arthiritic hind legs

S

samIam

Member
Joined
20 September 2012
Messages
11
Visit site
My loan mare is 16 years old and is completely sound jumping courses of 1.10m. However recently when i have lifted up her hind legs to pick out her hooves she stretches her leg up so it kind of folds up right to her quarters. She doesnt really kick out she just looses balance about and then kicks out in the rush to put her foot back down-it is hard to explain i will get a picture of it. I'm not sure if i need to do anything as she is fine its just a bit strange-could it be arthiritis?
 
That was the first thing that my mare started doing when we noticed arthritic changes. How is she in her work - do you find her any stiffer? If you are in any doubt - get the vet out to do a lameness workup on her. We can't diagnose arthritis or anything else over a forum, only suggest possibilities.

If it is arthritis, it's not the end of the world by any means - mine is 22 and learnt flying changes today. The sooner you diagnose and treat the better though so get the vet out to have a look.
 
thankyou for your advice and thinking of it now she has taken longer to work in recently- i will get the vet out i just wasn't sure what it was as she's never done anything like that before!
 
Could it be stringhalt...?
I know of a horse who was the same when having his feet picked out. Wasn't a classic case as only happened when picking his feet up.
It can be neurological or plant toxins.
Hope you get to the bottom of it
 
thankyou this is really helpful it does look like the stringhalt action but just when picking feet out i will post what the vets verdict is :)
 
It turns out that it was PSSM (Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy ) a condition that quarter horses can have when there is too much glucose in their muscles and her symptom was stiffness-she was getting it from eating her straw bedding cause of the starch in it! problem solved by moving to shavings :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top