Constantly resting a hind leg and snatchy with them...

[Michen]

It's bugging me... I can't deny it. I keep noticing it. I know he's lame in all four feet, and he had the MRI done on the fronts to find the navicular bruising and bone inflammation. In his hind legs the lameness blocked to the hoof but I decided not to MRI as I didn't want to use all the insurance money. He had x rays done and all that showed was thin soles. I was surprised at him blocking to the hoof as I was fully expecting it to be his hocks but the vets flexed the hell out of them and he very much blocked lower down.

He is ALWAYS resting a hind leg (not one in particular) and he can be intermittently really snatchy with them when I pick them up. He also always stands with them turned at funny angles and he certainly doesn't walk with them "straight". Is it likely that whatever is causing the lameness behind is actually worse than the problems in front? I assumed that because there was no DDFT, collateral ligament damage etc etc on the front MRI that surely it would be unlikely behind but now I'm starting to worry. I could be going to all this effort to rehab him barefoot and get him sound (and he's doing really well!) when actually there's something horrible going on in those back feet which will come and bite us both in the arse later on.


To be fair, my EP said his back feet are nearly as bad as his fronts. They are underun, very thin soles etc. But would this really cause him to constantly rest them? He will literally gallop around the field and then rest one as soon as he stops. I don't think that's normal and its not something I noticed him doing when I first took him off the track 5 months ago.


Stress stress stress. Should have got the damn MRI after all.

 

[crabbymare]

Think of it as being you and you are running around with just socks on but have stones in the socks. would you run around playing and then stand on both feet or would you rest one when you stop to try and take away the pressure of the stones? when you stand normally would you be even or would you stand at what you call funny angles to take the pressure off? I know he does not have stones in his socks but it gives you an idea of possibly why he does what he does. give him time to adjust and for his feet to grow to the correct angles with a proper heel and you will probably find he stops resting them the way he is at the moment

 

[Scarlett]

doesn't sound like feet tbh, sounds more like it's higher up... could just be weakness, could be related to gut pain/ulcers, could be hind gut, could be SI pain, could be a multitude of things.

My mare is cow hocked and has a horrible looking twist to both back legs when she takes a step. The stronger she is the less she does it and vets and physios cant find anything wrong. She's been like that for years but it's never given her a days lameness...

I wouldn't stress yet, you've got plenty to worry about, don't add to it quite yet!

 

[kirstie]

It sounds to me that he is feelign a bit sore being newly barefoot behind. When I first took my horses back shoes off she was quite sore and would always rest one immediately, especially on concrete. I have read your other threads- you have done so well by him. My horse improved quite quickly with the diet and barefoot rehab walking regime.

If it were me I'd keep doing what you're doing and would expect to see an improvement as he becomes used to being barefoot. I'm guessing he has boots and pads for behind? I don't think I would be panicking and getting more tests done initially. He has gone through so many changes recently, it is going to take a while for his body to get used to it.

 

[Michen]

doesn't sound like feet tbh, sounds more like it's higher up... could just be weakness, could be related to gut pain/ulcers, could be hind gut, could be SI pain, could be a multitude of things.

My mare is cow hocked and has a horrible looking twist to both back legs when she takes a step. The stronger she is the less she does it and vets and physios cant find anything wrong. She's been like that for years but it's never given her a days lameness...

I wouldn't stress yet, you've got plenty to worry about, don't add to it quite yet!

It's impossible not to!! The ulcers are gone but I'm going to put him on some Yea Sacc for his hind gut and see if that helps. Worrying that it could be a sign of problems elsewhere, the fact he's lame in his hind feet is bad enough!

 

[Michen]

It sounds to me that he is feelign a bit sore being newly barefoot behind. When I first took my horses back shoes off she was quite sore and would always rest one immediately, especially on concrete. I have read your other threads- you have done so well by him. My horse improved quite quickly with the diet and barefoot rehab walking regime.

If it were me I'd keep doing what you're doing and would expect to see an improvement as he becomes used to being barefoot. I'm guessing he has boots and pads for behind? I don't think I would be panicking and getting more tests done initially. He has gone through so many changes recently, it is going to take a while for his body to get used to it.

He's only just had the back shoes off two days ago (we were waiting for end of shoe cycle as they were done just before the MRI) and he's been doing it for a couple of months despite being shod Yep he has boots and pads for behind though they aren't great and keep twisting probably due to his twisty action!

 

[be positive]

I think it is fairly normal to rest the hinds, they cannot do the same with the front feet so with the hinds it is just more obvious that they are resting them, as he blocked to the feet and showed no problems with the hocks I think you will find he gets better as time goes on. There may be some related issues higher up, possibly SI, but until the feet are functioning properly there is little you can do, some physio may be enough to sort it out once he is improving on the feet.
There is bound to be plenty of related muscular tension from all the pain elsewhere so it might be a good idea to get a good physio involved sooner rather than later, there is a lot that can be done fairly passively to help him, just a few gentle stretches each day to encourage him to start using himself again, would be a good start.

 

[wench]

Don't worry just yet!!!

If there is anything wrong with him (and he has any insurance money left for this claim!), you have months left before the 12 month period is over.

Give him time to adjust to all the changes you have made with him, and re-assess in a few months time.

 

[Beausmate]

I have a horse with thin soles and weak frogs (the frogs have virtually disappeared!) and he does this, always has. It improves as the feet get stronger. If I were you, I'd wait and see. They do take time to settle and he has gone through a lot of changes in a short space of time.

As for the snatching - does he snap his feet up and forwards? Possibly more on the off side? Or does he pull them out of your hand?

 

[wench]

I think it is fairly normal to rest the hinds, they cannot do the same with the front feet so with the hinds it is just more obvious that they are resting them, as he blocked to the feet and showed no problems with the hocks I think you will find he gets better as time goes on. There may be some related issues higher up, possibly SI, but until the feet are functioning properly there is little you can do, some physio may be enough to sort it out once he is improving on the feet.
There is bound to be plenty of related muscular tension from all the pain elsewhere so it might be a good idea to get a good physio involved sooner rather than later, there is a lot that can be done fairly passively to help him, just a few gentle stretches each day to encourage him to start using himself again, would be a good start.

I bought a really, really good book from amazon, called "how to stretch your horse" or something similar. Loads of stretches in it for all parts of the horses body. I go through them all once a week, and have already noticed a difference in my horse. (Comes in a folder thingy, not a book as such.)

I have also bought a Masterson method book and DVD. This might be something you could do with your horse as well. I haven't got around to trying it out on my horse as yet, but looks interesting, and something yours would probably benefit from.

 

[Michen]

I have a horse with thin soles and weak frogs (the frogs have virtually disappeared!) and he does this, always has. It improves as the feet get stronger. If I were you, I'd wait and see. They do take time to settle and he has gone through a lot of changes in a short space of time.

As for the snatching - does he snap his feet up and forwards? Possibly more on the off side? Or does he pull them out of your hand?

Sort of up and forwards and backwards lol! Almost like a kicking motion but he's not kicking he's just snatchy.

 

[Michen]

I think it is fairly normal to rest the hinds, they cannot do the same with the front feet so with the hinds it is just more obvious that they are resting them, as he blocked to the feet and showed no problems with the hocks I think you will find he gets better as time goes on. There may be some related issues higher up, possibly SI, but until the feet are functioning properly there is little you can do, some physio may be enough to sort it out once he is improving on the feet.
There is bound to be plenty of related muscular tension from all the pain elsewhere so it might be a good idea to get a good physio involved sooner rather than later, there is a lot that can be done fairly passively to help him, just a few gentle stretches each day to encourage him to start using himself again, would be a good start.

I think you are right there. He hasn't had physio since January as to be honest, I didn't really want to throw money at a horse that wasn't in ridden work and may be put down. Time to give her a call! He was getting both physio and chiro from the day he set foot on the yard, very regularly.

 

[Michen]

I bought a really, really good book from amazon, called "how to stretch your horse" or something similar. Loads of stretches in it for all parts of the horses body. I go through them all once a week, and have already noticed a difference in my horse. (Comes in a folder thingy, not a book as such.)

I have also bought a Masterson method book and DVD. This might be something you could do with your horse as well. I haven't got around to trying it out on my horse as yet, but looks interesting, and something yours would probably benefit from.

Off to have a look! Thanks!

 

[Mister Ted]

Hope you find a solution .Certainly,sounds like he is in a bit of discomfort in the hind leg.Reminds me of a horse I had suffered hind DDFT injury in one leg,vet said it would heal in around a year at the most.He had the foot raised with special shoe etc. but still lame several years on and unrideable.He would walk at an odd angle with that foot almost on tiptoe sometimes. He would often be" resting" it while grazing.His leg would sometimes swell a bit too.Bute was useful and the foot action seemed to settle after a year or so and some days he was walking about almost normal.I found using linseed supplement in his food helped as it is used to reduce inflammation as well as strengthening the hoof horn.He was happy in himself and pottered about as a companion horse for a number of years.

 

[Beausmate]

I've known a lot of racehorses that snatch like that. Some will snatch one up, then stamp it down and snatch the opposite one up. This is due to stable staff being impatient and in a hurry (everyone in most yards is in a hurry!) to get the horse done. Horse is a bit slow in picking up, so he gets a slap. After a bit more of this, the horse gets anxious and starts snatching in anticipation. Sometimes the horse gets worse if you keep asking. My Big idiot will get to the point he is hopping from foot to foot if he gets tense. I usually give up before we get to that point!

Also, don't be too surprised if he cooks up an abscess or two. I bet he's plotting one.....

ETA. If he's snatching out of habit, it doesn't mean that's the only reason, just that it may not be connected to the foot resting.

 

[Michen]

I've known a lot of racehorses that snatch like that. Some will snatch one up, then stamp it down and snatch the opposite one up. This is due to stable staff being impatient and in a hurry (everyone in most yards is in a hurry!) to get the horse done. Horse is a bit slow in picking up, so he gets a slap. After a bit more of this, the horse gets anxious and starts snatching in anticipation. Sometimes the horse gets worse if you keep asking. My Big idiot will get to the point he is hopping from foot to foot if he gets tense. I usually give up before we get to that point!

Also, don't be too surprised if he cooks up an abscess or two. I bet he's plotting one.....

ETA. If he's snatching out of habit, it doesn't mean that's the only reason, just that it may not be connected to the foot resting.

I hope this is mostly it! The resting is more worrying. Poor bloody horse.

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

Trying to look on the bright side, you are now official HHO expert.
Stay cool, he can lie down for a bit to rest legs.
If boots like cavallo type are twisting, they are too large, that is the test for size, but I would assume the pads would take up slack. Try linings or socks, gents socks.

 

[Michen]

Trying to look on the bright side, you are now official HHO expert.
Stay cool, he can lie down for a bit to rest legs.
If boots like cavallo type are twisting, they are too large, that is the test for size, but I would assume the pads would take up slack.

I didn't ask for this! hahaha! the pads twist with his feet... they were totally bunched up in his boots yesterday. I do have some of those 7lb eps pads though which I might cut up and pop in but they are pretty firm... he's currently in soft pads. This barefoot malarkey is a minefield! I genuinely feel like his life may be saved from removing the shoes but equally- what I wouldn't give to have something with fab, shod feet!