Bilateral toe dragging - more pronounced on left

[JGC]

I went to see a friend's horse today, he hasn't been ridden for three weeks. He was massively dragging his left back toe and slightly dragging the right. He was also tail swishing.

He's not the most forward-going and used to jump 1.10-1.30 but now won't jump that in competition. She had his hocks checked at the beginning of the year and there's some arthritic changes on the left.

Could the being off work and arthritis explain the toe dragging? I really associate it with more PSD and some not great diagnoses. I mentioned it and filmed it, suggested vet, but my friend didn't seem too worried. I could definitely go back and suggest vet again, but maybe it's not such a red flag and I'd be overstepping.

I'd really appreciate advice.

 

[TheMule]

Hocks would be my first thought- if she already has a diagnosis then perhaps he needs a bit more veterinary intervention to relieve his pain

 

[milliepops]

yeah knowing there is already a diagnosis there it seems like the obvious place to start.

 

[JGC]

I should have said he also tripped twice at the back end and that a osteopath "diagnosed" TMJ pain because of a dentistry issue.

The more I write down, the more I know I have to go back to her. She was insistent that it was just lack of strength in the moment, but I'm pretty sure she'll have had another think, knowing how much she does for her horses.

I guess I was also hoping it wouldn't be anything Argh, horses

 

[milliepops]

argh indeed tripping doesn't sound great, no point speculating but it does seem like the right time to get the vet involved again.

 

[Walrus]

I'd think hocks, my mare is weaker on her right hind and she used to drag her right hind toe....it was most noticeable out hacking when we trotted on the road, I could hear it every stride her right hind toe tapped and it didn't matter what I did...forward, collect, leg yield...it was still there, she didn't wear back shoes and was squaring her toe off a bit too.

I got the vet and he reckoned it was hocks (we haven't xrayed), she's got quite straight hock conformation. Bearing in mind she was getting average scores at novice BD we took some management actions to start with.... she's shod behind now with heart bars to give more support and also to protect her suspensories and she's on the epiitalis forte supplement. We've done lots of poles and strengthening work esp keeping her straight so she doesn't compensate by loading her left shoulder.

Now she doesn't toe tap and she's progressing. I do lots of warm up in walk and I'm aware she might need injections at some point but at the moment I think we're going in the right direction.

 

[meleeka]

Mine did it with back pain. definitely time to phone the vet.

 

[Sprogladite01]

Toe dragging was one of the (very few) signs that made me get my gelding investigated - turned out he had chronic bilateral PSD and has since had surgery. From what you've said I don't think it would be unreasonable for your friend to have a further investigation done. PSD can often be secondary to hock problems so could be that it's a new problem.