TB stiff in front after working 3/8 yesterday...

Question
QUESTION: Hello-
I have a 6 year old TB that I'm slowly brining back after a 2 year lay off (abcessing/thin soles/no walls). He has been in training for 120 days. This past Saturday was his 1st clocked work. He worked 3/8 in 37 flat-in hand. He is a VERY hard horse to hold, and started running off at the 1/2 pole, so he really worked closer to 3 and 1/2 instead of 3. He cleaned up all his feed. He has NO heat, swelling, filling in ankles or knees and his feet are cold. He IS somewhat 'stiff' in front today. I'm suspecting knees? He does flex good though-all the way to his elbow no problem and does not walk off lame-just stiff. I'm thinkin he could have some arthritis? He has only had 8 starts-win 2, ran 5 seconds, and one time off the board. He trains great at home and did not present any lameness when working Saturday OR while cooling out. In fact our vet was there and watched him work, and said he seen nothing to be worried about. What do YOU think about this? He is supposed to work 1/2 Friday (easy-in hand) but that depends on how he comes along this week. I normally handwalk him 2 days after a work. Turn out in pasture the next day and then start back to work w/him. Please let me know your thoughts.
THANKS!

ANSWER: hi --well being stiff in the front could mean a number of things that could be bothering him. you said that he has had foot problems in the past and i kind of think it could be his feet again, as you said you checked his knees and he flexed out ok.  in this business there are so many problems that we have to deal with that horses come down with.  now i have had horses in the past with bad feet, soles, thin walls etc. i have used caster oil as a great foot remedy and have had great success. i just use a soft brush and do the coronet band and frog and sole, just rubbing it in every day. if it is his feet that is causing him to walk stiff, the caster oil will help that within 2 weeks. you can get a small bottle of castor oil at your local drug store. i hope that this helps you. good luck with your horse. thanks ED HESS  

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for the input! I tried castor oil on him this winter-was pleased w/the results! I'll try that route w/him again. He is training in glue on racing plates-can't nail in him at all. Do you think I should back off w/him, or keep going on with him?

Answer
hi well i had a horse with a quarter crack that was so bad that the blood came out of the crack when the horse walked around the barn. i had the black smith 3/4 his bad foot and used the castor oil on all 4 feet for about 2 weeks till the horse started walking sound. then i started jogging him on the track for 2 more weeks. after about 1 month of using the castor oil on his feet ,the quarter cracked had grown almost out. in 2 months his foot was good and my black smith shod him and he raced and won. you are the trainer and you know your horse better then i do, so you will have to make the decision on how to proceed with his training. if you don't wait on the horse, he will make you wait on him. i always have given my horses the time i thought they needed to get ready for a winning race. you will know when he is right and ready to get back to his winning form. thanks ED HESS