Charleston – Stifle & Hind End Lameness (6 yr old Thoroughbred)
Tell us about your horse
Charleston, 6-year-old Thoroughbred
What is your Discipline?
English Equitation
Do you and your horse compete? If so, how often and at what level?
Currently no, not sound enough to compete at this time.
Has your horse’s unsoundness kept you out of any competitions?
Yes
What current issues is your horse suffering from?
Charleston is sound while not under saddle. Vet and saddle fitter have ruled out saddle pad issues and kissing spine. The problem may be coming from the hind end or stifle due to a past injury from backing into a truck.
What have you tried so far to help your horse with these issues?
EMS on the stifle and hind end, body work, hyaluronic acid supplement.
Has this horse been diagnosed by a Vet?
No
If your horse has had injections, when was the last injection and where?
Knee, November 2023
Is your horse currently on any supplements? If so, which ones?
Effortless HA and CocoSoya
If you are selected for the Precision Challenge, what results are you hoping for?
Overall improvement of the trot and canter, soundness, and being able to ride.
Began the Precision Challenge on February 29, 2024
Charleston appears mostly sound when not under saddle. According to the vet and saddle fitter, there’s no issue with the saddle pad or kissing spine. The problem may originate from the hind end or stifle, potentially due to a past injury from backing into a truck.
Day 1 of Precision Challenge
Day 45 of Precision Challenge
Before & After Check Ups – Observed changes in comfort, movement & disposition
Week 2 Check In:
No observed changes at this time. Was slightly lame on 3/14 because of a thrown shoe and a crack up the middle. Bute was given for three days.
Week 4 Check In:
Charleston is now stepping under himself more and there is no head bob present. He seems more willing to come in from the pasture. No tail swinging during groundwork and more relaxed. He threw a shoe three times in one week and was very sore because of it, but is much better now.
Week 6 Check In:
Charleston is a lot more forward in his movement on the line and under saddle. He no longer has a wobbling feeling in his back end under saddle. He now walks up to me in the pasture instead of walking away or avoiding me.
PC Journal Notes:
2 weeks into Trial: I haven’t seen too many changes yet. He also had soreness from a chip in his hoof that caused break off when the farrier reshod him. I’ll be going out tomorrow to hopefully hop on him and see what he looks and feels like under saddle since that’s where the off movement is happening.
30 Days into Trial: I commented in the Facebook group because he has greatly improved! Backstory: he threw his shoe three times in one week and had to be reshod three times, which left him quite sore for a few days. I wasn’t able to fully assess improvement until after that. The video I took a week ago shows real change in his gait—he’s noticeably more relaxed, forward, and smooth under saddle.
45 Days into Trial: He is no longer lame, eliminating any front-end issues caused by the shoe. He’s moving a lot more relaxed on circles while on the lunge and is much more forward while still turning well. No issues at all—a great improvement from where we first started.
Honestly, I’ve been so pleased with PJS. Most supplements I’ve tried with him didn’t show clear results, but with PJS I don’t have to wonder—I can feel the change under saddle. Thank you again!
