advice please

[verient]

a lady on my yard has a horse that has odd movement behind. it is fine in walk, and you do not see anything wrong. in trot however, the back legs are very wide and the horse 'swings out' the left hind. the stifle also looks odd. the horse is reluctant to lunge on the left rein. it is also reluctant to pick up its feet on the left side. what advice should i give to her? thanks

 

[cands]

Could indicate a problem in the hock. If the hock is effected the horse would be reluctant to pick up the leg, and yes wouldn't want to be lunged on the left because it would have to step through the hock in order to balance and move correctly. Going wide behind can be a conformation fault (just the way the horse is) or could be the horses way of moving his leg out

 

[little MJ]

Get the vet!!