can horses fake lameness?

[jeanniejayne]

One sure clue is if she is better on the way home than on the way out.

Of course, that could also be stiffness, and a saddle fit that is poor can make 'em do some strange stuff , but it is amazing how much braver and more energetic they are on the way home! Water??? No problem! Shakey bridge? No problem! But on the way out it is terror and rubber legs, etc.

 

[Cara]

It is possible, but it's always a good idea to rule out other possibilities. Here on the ranch horses that fake lameness are called 'counterfeits'.

We have one that is quite old and will act like he's on his last legs going away from the barn. He'll wheeze, and act like every step is hard on him. Coming back home you can't hardly stop him.

 

[CountryMom]

I agree that maybe a soreness check on her back for saddle fit or riders weight is in order here. Even someone to look at the hock and stifle.

However that being said, I know of a horse that did get injured by a trainer and hurt so bad that he refused to stop. And then he refused to show. He would become seriously lame looking and acting. After surgery to correct the hock injury and a year of rest he went back to be retrained. He knew his stuff and is an amazing horse to say the least; however, he went right back to not wanting to stop because his brain had not realized that it didn't hurt anymore. He spent a few months with a trainer that was pretty firm with him. The horse discovered he could stop again and soon was planting himself deep in the dirt. Then he started back showing. He was a freaky horse at a show. He would spook at EVERYTHING including the water trough! Yes, he would spook several times in a row like he had not seen it just 2 seconds before when he got a drink and hadn't even left the spot! LOL Then he would limp and throw his head right before going into the show pen. Once in the show pen he stopped it and scored really high. It took months and a trainer trying to convince everyone at the show that it was in the horse's brain and not the body (the lameness) for this horse to get over it. This is a horse who is now a beloved family show horse and doing great.

So sometimes it is a learned thing from a tragic event. Sometimes it is a way of getting out of work also.

 

[patandchickens]

I would not personally trust just ONE vet's analysis, especially unless the vet had SEEN the horse working (limping) not just an unmounted exam. Many vets are no great shakes at eyeball detection of lameness anyhow, and maybe the horse DOESN'T do anything when unmounted, that has nothing to do with whether she might be sore when ridden.

Also, my experience is that a fairly large number of horses move unevenly under saddle for reasons wholly or in large part related to poorly fitting tack, chiropractic type problems, and poor riding. My experience is also, unfortunately, that the great majority of saddle fitters, vets, and many trainers too cannot SEE this

Be real, real critical in scrutinizing saddle fit. Remember that the *horse* gets the last vote in whether something's comfy or not - but if you see dry spots or feel areas that bind, chances are pretty good that the saddle is at least part of the problem.

Then, when you are riding the horse, work on getting her STRAIGHT, and strengthening and stretching and suppling both sides. Some horses that are uneven under saddle are simply flopping along stiffly and crookedly, and if you put enough work into stretching/suppling/balancing them they even up.

Finally, though, consider that if she IS faking it -- and I do not believe this happens very often at all, but it does happen sometimes -- WHY would she be faking it. Answer: because she does not enjoy her work. Solution: find work she enjoys more. Really truly.

Good luck,

Pat

 

[reallemons1]

I thought my QH mare was faking lameness. As she was very smart, only sometimes would be mildly lame so we thought she wanted to get out of working. The vet and farrier found nothing wrong...until she got older. She had a bone spaven (sp) , artheritis, in her hock that looking back would only bother her sometimes.

 

[patandchickens]

Reallemons' post reminds me -- I have known a considerable number of horses that were sound (or with some, just much soundER) when worked in-hand or ridden by a lightweight kid, than when ridden by an adult. Because carrying more weight puts more stress on sore joints.

Pat

 

[TheDuckCrew]

thanks. i'm pretty much the lightest person that riders her (i'm MAYBE 100 pounds) and she goes western and i rode her before in the same saddle, and she was fine. according to the owner, she did it last winter too but for the rest of the year she was fine. i take a long time to warm her up just to make sure, and she's always the same. she used to work out of being lame as you rode her, but i think she figured out that by doing that, we would make her keep working. nothing really changed in riding or saddles or anything. its all been the same.
she is a very lazy horse though. when i first started riding her, i had to kick her every step pretty hard to keep her at a jog never mind a lope, that was a true workout. she's gotten much better now, and i don't even have to kick her, i just have to squeeze her and she knows she has to go. she won't be happy about it, but she'll do it if you make her.

 

[wadek2008]

Absolutely, especially if she's ever been really lame and got out of work before. It's also possible the saddle doesn't fit, though or she needs a visit from the chiropractor.

 

[patandchickens]

if she did it in the winter but then was fine the rest of the year, my money would be STRONGLY on it being genuine physical discomfort.

She sounds like she DESPERATELY needs work that she enjoys more. Shame to be making a horse do things it doesn't like all the time.

Good luck,

Pat

 

[TheDuckCrew]

thanks. she is a lot happier now. she used to be english, but now they put her western and she's much happier and much better. they used to try to jump her, but she is NOT a jumper and she tripped going over a jump and was lame for three months, so maybe thats where she learned it from. i'll make sure to mention to the owner all of your ideas and suggestions. thanks!