Pictures Getting up from rolling, should I be worried?

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BBP

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Ideally I would post a video here, but I’ve locked myself out of YouTube, so I will have to try to explain and use stills instead. Hopefully they come out in the right order.

This morning I filmed BBP having a roll in the arena. He finishes rolling on his left side, sits up, but not fully up, rocks forwards and back a few times then shifts his forelegs a bit and goes to get up. He puts out his left fore (this is the one that will balance his weight), but video shows he puts the toe down instead of flat and it knuckles over, so he has no brace and pretty much stumbles around trying not to fall over.

Is this just a mistake that any horse might do in not putting the foreleg out properly or is this weird? I felt quite uneasy watching him. It’s also not the first time I have seen him fall trying to get up in the last 18 months. Usually I have put it down to him being an idiot, he often tries to get up and gallop all at once and forgets where his feet are, although he wasn’t doing that today. There was an incident about 14 months ago when he went to get up and nearly fell over backwards but I didn’t capture it and he seemed normal afterwards. Ive blamed it on sacroiliac issues and heel pain as these flare up. We go through phases where he moves incredibly (a week ago) and then today he could barely trot at all and looks unsound behind. He is basically a big pet who I ride when he is sound and happy and just do in hand rehab work when he isn’t. He has no real workload that he has to do (ie I don’t need him to perform at a certain level, I just want him happy even if he isn’t ridden). Based on what I have written here (hard to give full story on such a complex horse) would you be worried?

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I'm no expert but that angle has the hairs all on the back of my neck stood up. Something looks "wrong" in it to me but I couldn't tell you what or why. Sorry I'm not much use really, it's no emergency but I'd certainly be suspicious there is something going on there
 
That’s a funny way to get up! Definitely looks like he’s compensating for something. But then again it could just be a goofball moment on the soft surface. Do you have a chiro or somebody who helps with the issues? Maybe worth sending them the video and seeing what they say
 
I agree that something looks wrong. I cannot put my finger on what or if it will be a few things going on. Definitely not normal though.
 
The angle of the front hoof is giving me the fear. That definitely isn’t normal. If you say he’s done something similiar before, it may be worth getting a chiropractor/ body worker out to check over. They can really hold themselves weird if there’s a tight spot somewhere.
 
I hate to say it but yes I am worried for you, that actually looks worse than my 30 year old did when he was getting up, I sadly called it a day a few weeks ago as he was spending too long down and although he was sound once up he was not getting enough of a push at times to get up as easily as he should so probably then spent even longer down putting off the moment.

The position of his near fore is very odd and would be of concern as much as the failure to push up, you have gone through so much with him, he is a fragile boy and I suspect there is something going on that needs looking for.
 
I have one that knuckles forwards on all her legs now and then, usually just at random though while standing still and I had her worked up because it was WEIRD and the vet said she was a-ok - though could see why I had asked - just a bit hypermobile in the joints. it doesn't cause her a problem, it just makes me wince. though she just sort of bends the fetlock and the hoof is flat on the ground. But as this seems to be a new thing and also coupled with the falling I think I would be more worried, I hope that you are able to find and resolve the cause easily. He's lucky to have an owner who is so dedicated to his welfare.
 
I'd be very careful with the osteo, that might be sacroiliac pain, but there is a significant risk of neurological issues derived from the neck region...not necessarily wobblers per se, but pressure on the spinal cord from facet joints/arthritis or soft tissue .
 
As a one off, I might be inclined to write it off as a goof ball moment, but in the context of his complex issues and the fact he has had issues getting up in the past, I would be fairly concerned. I'd certainly be keeping a very close eye on him getting up from now on - if he does it again, he certainly needs some sort of intervention.

He's a complicated, special little chap. I hope you can find a way keep him happy and comfortable.
 
Complicated and special are definitely the right words for him. He generally does something weird and then bounces back really well, he’s always playing and being cheeky and bouncing around, so I’m hoping it’s something weird but not sinister. I’ll make sure I video him whenever I see him go down to roll or lie down. I could do with a camera set up there all day so I can see what he does when I’m not around, if he lies down to sleep.
 
I’m even just cringing at how much damage he could have done to that fetlock just folding it like that this morning.
 
milliepops has a camera set up.

I agree with others, on the basis of his history I'd have concerns, albeit that sometimes photos can catch extreme/odd moments.
 
As others have said, I'd be speaking to my vet and showing them the pictures. If it was a one-ff then it could just be the horse being clumsy/was distracted/lost their balance, but if this is a repeated occurrence then I would be concerned, especially with his known issues. It sounds as though he has the ideal life with you regarding his known conditions (lucky boy), so I hope this is something that is easily resolved for both of you.
 
Ouch that bent fetlock made me cringe. Could be goofball but something doesn't look right and I think your instincts are spot on. Sensible to keep an eye and if it happens again take action. Hope he's ok.
 
He’s had boots and pads on all day and is bounding around like Tigger on speed this evening. I’ve send videos and photos to vet/osteo/farrier. Having scrubbed and packed the central sulcus’s they are way deeper than I thought. I had thought they weren’t filling in but they are awful. So packing, boots and pads til I get further advice. Even though he does think he is a Tennessee walking horse when he has boots on.
 
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