lameness ...where do I start?

Question
I recently moved my newly purchased 4 yo TB gelding. He is off the track but only raced 3 times (he just wasnt fast enough). After coming off the track he was turned out to pasture on a farm where he was given a run in to live and a round bale to feed off of. He was also fed grain 2x a day. Unfortunatly he was allowed to loose his shoes and his feet were not looked after for the past 2 months. I understood this was a gamble and knew the risks. Before he was loaded and shipped he was sound (so it appeared). A long ride later (approximatly 14 hours) we were home and he came off the trailer dead lame. I am not sure where to start. His feet need to be done yes. But is it possible he is just exhausted from the move? He is very stiff. Could everything come back to his feet? I did not feel any heat and let him rest a day or so. However he still appears lame.
I am not sure where to start.

Answer
Hello Amanda,

Where is the lameness?  Is he lame when walking and trotting or just trotting. Did you have him vetted before purchase?  A wise thing to have done, but if you didn't, here is what I would do.  Two months of no foot care is not that big of a deal.  If the hoofs are not long and cracking, I would let him rest for a week. If they are long and cracking, go ahead and have him trimmed, but not shod. Walk him in hand for a little while each day.  At the end of that week, trot him out and if he is lame, you have to call a vet to ascertain the cause.  It could be that he is stiff from the long  ride and sometimes they even get stomach upsets after a long ride.  Let's hope that that is the problem, but if not, you must have the vet look at him.

Best wishes,
Dorothy