Our Veterinary team are experienced in lameness evaluations and treatment.
We incorporate trotting on our trot up track as well as lunging on our new purpose-built arena in order to assess each horse. Nerve blocks are then used to localise the source of pain and this is often supported with either radiographs or ultrasound.
RIDDEN LAMENESS EXAMINATION
Newcastle Equine Centre offers dynamic lameness examinations with a ridden component. A typical lameness examination is performed in hand with the horse asked to trot in a straight line and lunged on both reins. The addition of a ridden component will allow ‘real time’ assessment of your horse with the vet present.
During a ridden examination, the rider will be asked to trot in straight lines away and towards the vet, tight and large circle work as well as mimic the movements for the horse’s profession as much as possible. The in hand component will also be utilised. In hand trotting and repeat riding will be used after nerve blocking, with identification of the source of lameness appreciated by the vet and rider simultaneously.
A ridden exam is useful when:
• You or the rider has noticed or felt issues while riding.
• You or the rider has reported a problem but no one else can see it.
• The lameness is intermittent or subtle.
The benefits of a ridden exam are:
• Replicates how the horse moves when worked
• More likely to show subtle lameness which might not be appreciated in hand.
• Allows the rider to provide real-time feedback to the vet and can appreciate positive effects of nerve blocks
We offer this service at a facility in Black Hill, just 30 minutes out of Newcastle. Call or email the clinic for more information