Lameness Issue

Question
Hi Lana,
First off I would like to say thank you for becoming an expert and helping people with their problems. Now, for my problem. I own a thoroughbred gelding who is 16 years old. He has really never taken a lame step since I've owned him ( minus a few absesses, but that is to be expected ) but has also had very bad feet. I live in the rainy state of FL so his thrush is terrible.. no matter how much i try to keep him out of the water he always seems to find it. He stays in a very nice barn all day and is turned out all night, but during the summer the usually high and dry paddocks are filled with puddles. Well, about 1 month ago we noticed Clipper taking a few bad steps mostly to the right. I had my farrier look at him and he blamed the lameness on bad thrush in the left front foot. We changed his schedule leaving in 24/7 and treating his feet with thrush buster, ect. He had seemed to be getting better and the thrush seemed to be clearing up.. yet now that the thrush is all cleared up he is still lame. The werid thing is when trotting to the right is basically the only time the lameness is made obvious. Going on the left lead you would never know anything is wrong. I have to admit that his left heel is still a little tender, but noot enough to be causing so much stress. Can thrush really be the blame for this lameness? Can navicular show these same symptoms? I
Honestly have seen his feet in much worse condition with no soundness issues. He is an x- race horse and bowed a tendon on his left front (really low bow- almost by his fetlock) but has never once shown a weakness. Could the old bow be resuracing?
Thanks so much,
Amanda  

Answer
Hello Amanda;

Thank you for your kind words.

Normally when a horse is off to the right, it'll be the right front, not the left front.  As the horse circles his tendency is to carry more weight on the inside front shoulder and thus foot.  

However, it is possible it's the left front that is the problem, he's carrying more weight on the right front to compensate and now he's lame on the right front.  It could also be a hind leg/foot.

Basically, it's impossible for me to tell you without seeing him go, which foot/leg is the problem.  You can longe him and watch his head.  His head will go 'up' on the 'lamest' foot.

Thrush can be severe enough to cause lameness, but that's unusual.  The bow will be 'hot' and inflamed if it's bothering him.  Navicular is not really a 'TB' issue.

I think a lameness vet (not your standard vet) is your best option right now.

I'm sorry I couldn't be more help Amanada.  I'd need to see video footage to be more specific.

Much luck!

Sincerely,

Lana Reinhardt