Answers and a plan

I HAD TO.

My normal vet is on vacation so a colleague came out and took a look at Porkchop.

I lunged him both directions, still lame pretty consistently both ways on the right front. Vet could not find any heat, swelling, etc. on any tendons or whatnot which has been the case since Hampton first presented.

So, next stop would be blocking.

My gut said it was something in the foot, and it turned out I was right. He blocked almost immediately sound on the right foot. So, whatever was causing the pain was likely the coffin joint and/or navicular area. *groan*

A few X-rays later, and it was confirmed.

Hamptons RF X-Ray. You can see the changes around the coffin joint.
Hard to see navicular changes on this angle.

There are arthritic changes in the coffin joint, and definite changes in the navicular bone.

I've got a whole set of X Rays and will share more whenever the vet uploads them. I only snapped a photo of this angle since it was the one the farrier needed.

I knew this was probably coming, but not quite so soon! I mean horses are big (esp. Hampton), the feet are small, and he works hard. This is extremely common in performance horses.

 Thankfully for now it seems minor and very manageable. But deep down, I know that the clock is now ticking on his upper level dressage career.

But I felt a little better knowing there was a plan.

Hampton got his RF coffin joint injected, and the vet left me with instructions on shoes to give to my farrier.

We had the same expressions after all this vet work.

.... which then turned into a whole new saga.

What happens when your vet and farrier disagree about treatment for your horse?

I was about to find out.

(to be continued ...)