Mare with a clicking joint.

[dianneS]

My mare has a joint that clicks at the trot, I'm pretty sure its a rear leg, but have no idea which joint it is! I can't really figure out which one is clicking since it only occurs at the trot.

This clicking seems to get worse in the colder weather and usually disappears after I have my mare warmed up really well. She's shown no signs of lameness. Although until she's thoroughly warmed up she may throw her head up and down and even shake it a bit when asked to trot or canter (on the ground as well as u/s).

Should I try joint supplements? Is there any way that I can determine which joint is making the noise? Should I be concerned?

 

[patandchickens]

First, you're absolutely sure it's a *joint* that's clicking, not her hitting one foot against the other? (which would be a farrier/trimmer issue)

If there is definitely no lameness associated with it I would not worry. Joints do that sometimes. Mine too If you really want to try to identify what part of the horse is making the noise, have someone trot her in-hand while you jog alongside and listen; or if she is well-trained enough that you can jog her on semi-in-front-of you, at the end of the leadrope, so that you are jogging alongside her quarters, that would do it too.

If you were going to put money into it, I would put the money into having an exam from a GOOD (good!) lameness vet (which can be hard to find in some areas, and I do *not* just mean have any ol' vet look at her) rather than into joint supplements. It does not sound particularly like that's a great huge priority though. She may have *something* going on (the throwing-head-up-in-transitions; although that certainly has plenty of harmless causes too) but it does not sound like there's any reason to believe it's outside of the natural range of life's unavoidable ouchies and oochies.

Best of luck,

Pat

 

[Horsiezz]

Make sure its not the hoof hitting the other one, especially if it happens in a trot. My mares hoof hits the other one in a trot when she starts out but then it usually stops after a while,because right now she needs her hooves trimmed(my farrier appt. isnt till a few days I had to reschedule it for later .)
So to make sure have someone watch her when shes trotting,cantering, etc.

If thats not the case, talk to your vet and have him/her come take a look!

Good luck!

 

[w c]

You may be able to see what's going on if you have someone jog the horse past you on a firm surface, like a dirt road. On grass, the grass will keep you from seeing everything that's going on. Then, a visit from your vet will proaly help you find out what's going on. Your farrier also can watch the horse move and advise.

Most actual 'joint clicking' is due to tendons and ligaments moving around and is not associated with lameness. It isn't actually inside the joint itself, but the tendons and ligaments that surround the joint.

Only occasionally is clicking indicative of a problem. It typically shows up while warming up at a walk, and disappears before the rider starts trotting his horse. If you're not warming up for a little while at the walk and go quickly to trot, you might hear it in trot.

Typically, it shows up in the older horse or the one with more mileage on his legs. Some soft tissue (structures like ligaments, tendons and bursa) get thicker with age or less flexible, hence the click.

If you are walking for a while, because it DOES persist at the trot, I'm wondering if this is one of the few times joint clicking IS a problem...or even, if it IS joint clicking. Occasionally, the clicking is a tendon or ligament actually being interfered with by arthritic changes around the joint.

If the horse were over-reaching (hitting the hind toe against the heel of the front shoe), it typically would not show up at the start, but later, as the horse gets tired, though over-reaching CAN occur at any time during the ride. It makes a very distinctive sound that you will recognize after it's been shown to you.

It CAN be due to shoeing/trimming. It CAN be due to lack of conditioning/fitness. It CAN be due to a horse being off balance when being ridden. It CAN be due to conformation (long legs, short back) It CAN be due to many things! But a good farrier and some training can usually fix over reaching.

If the horse is hitting one leg or foot against another(called 'interfering'), it might be a shoeing/trimming problem, but it also can mean the horse has pain in the leg, and is swinging the painful leg in or out, to try to avoid motions that cause pain.