Back Leg

[SAMROBINS]

My horse seems to be occasionally dropping off his hind leg. Easiest way to describe it is like when you twinge your groin and you fall onto your other foot. He takes his weight off this one and falls onto his other one quite dramatically but then walks fine again after. this doesn't happen all the time but comes out of nowhere. Can happen anywhere - walking to field, hacking down hill, schooling in the school. Does anyone have any ideas what it could be? I had his muscled looked at last year and he had heat in his groin but then after 6 months it had gone but the problem still persists. I'm having his muscles looked again next week but wondered if anyone had any ideas?

 

[ycbm]

Sounds like a problem with a stifle joint. Mine had locking stifles. If he is tired, he will sometimes 'drop off' the joint just as it reaches the top of the arc as he takes a step with a hind leg. It's a very characteristic feeling, nothing else feels like it.

 

[SAMROBINS]

It is - Its such a hard thing to explain isn't it!! Any particular exercises help yours and has it got gradually worse?

 

[ycbm]

No mine has got a lot better as he got older. Hills are best, but you really need to find out if he has a problem before you try and fix it with exercise. I've had my guy's stifles x rayed each time I plan to step up the difficulty of his work.