A proper work-up, not a guess
Full history, hands-on palpation, trot-ups on hard and soft ground, and flexion tests — assessed the way a performance horse needs to be assessed.
Lameness & sports medicine · Toowoomba · Darling Downs · Lockyer Valley
Lameness work-ups at your property.
If your horse is short, uneven, not tracking up or just not performing, Dr Christian Bowden-Betts comes to you with the equipment to find out why — and a plan to get the horse back in work.
Mobile vet · Monday to Friday, business hours · Dr Christian Bowden-Betts BVSc
We come to youFully equipped mobile clinic
Performance focusEnglish, Western, thoroughbred & harness
Two regionsToowoomba base · Lockyer Valley 2 days a week
Nerve and joint blocks
Diagnostic blocks localise the pain to a region before any treatment is considered, so you're treating the actual problem.
A plan for the horse's job
Every recommendation is made with the horse's discipline, workload and competition calendar in mind.
What a lameness visit covers
What to expect
- Detailed history of the horse, its work and when the problem started
- Static examination: conformation, hoof balance, swelling, heat and palpation
- Dynamic examination: walk and trot in hand, on a circle, on different surfaces, and under saddle where useful
- Flexion tests of the limbs to provoke subtle lameness
- Diagnostic nerve and joint blocks to pinpoint the source of pain
- A clear explanation of the findings and the options from here
When to call
Is this the right visit?
- Your horse is obviously lame, or has been intermittently off for more than a few days
- A head nod or hip hike at the trot, or reluctance to pick up or hold a canter lead
- Changes in performance: refusing, shortening, bucking, girthiness, loss of impulsion
- Heat, swelling or a digital pulse in a limb
- Pre-season soundness check before a competition or racing campaign
Sudden, severe lameness with a horse unwilling to bear weight can be a fracture or infection — call straight away. Outside business hours, contact your nearest equine hospital.
How a visit works
No float trip. The clinic comes to your horse.
01
Call or send a request
Tell us about your horse and what you've noticed. Routine work is booked around Christian's Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley days.
02
Christian comes to you
The vehicle carries diagnostic, dental and treatment equipment, so most work happens on the day in your horse's own yard.
03
A clear plan, in plain English
You leave the visit knowing what was found, what it means for your horse's work, and what happens next.
Questions
Frequently asked
Do I need to bring the horse anywhere?
No. The examination is done at your property. A firm, level area to trot the horse up on (a driveway, arena or hard-standing) is ideal, plus somewhere soft to lunge if possible.
What if the horse needs X-rays or ultrasound?
Christian will tell you on the day what imaging, if any, is needed to confirm the diagnosis and will arrange or refer for it. The lameness work-up is what makes sure the right area gets imaged.
How long does a lameness exam take?
Allow around one to two hours. Multi-limb or subtle lameness can take longer, especially if several nerve blocks are needed to localise the problem.
Can you look at a horse I'm thinking of buying?
Yes — pre-purchase examinations are available. Mention it when you book so enough time is set aside.
Horse not right? Let's find out why.
Lameness rarely fixes itself and the earlier it's looked at, the simpler the answer usually is.
Contact
Book a visit.
Phone0466 648 119 Emailchristian@ppevs.com.auHoursMonday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pmBusiness-hours service. For after-hours emergencies please contact your nearest equine hospital.
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