Whats wrong with my mare's knee?

Question

She's got a hard lump on the lower part of her knee. Its not painful to the touch, the knee's not swollen, no heat. She's shortening her stride on that side, no obvious limp when she's walking, extremely obvious limp when she's trotting. Her knee pops when you flex it. She's 21 years old and has not been ridden since last year. She does go out to a large pasture with other horses and its been a very wet spring, lots of mud.

Azeri · Accepted Answer

Obviously we can only speculate - - how long ago did the lump show up? Assuming the lameness showed up at the same time the lump did, then they're related.  You do need your vet to evaluate the knee lump, and give her time off from riding in the meantime.  At 21 she undoubtedly has arthritic changes, but these don't usually show up as a visible lump beneath the knee joint, but it does sound like a bony formation, just from what you've described.  Although it could be a soft tissue injury that has calcified, so to speak, but that takes time, and starts out soft and hot, usually.  I'm not a vet, so am just speaking from experience.

Anonymous · Answer

well, you obviously aren't going to be able to ride her again until this is sorted out.  you need to get the vet in to see whats causing this - pulled tendon, cracked knee, slipped cartilage, knee cap issue etc.

Anonymous · Answer

it could be arthritis or it could be scar tissue if she has got kicked by another horse or something simular

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Whats wrong with my mare's knee?

3 Answers