Hi Womble! This sounds very similar to one of my girls. She was very lame, no sign of anything. Had the vet out, she couldn't find anything.Wondered if it was arthritis. Some time later I noticed a horizontal crack just below the coronary band. I gave her Alamycin L.A. There was a small amount blood once as well. She seems OK now, but seems to lie down a lot more than the others. She's not lame though. I now use a zinc sulphate foot bath on a regular basis and spray her foot regularly with blue spray to prevent any infection.