Any ideas what this could be...

Christmas Crumpet

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 August 2007
Messages
4,035
Visit site
Horse is a bit funny picking out his feet - he will pick the fronts up quite violently and then try and put foot down unless I hold on tight. Then quite often one of his hind legs will start wobbling every so slightly or he will try and rest the opposing hind leg to the front one I am holding. When picking up his hind legs he snatches them away to start with then the leg gets very heavy in my hand.

His hind legs can also be a bit wobbly when he's having a wee. He has unspecified pain behind the saddle on his off side which the physio put down to him having a weak backend but I'm not so sure. There's something not right for sure!!

On occasion he drags one or both hinds trotting on the road but not all the time. I can't see that he's worn his toes down though. He finds it hard to canter on the left rein but fine on the right.

He passed a 2 stage vetting with flying colours about 3 months ago and vet commented on how sound he was doing flexions. Bit stumped really.
 
Agreed vet is the next phone call...

He doesn't wear his shoes unevenly but he doesn't quite track up with one hind leg - just remembered that bit!!

So apart from thoughts of getting the vet, does anyone have any idea what it could be?
 
He's just turned 7.
I gave his bits a clean this afternoon and he was brilliant picking up his feet afterwards. Went to pick them out when I got him in this evening and he's doing the same thing again.
 
Well it could just be bad manners. But if he has a bad back, then picking up his back feet will be uncomfortable for him.

So what is your vets opinion on his back?
 
Last edited:
I'd make a guess of sacroilliac injury too. My horse had it and he also dragged his hinds slightly and was reluctant to transition into canter on one rein. Physio and chiro missed it
 
Might seem obvious but thrush is a common cause of the symptoms you describe. Its often under diagnosed, with a bit of luck, it may just be something as simple as that.
 
Top