’s not his suspensory again. Oh my goodness, my mind would be racing too. Hopefully, he will stay sound and you will have many more rides with him. Sending warm hugs to you and Biasini and carrots from Murphy! ❤️🐴🥕🥕

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Biasini will appreciate those carrots. My husband just bought a Big bag of carrots and i will give some to Biasini tomorrow and tell him they came from Murphy.

  12. Joan Seamster Avatar
    Joan Seamster

    A story with a happy ending. And nice to see your photo as well. Joan

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      How nice to hear from you Joan!

  13. Donna Avatar
    Donna

    Anne going through this exact thing with my horse right now same leg, block the joints and found the same result she sound, xrays found a bit of arthritis as well. Hope Biasini is feeling better soon.

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Horses!!! I’m sorry to hear you are going through the same situation. Biasini is on stall rest for the week. I hope he will be OK next Wednesday when I trot him again.

  14. Terri Webster Schrandt Avatar

    I’m glad it’s nothing serious at this point, Anne. Dealing with the effects of aging is no fun. You will make the right decision for both of when the time is right. Such a beautiful photo of you both ❤️

    1. anne leueen Avatar

      Aging is not much fun. you are right but on the other hand I have survived cancer and I’m lucky to be here so I try to remember that as well.

    2. anne leueen Avatar

      Thank you Terri. Biasini is a Senior horse at the age of 19.AndHe would probably agree with you about the effects of aging! I also love the photo❤️❤️!

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