A Full Work-Up for Lameness or Poor Performance: What It Entails

When a horse does not feel right, it can be deeply frustrating to be told that they appear sound in hand or on the lunge. As Dr Sue Dyson explains, many performance-related problems can only be properly understood when the horse is assessed doing the work they are actually asked to do.

This detailed article takes you through the components of a full lameness or poor-performance investigation: taking a careful history, examining the whole horse at rest, evaluating movement in hand and on the lunge, observing tacking-up, mounting and ridden work, and then deciding whether nerve blocks, imaging or further investigation are needed.

Sue explains why good diagnosis is detective work. It is not simply about identifying one sore area, but understanding the horse’s posture, symmetry, conformation, muscle development, tack, rider interaction, behaviour and movement patterns as a whole. She also outlines why clear communication about costs, realistic expectations and the next logical steps matters so much.

A valuable resource for any owner who suspects that something is wrong, wants to know what an in-depth assessment should look like, or needs the confidence to say, “My horse still does not feel right.” It is a superb reminder that effective treatment and rehabilitation begin with careful investigation, thoughtful questions and a team approach.